Research Interests
Civil Geotechnical Engineering Space sciences Planetary Science Structural EngineeringTeaching Strengths
Mr Akshay Kumar Agarwal
Higher Degree by Research Candidate
School of Civil Engineering and Construction
College of Engineering and Information Technology
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 |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Agarwal, A. K., Jaksa, M. B., Scott, B. T., & Kuo, Y. L. (2024). Compaction Testing on Lunar Highland Simulant Using a Vibrating Drum Roller. In Proceedings of the 19th ASCE ASD Biennial International Conference on Engineering, Science, Construction and Operations in Challenging Environment (Earth and Space 2024) (pp. 763-773). Miami Florida: American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). DOI Scopus1 |
| 2023 | Agarwal, A. K., Kuo, Y. L., Jaksa, M., & Scott, B. (2023). Density, strength and compressibility characteristics of lunar regolith simulant. In Proceedings of the 14th Australia and New Zealand Conference on Geomechanics (ANZ2023) (pp. 1-6). Cairns: Australian Geomechanics Society. DOI |
| 2023 | Scott, B., Kuo, Y. L., Jaksa, M., & Agarwal, A. K. (2023). Compaction trial on lunar regolith simulant. In Australian Geomechanics Society. Cairns Convention Centre, Cairns. Queensland, Australia. |
| 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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