Dr Haitao Lan

BEng PhD

Pronouns: He/him
  • Lecturer in Infrastructure Engineering

Research groups and centres

ORCiD Google Scholar

Research and expertise

My research group will focus on: (1) Conduct and analyse results from small to large-scale and field experiments as well as numerical simulations on soil and underground infrastructure; (2) Development of design models and tools for underground infrastructure installation, performance, and rehabilitation based on experimental, numerical, and field data; (3) Investigate the potential of digital twins for the assessment and management of underground infrastructure. I welcome enquiries from candidates who wish to study for a PhD in my area of research interest and also welcome cooperation from industry and universities.

Current research activity

  • The Wolfson Foundation-funded National Engineered Slope Simulator (NESS) facility

Recently completed research projects

  • Developing new analyses to estimate seabed cable fatigue life, RG81776 & RG84310, Cambridge Centre for Smart Infrastructure and Construction, 2020-2023
  • Pipe Liner Evaluations and Connection Studies (PipeLEACS), STPGP/506747, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2019-2020
  • Testing, analysis and performance of new and existing buried pipes installed using conventional and trenchless technologies, RGIN/03686, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, 2012-2018

Recent publications

  • Lan, H., Yan, X., and Moore, I. D. (2024). Mud infiltration and travel paths during mud loss experiments on horizontal borehole stability. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 144, 105565.
  • Zhou, M., Moore, I.D., and Lan, H. (2023). Experimental study on gasketed bell and spigot joint behavior of lined-corrugated HDPE pipe subjected to normal fault. Géotechnique, 73(9), 798-810.
  • Liu, Y., Moore, I.D., Hoult, N., and Lan, H. (2023). Numerical investigation of corrugated steel culvert tests using three-dimensional finite element analysis. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 14(2), 04023002.
  • Lan, H. and Moore, I.D. (2022). Experimental investigation examining influence of pump rates on horizontal borehole stability in sand. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 127, 104608.
  • Lan, H. and Moore, I.D. (2022). New Design Equation for Maximum Allowable Mud Pressure in Sand during Horizontal Directional Drilling. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 126, 104543.
  • Wang, D., Moore, I.D., Hoult, N., and Lan, H. (2022). Evaluation and comparison of different detection technologies on erosion voids near buried pipes. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 123, 104440.
  • Treitz, J., Lan, H., Moore, I.D., and Hoult, N. (2022). Testing and analysis of PVC liners under simulated grouting pressure. Engineering Structures, 250, 113496.
  • Lan, H., Ma, G., Hoult, N., and Moore, I.D. (2021). Stress concentrations due to simulated corrosion pits in metal pipes under longitudinal bending. Journal of Civil Structural Health Monitoring, 9, 1-12
  • Yan, X., Lan, H., Moore, I.D. and Ma, B. (2021). Properties of ‘Fresh’ Mud (drilling fluid) used in Horizontal Directional Drilling. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 12(1), 04020063.
  • Lan, H. and Moore, I.D. (2020). Experimental investigation examining influence of burial depth on stability of horizontal boreholes in sand. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 146(5), 04020013.
  • Zhou, M., Moore, I.D., and Lan, H. (2019). Experimental study of the structural response of lined-corrugated HDPE pipe subjected to normal fault. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 145(12), 04019117.
  • Lan, H. and Moore, I.D. (2018). Practical criteria for assessment of horizontal borehole instability in saturated clay. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 75(1), 21-35.
  • Lan, H. and Moore, I.D. (2017). Numerical Investigation of the circumferential stresses around boreholes during Horizontal Directional Drilling. International Journal of Geomechanics, 17(12), 0417114.
  • Shu, B., Ma, B., and Lan, H. (2015). Cutting transport mechanism in a large-diameter HDD borehole. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 6(4), 04014017.
  • Lan, H., Ma, B., Zhang, Y., and Shu, B. (2015). Buried pipe affected by river erosion when crossing the Yangtze River. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 6(3), A4014002.
  • Lan, H., Ma, B., Shu, B. and Wu, Z. (2011). Prediction of Rotational Torque and Design of Reaming Program using Horizontal Directional Drilling in Rock Strata. Tunnelling and Underground Space Technology, 26(2), 415-421.

Teaching

I contribute to learning and teaching activities across the School’s programmes including:

Undergraduate

  • Geotechnical Engineering modules on the Civil Engineering programmes
  • Supervision of dissertations on topics aligned with my research interests

Postgraduate

  • Doctoral researcher supervision

Enterprise

Recently completed projects

  • Performance testing of novel steel-HDPE product, Armtec Inc.

Consultancies

  • Scarborough Central Station (Canada) design
  • Geotechnical study of Liverpool tidal power plant
  • Geotechnical investigation for Metrolinx Ontario Line Project, South Georgetown Servicing Wastewater Main and Pumping Station, and Fairbank Silverthorn Storm Trunk Sewer System

Profile

I was awarded my PhD degree (Geotechnical Engineering) by Queen’s University (Canada) in 2018 for a thesis titled “Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Stability of Horizontal Boreholes during Horizontal Directional Drilling”.

After completing my PhD, I held the following positions:

  • Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Civil Engineering at Queen’s University over two separate periods (July, 2018 to August, 2019; and June, 2020 to September, 2020). I
  • Toronto Office of Thurber Engineering, Canada, as a Geotechnical Engineer in Training from September, 2019 to May, 2020.
  • Research Associate at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge from October, 2020 to June, 2023.
  • Teaching Associate at the Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge from October, 2022 to June, 2023.
  • I joined in the Croydon Office of Mott MacDonald as an Assistant Geotechnical Engineer from September, 2023 to March, 2024.
  • I became a Lecturer in Infrastructure Engineering at the School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, Loughborough University in April, 2024.

Professional affiliations

  • Member of Pipe Guild UK

Awards

  • Best reviewer in 2019 – 2020 for Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice-American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE)

External activities

  • Reviewer for >20 international journals related to Geotechnical Engineering

Key collaborators

My research and enterprise activities are conducted with a range of academic and stakeholder partners, including:

  • Academic: Queen’s University (Canada), University of Cambridge, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, China University of Geoscience (Wuhan), Sun Yat-sen University
  • Stakeholder: Mott MacDonald