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Itai Einav

Itai Einav photo

BSc MA PhD
Professor
Centre for Geotechnical Research



School of Civil Engineering, Room 413
Phone: +61 2 9351 2113
Fax: +61 2 9351 3343
Email:

Research interests & current/recent research projects

  • Breakage mechanics: a new theory for modelling confined comminution in brittle granular matter using continuum mechanics. Via energy principles, the theory enables to predict the evolution of the grain size distribution under working stresses and strains (see Einav 2007a,b). Formulae are derived that present surprising analogies with the well-known formulae of the Griffith’s energy theory of fracture mechanics, all while considering the important characteristic features that distinguish granular materials from near-continuous solids (see Einav 2007c).
  • A subset theory, called breakage soil mechanics, was developed specifically for modelling the critical constitutive behaviour of sand (see Einav 2007d). The framework explains soil mechanics from a new angle, thus providing an alternative starting point for constructing a new hierarchy of soil models. We clarify the physical drives behind some well-known tendencies of sand behaviour that previous constitutive models of sand could not explain without adding fitting parameters to pre-existing models.
  • Further projects on grain crushing incorporate new experimental and numerical techniques. Focus is paid on the governing physics and statistics.
  • Applications are now paving their way to many disciplines dealing with confined comminution such as geophysics, geology, geotechnical engineering, mineral processing, agriculture and food industry, pharmaceutics, and powder technology.
  • Relevant papers are designated with ‘*’ in the list of selected publications below
  • Effective material characterisation (soil, rock, bone etc.): continuum mechanics, micro-mechanics, thermo-mechanics, damage mechanics, Discrete Element Method. Current research is focusing on characterising the effective properties of random elastoplastic materials.
  • Theoretical Geotechnics: developments of energy, variational, finite element, and limit analysis methods for applications in practical geotechnical problems.
  • Offshore Geotechnics: providing rigorous plasticity and/or pseudo analytical ideas/solutions for soil-structure interaction problems (e.g., footings, piles, anchors), in-situ characterisation problems (e.g., cone, T-bar, Ball, Vane).
  • Modelling the behaviour of random materials
  • Micromechanics of soft particulate materials
  • Subbase degradation: permeability and strength reductions by means of breakage soil mechanics
  • Image analysis of the kinematics and size reduction of grains in cataclasis

Selected Publications

  • * Einav I. 2007d. Soil mechanics: breaking ground. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A. Triennial Xmas issue, In-press (to appear in Nov 2007 issue).
  • * Einav I. 2007c. Fracture propagation in brittle granular matter. Proc. R. Soc. A. In-press (to appear in Dec 2007 issue)
  • * Einav I. 2007b. Breakage mechanics. Part II: Modelling granular materials. J. Mech. Phys. Solids. 55(6), 1298-1320
  • * Einav I. 2007a. Breakage mechanics. Part I: Theory. J. Mech. Phys. Solids. 55(6), 1274-1297
  • Einav I, Carter JP 2007. On convexity, normality, pre-consolidation pressure and singularities in modelling of granular materials. Granular Matter 9(1–2) 87–96
  • Einav I, Houlsby GT, Nguyen GD 2007. Coupled damage and plasticity models derived from energy and dissipation potentials. Int. J. Solids Struct. 44(7-8), 2487-2508.
  • Levy NH, Einav I, Randolph MF 2007. The effect of recent load history on laterally loaded piles in normally consolidated clays. ASCE Int. J. Geomech. 7(4), 277-286.
  • Einav I, Collins IF 2007. A thermo-mechanical framework of plasticity based on probabilistic micro-mechanics. J. Mech. Mater. Struct (Accepted, 15 May 2006).
  • * papers on Breakage Mechanics

Teaching Duties

School and University Service

  • School of Civil Engineering: Pro-Head (Research)
  • School of Civil Engineering Research Committee, Chair
  • 3rd year student advisor
  • Conversazione, committee member and Civil Engineering organisor
  • Faculty stream coordinator for ENGG UoS

Professional Service and Memberships

  • Reviewer for Int J Solids. Struct. (since 2006), ASCE J. Engng. Mech. (since 2005), J. Mech. Mater. Struct. (since 2006), Géotechnique (since 2006), ASCE J. Geotech. Geoenv. Engng. (since 2005), Computers and Geotechnics (since 2006), Canadian Geotechnique (since 2005), and Geomechanics and Geoengineering (since 2006).
  • Organising Committee ISFOG05, Sept 2005