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: Resilient eArthwork INfrastructure: Diagnosis, RehabilitatiOn and Prognosis (RAINDROP) https://www.lboro.ac.uk/research/clusters/raindrop/
- ICE Research and Development Enabling Fund: Assessment of stability of shallow foundation affected by erosion voids due to pipe leakage
- International Exchanges – The Royal Society
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., and Moore, I. D. (2025). Influence of Overlying Layers of Loose and Dense Sand or Gravel on the Drilling Mud Pressure Causing Mud Loss from Horizontal Boreholes. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 151(7), 04025069
- Lan, H., Hoult, N., and Moore, I. D. (2024). Numerical Investigation of Strain Variations along Steel Pipelines in Four-Point Bending Tests. Journal of Pipeline Systems Engineering and Practice, 15(4), 04024042
- 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