An Deng

Dr An Deng

Senior Lecturer

School of Architecture and Civil Engineering

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.


Dr An Deng (邓安) is an academic in civil engineering at the University of Adelaide. He received his Bachelor of Engineering from Central South University, Master of Science from Tongji University, and PhD from Penn State University before commencing his career in Hohai University. After his six-year career as an academic there, Deng relocated to Australia, where he accepted an academic position at the University of Adelaide.

In his academic career, Deng teaches courses in geotechnical engineering for students in civil and other related engineering degrees, at undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

As a supervisor, Deng provides guidance to students to conduct research in fulfilment of degree requirements. His guidance has helped graduate students in a broad range of engineering degrees: Bachelors, Honours, Masters by Coursework, Masters by Research, and PhDs. Deng also provides guidance to visiting scholars to extend research impact and improve teaching effectiveness.

In addition to teaching and supervision, Deng is committed to research. His research activities fall into the area of geotechnical engineering, with an emphasis on green materials, geomechanics, simulation & modelling, and ground improvement.

In research, Deng has been awarded Australian competitive grant ARC DP and Chinese competitive grant NSFC funds. He has published a number of research articles in major international and regional journals, and conference proceedings.

Deng provides service to the community. The services include the journal editorial board member, invited papers reviewer, invited grants assessor, and events helper.

“When I am not pinned to a computer screen, I spend time on family care, working in the garden, and trying hard not to go down too fast in outdoor ability.”

Natural resources are limited and will get depleted one day.  One solution is to  develop alternative, low-cost, free- or low-carbon emission, and high-performance materials.  To researchers this solution represents significant research needs in a variety of areas.

Deng develops and applies green materials in the field of geotechnical engineering.  The green materials reuse by-products or wastes disposed of from factories or workshops.  On top of the economic value, the green materials exhibit equal or better performance than quarry-based virgin materials.

"The green material development and its performance confirmation is a rewarding but challenging process."  Deng focuses his research on identifying suitable waste materials and assessing the behaviour of the waste-derived green materials to ensure their uses in practical applications.

Deng also conducts research in ground improvement.  "The work in this area troubleshoots problems surrounding the ground of concern, explores and recommends solutions to upscale the ground to field conditions."  The solutions Deng has researched include electro-kinetic, vacuum preloading, geosynthetics, and grouting.  "Each of the solutions is unique in suitability and therefore subject to thorough prototyping and modelling work prior to the field applications."

"As the supervisor, I drive the research, but the journey in essence is rolled out by research students and scholars that I have supervised," explains Deng.  With these research assistants, Deng has co-authored over 100 technical publications to date." 

  • Appointments

    Date Position Institution name
    2017 - ongoing Senior Lecturer The University of Adelaide
    2015 - 2015 Visiting Professor National Taiwan University
    2011 - 2016 Lecturer The University of Adelaide
    2006 - 2011 Associate Professor Hohai University
    2005 - 2006 Lecturer Hohai University
    2000 - 2000 Geotechnical Engineer SGIDI Engineering Consulting (Group) Co., Ltd.
  • Language Competencies

    Language Competency
    Chinese (Mandarin) Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
    English Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review
  • Education

    Date Institution name Country Title
    The Pennsylvania State University United States Doctor of Philosophy
    Tongji University China Master of Science
    Central South University China Bachelor of Engineering
  • Research Interests

Australian Competitive Schemes

Year Project Investigators Funding Body/Scheme Amount
2021–2023 Accelerating consolidation and closure of mine tailings storage facilities M Jaksa, A Fourie and A Deng Australian Research Council Linkage Projects Scheme $376,265
2015 Developing a green building material by reusing waste rubber tyres A Deng Australian Government Department of Education and Training Endeavour Fellowship $17,000
2014–2016 Measuring and modelling the mechanical response of soils incorporating recycled tyres A Deng, H Nikraz, A Taheri and Y-N Ge Australian Research Council Discovery Projects Scheme $225,000

 

The University of Adelaide Funding Schemes

Year Project/ No. Investigators Funding Body/Scheme Amount
2018 Special Studies Program A Deng ECMS SSP Scheme $1,800
2016 Development and implementation of online quiz assessment A Deng ECMS Stephen Cole the Elder Fellowship Project Scheme $6,000
2015 Special Studies Program A Deng ECMS SSP Scheme $2,000
2013 Overseas Conference Leave A Deng ECMS OCL Scheme $2,000
2012 Development of green composite geomaterials A Deng ECMS Start-Up Funding $10,000
Course Taught Outline
Introduction to Geo-engineering Link
Geotechnical Engineering Link
Advanced Civil Geotechnical Engineering N/A
Masters Research Project Pt A Link
Masters Research Project Pt B Link
  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 Principal Supervisor Dewatering of fine-grained materials using electrokinetic technique Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Qianli Zheng
  • Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)

    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2019 - 2023 Principal Supervisor Multiphase Flow in Porous Media: Dewatering and Consolidation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Dr Zhihao Huangfu
    2018 - 2022 Principal Supervisor Determination of Soil Plasticity Developing Manafi Method and Apparatus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Seyedmasoud Manafighorabaei
    2016 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Mechanical Behavior of Tire Rubber-Reinforced Expansive Soils Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Amin Soltani
    2015 - 2019 Principal Supervisor Assessment and stabilization of micaceous soils Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Jiahe Zhang
    2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Numerical Modelling of Tyre-Derived Geo-Composites Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Can Wang
    2015 - 2020 Co-Supervisor Study on performance of Cement Paste Backfill (CPB) with different binder under various situation Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Yue Zhao
    2015 - 2018 Principal Supervisor A Study of Arching Effect in Soils Incorporating Recycled Tyres Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mr Hamidreza Khatami
    2014 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Discrete Element Modelling of Geocell-Reinforced Railway Ballast and Experimental Examination of Geocell Failure Mechanisms Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Part Time Mr Yang Liu
  • Memberships

    Date Role Membership Country
    2011 - ongoing Member Australian Association for Engineering Education Australia
  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice

    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2015 - ongoing Detailed Assessor Grant Assessment Australian Research Council Australia
    2011 - ongoing Detailed Assessor Grant Assessment Natural Science Foundation of China China
  • Position: Senior Lecturer
  • Phone: 83132830
  • Email: an.deng@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134359
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Engineering North, floor 1
  • Org Unit: Civil Engineering

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