Akshay Kumar Agarwal

Teaching Strengths

Clear explanation of complex engineering concepts
Student-focused engineering teaching approach
Practical and industry-informed teaching
Effective tutorials and practical sessions
Interactive and engaging engineering teaching

Mr Akshay Kumar Agarwal

Higher Degree by Research Candidate

School of Civil Engineering and Construction

College of Engineering and Information Technology

Available For Media Comment.


Innovative Civil Engineering Researcher | Expert in Geotechnical Solutions, Lunar Simulants, and Intelligent Compaction | Educator & Mentor Driving Innovation in Space Ground Engineering

My research lies at the intersection of geotechnical engineering, construction materials and space exploration, with a particular focus on the development of infrastructure for future lunar missions. As part of the Andy Thomas Centre for Space Resources at the Adelaide University, my doctoral research investigates the mechanical behaviour and compaction response of lunar highlands regolith simulants, with the aim of supporting site preparation and ground improvement for future lunar infrastructure.

A key component of my research involves the development and use of scaled terrestrial compaction equipment to evaluate the surface and subsurface response of lunar regolith simulants under different operating and loading conditions. My work combines experimental geotechnics, laboratory instrumentation, density and penetration testing, subsurface stress measurements, 3D surface characterisation and data analysis to assess and optimise compaction performance.

My broader research interests include advanced and sustainable construction materials, ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC), fibre-reinforced and polymer-modified cementitious materials, ground improvement, intelligent compaction, experimental optimisation and off-Earth construction. Through this research, I aim to contribute to the development of practical, sustainable and technically robust infrastructure solutions for both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications.

Date Position Institution name
2021 - ongoing Teaching Assistant The University of Adelaide

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2022 Scholarship The University of Adelaide Research Scholorship The University of Adelaide Australia A$3,00,000 (Approximately)
2020 Scholarship Global Citizenship Scholarship The University of Adelaide Australia 15% of tution fees

Language Competency
English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
Hindi Can read, speak and understand spoken

Date Institution name Country Title
2020 - 2021 The University of Adelaide Australia Master of Engineering (Civil and Structural)
2009 - 2013 Barkatullah University India Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Honours)

Year Citation
2026 Agarwal, A. K., Kuo, Y. L., Jaksa, M., & Scott, B. (2026). Density, strength and compressibility characteristics of lunar regolith simulant.
DOI
2026 Agarwal, A. K., Scott, B., & Jaksa, M. (2026). Compaction performance of a scale model vibrating drum roller on lunar highlands regolith simulant.
DOI

Research Agreement with Astroport Space Technologies re new scale model Lunar Vibrating Drum Roller (LVDR-2)

AUD 30000

November 2024 - November 2025

Funding agency

Astroport Space technologies Inc

Principal investigator

Brendan T Scott

Co-investigators

Akshay Kumar Agarwal, William Foster-Hall, Kevin Farries

 

Research Agreement with Astroport Space Technologies re various compaction methods

AUD 15000

July 2022 - December 2024

Funding agency

Astroport Space technologies Inc

Principal investigator

Brendan T Scott

Co-investigators

Akshay Kumar Agarwal, Mark B. Jaksa, Kevin Farries

 

 

University of Adelaide Scholarship

AUD 120,000

June 2022 - Nov 2025


 

Adelaide University

My teaching at Adelaide University spans undergraduate and postgraduate engineering subjects across professional practice, soil mechanics, geotechnical engineering design, engineering management and research project supervision.

Undergraduate

  • ENGI 1005 – Professional Engineering Practice, Semester 1 and Semester 2, 2026
  • ENGM 2010 – Soil Mechanics, Semester 1, 2026
  • ENGI 3006 – Systems Engineering and Professional Practice, Semester 1 and Semester 2, 2026
  • ENGC X300 – Geotechnical Engineering Design, Semester 2, 2026

Postgraduate

  • ENGI 5003 – Professional Engineering Management, Semester 1, 2026
  • ENGI 6025 – Master Engineering Research Project, Semester 1, 2026
  • ENGI 6900 – Master Engineering Research Project, Semester 1, 2026
  • ENGI 6901 – Master Engineering Research Project, Semester 1, 2026

 

Before University Merger - University of Adelaide

Undergraduate

  • CIVILENG 1002 - Introduction to Infrastructure
  • CIVILENG 2004 - Introduction to Geo-engineering
  • CIVILENG 2005 - Transportation Engineering & Survey
  • CONMGNT 2001 - Transport and Traffic Management
  • CIVILENG 3003 - Structural Steel Design
  • CIVILENG 3006 - Geotechnical Engineering
  • CIVILENG 4007 - Unsaturated Soils

Postgraduate

  • CIVILENG 7303 - Structural Steel Design
  • CIVILENG 7306 - Geotechnical Engineering
  • CIVILENG 7407 - Unsaturated Soils

 

Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
2024 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Lunar ground improvement using a vibrating drum roller The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Engineering Honours Full Time Daniela Jaud, Nicolette Miller, Tasha Spratling, Lane Whittaker
2024 - 2024 Co-Supervisor The effect of vacuum on the geotechnical behaviour of lunar simulant The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Engineering Honours Full Time Dylan Croft, Alex Duffy, Ruben Carreno, Harrison Reid
2023 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Lunar Ground Improvement The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Engineering Honours Full Time Mazen Aintarazy, Salvador Bartkowski, Michael Cerbo, Reon Evaristo

Date Topic Location Name
2022 - 2022 Rolling Dynamic Compaction of Lunar Regolith Simulant The University of Adelaide Wing Kit Chan, Karan Pattabiraman, Sergey Zhukovskiy

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2024 - 2025 Member AMERICAN SOCIETY OF CIVIL ENGINEERS Geo-Institute United States

Date Role Membership Country
2020 - ongoing Member Engineers Australia Australia

Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
2024 - 2024 Compaction testing on lunar highland simulant using a vibrating drum roller 19th Biennial ASCE Earth & Space 2024 Conference, Miami, Florida Florida International University United States
2023 - 2023 Site preperation and Ground Improvement on the Moon Second International Symposium on Off-Earth Construction, Adelaide Convention Centre The Australian Society for Off-Earth Construction (ASOC) Australia
2023 - 2023 Density, strength and compressibility characteristics of lunar regolith simulant 14th Australia and New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics, Cairns 2023 Australian Geomechanics Society Australia

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