The Geotechnical Enginering Research Group aims to place itself in a dominant role in geotechnics and foundation—both nationally and internationally—focusing on the green transition and effects of climate change for both existing and future geotechnical structures.

All building structures are built on, in, or of soil. Climate change affects the design basis of these structures in the form of increased loads (wind and waves) to be transferred to the ground. Increased rainwater and rising groundwater levels affect the load-bearing capacity of foundations and increase the risk of stability fractures of dams and sheet pile wall structures. The green transition makes offshore wind farms the preferred alternative production facility worldwide. Larger parks are being built with giant turbines in deeper water, which places great demands on innovation within foundation solutions for such giant turbines and parks.

The basis for solving these research challenges is our internationally recognized geotechnical laboratory. The laboratory has advanced equipment enabling large modeling testing of foundations and element testing during complex environmental impact scenarios. The equipment is suitable for experimentally analyzing and defining soil behavior, taking into account climate change scenarios. The laboratory can perform geological and geotechnical classification experiments, In-situ testing, consolidation and triaxial experiments, test setup with pressure tank for offshore measurements, large experiments with foundations.

Our laboratory facilities make us an attractive partner for both national and international industry partners. In addition, the group has a broad collaboration with national and international partners also within the academic world.