Dr Adnan Sufian completed his PhD at UNSW Sydney, spending one year as a visiting scholar at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Prior to joining the University of Queensland, he was a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Imperial College London and has also worked as a geotechnical engineer with SMEC Australia. Dr Sufian's field of research is in the area of multi-scale and multi-phase mechanics of granular materials. His research aims to develop tools and guidelines so that geotechnical engineers can better handle, manipulate and construct with granular materials, and this can lead to innovative solutions to geotechnical issues surrounding the development of urban infrastructure. He is also interested in understanding natural phenomena associated with granular geomaterials such as landscapes affected by erosion, mass movement of materials in landslides, and mitigating the spread of contaminants in subsurface flows. Dr Sufian has strong expertise in the development of novel, efficient and rigorous multi-scale computational modelling techniques, including the Discrete Element Method, Computational Fluid Dynamics and Network Models, with a core focus on the interaction of water with soil particles. His research is naturally multidisciplinary and he currently collaborates with physicists, mathematicians and engineers to uncover emergent phenomena from the collective behaviour of granular particles.
Journal Article: Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction
Sufian, A., Russell, A. R. and Whittle, A. J. (2017). Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction. Geotechnique, 67 (12), 1067-1080. doi: 10.1680/jgeot.16.p.170
Journal Article: Pore shapes, volume distribution and orientations in monodisperse granular assemblies
Sufian, Adnan, Russell, Adrian R., Whittle, Andrew J. and Saadatfar, Mohammad (2015). Pore shapes, volume distribution and orientations in monodisperse granular assemblies. Granular Matter, 17 (6), 727-742. doi: 10.1007/s10035-015-0590-0
Journal Article: Microstructural pore changes and energy dissipation in Gosford sandstone during pre-failure loading using X-ray CT
Sufian, Adnan and Russell, Adrian R. (2013). Microstructural pore changes and energy dissipation in Gosford sandstone during pre-failure loading using X-ray CT. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 57, 119-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2012.07.021
Predicting internal erosion in dams using real-time coupled experiments
(2024–2027) ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Large-scale physical modelling of an internal erosion dam failure
(2022–2023) Research Donation Generic
Integrating Geotechnical Data with Computational Simulations to Develop Resilient Infrastructure
(2021–2022) UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
Micro-Scale Conditions leading to and supporting the Onset of Erosion
Doctor Philosophy
Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate: A Focus on Scouring in Extreme Flood Events
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the role of particle shape on internal erosion using spatial TDR
Doctor Philosophy
Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction
Sufian, A., Russell, A. R. and Whittle, A. J. (2017). Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction. Geotechnique, 67 (12), 1067-1080. doi: 10.1680/jgeot.16.p.170
Pore shapes, volume distribution and orientations in monodisperse granular assemblies
Sufian, Adnan, Russell, Adrian R., Whittle, Andrew J. and Saadatfar, Mohammad (2015). Pore shapes, volume distribution and orientations in monodisperse granular assemblies. Granular Matter, 17 (6), 727-742. doi: 10.1007/s10035-015-0590-0
Sufian, Adnan and Russell, Adrian R. (2013). Microstructural pore changes and energy dissipation in Gosford sandstone during pre-failure loading using X-ray CT. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 57, 119-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2012.07.021
The importance of initial particle position on filter performance in granular soils
Holden, Samuel Alexander William, Sufian, Adnan and Scheuermann, Alexander (2023). The importance of initial particle position on filter performance in granular soils. Computers and Geotechnics, 162 105632, 105632. doi: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2023.105632
Zhang, Yingyi, Sufian, Adnan and Scheuermann, Alexander (2023). Influence of hydraulic and geometric conditions on the early stages of the filtration process in idealised granular soils comprising spherical particles. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 47 (13), 2343-2363. doi: 10.1002/nag.3583
Annapareddy, V. S. Ramakrishna, Pain, Anindya, Sufian, Adnan, Godas, Srikar and Scheuermann, Alexander (2023). Influence of heterogeneity and elevated temperatures on the seismic translational stability of engineered landfills. Waste Management, 158, 1-12. doi: 10.1016/j.wasman.2023.01.004
Annapareddy, V. S. Ramakrishna, Sufian, Adnan, Bore, Thierry and Scheuermann, Alexander (2023). Spatial and temporal evolution of particle migration in gap-graded granular soils: insights from experimental observations. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 149 (3) 04022135. doi: 10.1061/jggefk.gteng-11094
Constriction size retention criterion for calcium alginate microcapsules in granular materials
Chen, Ke, Qi, Rui, Xing, Xin, Sufian, Adnan and Lourenço, Sérgio D.N. (2023). Constriction size retention criterion for calcium alginate microcapsules in granular materials. Powder Technology, 413 118034, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2022.118034
Sufian, Adnan, Bittner, Tilman, Bore, Thierry, Bajodek, Mathieu and Scheuermann, Alexander (2022). Physical observations of the transient evolution of the porosity distribution during internal erosion using spatial time domain reflectometry. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 59 (8), 1443-1458. doi: 10.1139/cgj-2021-0570
Computation of local permeability in gap-graded granular soils
Annapareddy, V. S. R., Sufian, A., Bore, T., Bajodek, M. and Scheuermann, A. (2022). Computation of local permeability in gap-graded granular soils. Géotechnique Letters, 12 (1), 68-73. doi: 10.1680/jgele.21.00131
A novel CFD-DEM coarse-graining method based on the Voronoi tessellation
Che, Hanqiao, O'Sullivan, Catherine, Sufian, Adnan and Smith, Edward R. (2021). A novel CFD-DEM coarse-graining method based on the Voronoi tessellation. Powder Technology, 384, 479-493. doi: 10.1016/j.powtec.2021.02.025
Influence of fabric on stress distribution in gap-graded soil
Sufian, Adnan, Artigaut, Marion, Shire, Thomas and O'Sullivan, Catherine (2021). Influence of fabric on stress distribution in gap-graded soil. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 147 (5) 04021016, 1-14. doi: 10.1061/(ASCE)GT.1943-5606.0002487
CPL library — a minimal framework for coupled particle and continuum simulation
Smith, E. R., Trevelyan, D. J., Ramos-Fernandez, E., Sufian, A., O’Sullivan, C. and Dini, D. (2020). CPL library — a minimal framework for coupled particle and continuum simulation. Computer Physics Communications, 250 107068, 107068. doi: 10.1016/j.cpc.2019.107068
Ability of a pore network model to predict fluid flow and drag in saturated granular materials
Sufian, Adnan, Knight, Christopher, O'Sullivan, Catherine, van Wachem, Berend and Dini, Daniele (2019). Ability of a pore network model to predict fluid flow and drag in saturated granular materials. Computers and Geotechnics, 110, 344-366. doi: 10.1016/j.compgeo.2019.02.007
Evolving pore orientation, shape and size in sheared granular assemblies
Sufian, Adnan, Russell, Adrian R. and Whittle, Andrew J. (2019). Evolving pore orientation, shape and size in sheared granular assemblies. Granular Matter, 21 (1) 4. doi: 10.1007/s10035-018-0856-4
A computational geometry approach to pore network construction for granular packings
van der Linden, Joost H., Sufian, Adnan, Narsilio, Guillermo A., Russell, Adrian R. and Tordesillas, Antoinette (2018). A computational geometry approach to pore network construction for granular packings. Computers and Geosciences, 112, 133-143. doi: 10.1016/j.cageo.2017.12.004
Analytical derivation of water retention for random monodisperse granular media
Ferraro, Anthony, Sufian, Adnan and Russell, Adrian R. (2017). Analytical derivation of water retention for random monodisperse granular media. Acta Geotechnica, 12 (6), 1319-1328. doi: 10.1007/s11440-017-0546-0
Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction
Sufian, A., Russell, A. R. and Whittle, A. J. (2017). Anisotropy of contact networks in granular media and its influence on mobilised internal friction. Geotechnique, 67 (12), 1067-1080. doi: 10.1680/jgeot.16.p.170
Pore characterisation in monodisperse granular assemblies
Sufian, Adnan, Russell, Adrian R., Whittle, Andrew J. and Saadatfar, Mohammad (2016). Pore characterisation in monodisperse granular assemblies. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 846, 583-588. doi: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.846.583
Pore shapes, volume distribution and orientations in monodisperse granular assemblies
Sufian, Adnan, Russell, Adrian R., Whittle, Andrew J. and Saadatfar, Mohammad (2015). Pore shapes, volume distribution and orientations in monodisperse granular assemblies. Granular Matter, 17 (6), 727-742. doi: 10.1007/s10035-015-0590-0
Sufian, Adnan and Russell, Adrian R. (2013). Microstructural pore changes and energy dissipation in Gosford sandstone during pre-failure loading using X-ray CT. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 57, 119-131. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrmms.2012.07.021
Che, Hanqiao, O'Sullivan, Catherine, Sufian, Adnan and Smith, Edward (2022). Incorporation of local porosity for polydisperse granular media using Voronoi-based mapping in CFD-DEM. 23rd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference, Sydney, NSW Australia, 5-8 December 2022.
Sufian, Adnan, Annapareddy, Venkata, Zhang, Yingyi, Holden, Samuel, Bore, Thierry and Scheuermann, Alexander (2022). A particle-scale perspective on internal erosion: observations from computational simulations and physical experiments. 14th NZGS/AGS Young Geotechnical Professionals Conference, Rotorua, New Zealand, 2-4 November 2022.
Pore flow velocity measurement in filtration erosion enhanced with PIV technique
Zhang, Yingyi, Sufian, Adnan and Scheuermann, Alexander (2021). Pore flow velocity measurement in filtration erosion enhanced with PIV technique. 10th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, State College, PA USA, 18-20 October 2021.
Modelling internal erosion in gap-graded soils using pore network models
Sufian, Adnan, Knight, Chris, O'Sullivan, Catherine, van Wachem, Berend and Dini, Daniele (2021). Modelling internal erosion in gap-graded soils using pore network models. 10th International Conference on Scour and Erosion, State College, PA USA, 18-20 October 2021.
Capturing Local Fluid Field Characteristics in Porous Media using Pore Network Models
Sufian, Adnan, Knight, Christopher, O'Sullivan, Catherine, van Wachem, Berend and Dini, Daniele (2020). Capturing Local Fluid Field Characteristics in Porous Media using Pore Network Models. 22nd Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference AFMC2020, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 7-10 December 2020. Brisbane, QLD Australia: The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/54548eb
Influence of stress anisotropy on stress distributions in gap-graded soils
Artigaut, Marion, Sufian, Adnan, Ding, Xiaoxiao, Shire, Tom and O’Sullivan, Catherine (2019). Influence of stress anisotropy on stress distributions in gap-graded soils. 7th International Symposium on Deformation Characteristics of Geomaterials, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 26-28 June 2019. Les Ulis, France: EDP Sciences. doi: 10.1051/e3sconf/20199214007
Micro-scale anisotropy of contacts and pores in granular media
Sufian, Adnan, Russell, Adrian R. and Whittle, Andrew J. (2017). Micro-scale anisotropy of contacts and pores in granular media. Powders and Grains 2017 – 8th International Conference on Micromechanics on Granular Media, Montpellier, France, 3-7 July 2017. Les Ulis, France: EDP Sciences. doi: 10.1051/epjconf/201714015003
Microstructural pore changes in Gosford sandstone during compressive loading
Sufian, A. and Russell, A. R. (2015). Microstructural pore changes in Gosford sandstone during compressive loading. Geomechanics from Micro to Macro - ProceedingsISSMGE International Symposium on Geomechanics from Micro to Macro, Cambridge, United Kingdom, 1-3 September 2014. Leiden, The Netherlands: Taylor and Francis - Balkema. doi: 10.1201/b17395-220
Fibre reinforcement of prior stream sand
Sufian, Adnan and Russell, Adrian (2012). Fibre reinforcement of prior stream sand. 11th Australia New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 14-18 July 2012.
Future dam engineering in a changing world
Gibbes, Badin , Chanson, Hubert , McIntyre, Neil , Sufian, Adnan and Scheurmann, Alexander (2022). Future dam engineering in a changing world. Brisbane, Australia: School of Civil Engineering, The University of Queensland.
Predicting internal erosion in dams using real-time coupled experiments
(2024–2027) ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
Large-scale physical modelling of an internal erosion dam failure
(2022–2023) Research Donation Generic
Integrating Geotechnical Data with Computational Simulations to Develop Resilient Infrastructure
(2021–2022) UQ Knowledge Exchange & Translation Fund
Principles of particle-scale assessment to evaluate internal erosion in civil infrastructure.
(2020–2022) UQ Early Career Researcher
Micro-Scale Conditions leading to and supporting the Onset of Erosion
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Resilient Infrastructure in a Changing Climate: A Focus on Scouring in Extreme Flood Events
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Investigating the role of particle shape on internal erosion using spatial TDR
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
Modelling and characterising transport processes in granular media using dynamic pore network models and graphs
Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor
Other advisors:
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors:
Characteristics of Particle Migration in Gap-Graded Granular Soils
(2023) Doctor Philosophy — Associate Advisor
Other advisors: