Yang Yunpeng | Geotechnical Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Civil Engineering Awards

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yang Yunpeng | Geotechnical Engineering | Research Excellence Award

Yangtze University | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yang Yunpeng is a dedicated early-career scholar and Specially Appointed Associate Professor at the College of Geosciences, Yangtze University, recognized for his emerging contributions to the field of geological hazards and mountain disaster dynamics. His research primarily focuses on the mechanisms, evolution, and monitoring of landslides, debris flows, rock avalanches, and snow avalanches, with an emphasis on disaster-chain processes in seismically active regions. He has developed expertise in seismic-signal-based monitoring and early warning frameworks, experimental flume testing, debris-flow dynamics, and disaster-risk mitigation technologies. Dr. Yang has published over ten research articles, including nine SCI-indexed papers, with four as first or corresponding author in reputable international journals such as Engineering Geology, JGR: Earth Surface, and Landslides. His work has clarified the chain-inducing mechanisms of seismic landslide–debris-flow sequences, advanced the understanding of debris-flow impact dynamics, and contributed novel insights into sediment transport transitions under seismic forcing. In addition to publications, he has participated in the development of multiple national invention patents related to disaster simulation, debris-flow hazard mitigation, and engineering modeling technologies, demonstrating both scientific innovation and practical applicability. Dr. Yang collaborates actively with interdisciplinary teams involving experts in seismology, geomorphology, engineering geology, and geotechnical engineering, enabling integrative approaches to mountain-hazard research. His contributions support national needs in major engineering construction and disaster-risk reduction, with societal impacts spanning improved hazard early-warning capabilities, enhanced understanding of disaster chains, and the development of protective strategies for vulnerable mountainous regions. Through rigorous research, international engagement, and commitment to scientific advancement, Yang Yunpeng continues to establish himself as a promising researcher contributing valuable knowledge to global geohazard prevention and sustainable development.

Profile: Scopus
Publication

Physical model experiment of rainfall-induced instability of a two-layer slope: Implications for early warning. Landslides. (2024)

Caoyuan Niu | Geotechnical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Caoyuan Niu | Geotechnical Engineering | Best Researcher Award

Senior Engineer‌ | China Railway No.4 Engineering Group Co., Ltd | China

Dr. Caoyuan Niu is a dynamic researcher specializing in bridge and tunnel engineering, with a strong focus on the mechanical behavior and fracture characteristics of rock and composite materials under complex environmental and loading conditions. Currently serving as a postdoctoral fellow jointly supervised by China Railway No.4 Engineering Group Co., Ltd. and Hefei University of Technology, he obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from Sichuan University in 2021. His scholarly output demonstrates a robust contribution to the field, with six SCI-indexed publications as the first author in high-impact international journals such as Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, and Cold Regions Science and Technology. In addition to his academic publications, Dr. Niu holds ten authorized invention patents, reflecting a strong orientation toward practical innovation and technology transfer. His research on the bearing capacity of rock-anchored anchorage systems and the deterioration of rock materials under freeze-thaw and hydrochemical effects has advanced the understanding of infrastructure resilience and safety in extreme conditions. Through interdisciplinary collaboration with experts in material mechanics, structural engineering, and geotechnics, he has contributed to developing safer, more sustainable design principles for large-scale bridge and tunnel projects. Dr. Niu’s scientific endeavors not only enhance theoretical insights into rock fracture mechanics but also provide applied engineering solutions that support national infrastructure development and global knowledge exchange in civil and geotechnical engineering.

Profile: Scopus
Publications:

Influence of the interlaced holes on crack propagation behavior under impact loads. International Journal of Impact Engineering. 
(Cited by: 17)

Deterioration of dynamic fracture properties of granite under the coupled effects of hydrochemical solutions and freeze–thaw cycles. International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences. 
(Cited by: 8)

Mahasakti Mahamaya | Geotechnical Engineering | Women Researcher Award

Published on by Civil Engineering Awards

Dr. Mahasakti Mahamaya | Geotechnical Engineering | Women Researcher Award

Associate Professor | OP Jindal University | India

Dr. Mahasakti Mahamaya is a distinguished researcher whose academic contributions span across engineering and interdisciplinary sciences, with a focus on innovative methodologies, sustainable development, and applied technologies. Her research portfolio demonstrates significant depth, addressing complex real-world challenges through analytical precision and forward-looking inquiry. Dr. Mahamaya has authored a substantial number of peer-reviewed papers in reputed international journals and conferences, contributing extensively to the advancement of knowledge in her field. Her work has attracted a remarkable level of global attention, reflected through 483 total citations and 445 citations since 2020, underscoring the continuing influence of her research. With an h-index of 10 and an i10-index of 10, Dr. Mahamaya has consistently maintained scholarly excellence and research impact across multiple domains. She has actively collaborated with experts and institutions worldwide, strengthening multidisciplinary networks and fostering the integration of academic research with industry and policy frameworks. Her studies have advanced understanding in areas such as material behavior, computational modeling, and sustainable engineering practices, while also highlighting the societal and environmental implications of technological innovation. Through mentorship, publication, and collaborative initiatives, Dr. Mahamaya has contributed to nurturing a new generation of researchers and to shaping future-oriented strategies in engineering and applied science. Her sustained academic engagement and global recognition underscore a career dedicated to impactful, ethically grounded, and socially relevant scientific inquiry, positioning her as a leading figure in her research domain.

Profile: Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar
Featured Publications:

Suman, S., Mahamaya, M., & Das, S. K. (2016). Prediction of maximum dry density and unconfined compressive strength of cement stabilised soil using artificial intelligence techniques. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, 2(2), 1–11.

Mahamaya, M., Das, S. K., Reddy, K. R., & Jain, S. (2021). Interaction of biopolymer with dispersive geomaterial and its characterization: An eco-friendly approach for erosion control. Journal of Cleaner Production, 127778.

Parhi, P. S., Garanayak, L., Mahamaya, M., & Das, S. K. (2017). Stabilization of an expansive soil using alkali activated fly ash based geopolymer. International Congress and Exhibition "Sustainable Civil Infrastructures".

Mahamaya, M., & Das, S. K. (2017). Characterization of mine overburden and fly ash as a stabilized pavement material. Particulate Science and Technology, 35(6), 660–666.

Das, S. K., Mahamaya, M., & Reddy, K. R. (2020). Coal mine overburden soft shale as a controlled low strength material. International Journal of Mining, Reclamation and Environment, 34(10), 725–747.