Dr. Wei Yuan | Geotechnical engineering | Best Researcher Award
School of Transportation, Southeast University, China.
Wei Yuan is a PhD candidate at the Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, Southeast University, China, focusing on geotechnical innovations such as soil improvement and waste reutilization. Currently a visiting PhD student at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, he has built a strong academic foundation with degrees in Civil Engineering and extensive field and lab research. He actively contributes to major national and international research projects, collaborating with engineering companies and academic institutions. His work has been published in leading journals like Journal of Cleaner Production, Geosynthetics International, and Marine Georesources & Geotechnology. Known for his technical leadership, Wei has explored advanced preloading methods, degradable drainage systems, and the reuse of marine clay, making strides in sustainable infrastructure. In addition to his publications, he serves as a peer reviewer for reputed civil engineering journals. His dynamic research is aligned with solving real-world problems in urban geotechnics and environmental geotechnology.
Profile
🎓 Education
Wei Yuan earned his Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Jilin Architecture University (2013–2017), where he gained fundamental knowledge in structural and geotechnical engineering. He continued his postgraduate studies at North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, receiving his Master’s in Civil Engineering (2018–2021), focusing on soil behavior and soft ground improvement techniques. Since 2021, he has been pursuing a PhD in Geotechnical Engineering at Southeast University, a top-tier institution in China. Enhancing his global research exposure, Wei is also undertaking a visiting PhD program (2024–2025) at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, a hub for engineering excellence. His academic journey demonstrates a strong progression from national institutions to internationally collaborative research, particularly in ground improvement and environmental geotechnics. This comprehensive academic background supports his technical skills and theoretical depth, enabling him to make meaningful contributions to applied geotechnical engineering and sustainable urban development.
🧪 Experience
Wei Yuan has extensive experience in both academic and applied geotechnical engineering. He has participated in high-profile projects such as China’s National Key R&D Program on underground disease body simulation beneath roads, and led industry-oriented research on degradable drainage boards and ecological sediment reinforcement. He is a technical lead in collaborations with major infrastructure companies including Zhuhai Hegang Expressway Co., Ltd. and CCCC (Tianjin) Eco-Environmental Design and Research Institute. His roles involve ground modeling, laboratory testing, material characterization, and field implementation, especially with vacuum preloading and biopolymer-based systems. Wei has published widely in SCI-indexed journals and presented novel techniques for improving soft soil and reclaiming industrial waste in civil applications. His analytical expertise includes settlement prediction, degradation analysis of geosynthetics, and consolidation behavior modeling. As a reviewer for top journals, Wei remains deeply engaged in cutting-edge research and contributes to quality assurance in academic publishing.
🏆 Awards & Honors
While specific awards are not listed, Wei Yuan’s selection for a prestigious visiting PhD program at Nanyang Technological University indicates strong academic merit and international recognition. He has consistently held technical lead or major participant roles in several competitive national and international projects, such as China’s National Key R&D Program and Singapore’s Ministry of Education Academic Research Fund. His invitation to serve as a reviewer for reputed journals like KSCE Journal of Civil Engineering, Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, and Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment further highlights his professional credibility. Wei’s research outputs in top-tier journals and his leadership in eco-innovation projects using biodegradable materials for ground improvement reflect a career marked by impactful contributions to civil and geotechnical engineering. His academic trajectory and involvement in cutting-edge research are themselves indicative of a high-caliber professional steadily gaining recognition in the geotechnical community.
🔬 Research Focus
Wei Yuan’s research centers on sustainable geotechnical solutions, particularly ground improvement, soil behavior, and the reuse of industrial by-products. He explores the beneficial use of waste materials like marine clay and straw-based geosynthetics, aiming to create cost-effective and eco-friendly alternatives to conventional ground reinforcement methods. His work involves mechanical and environmental testing of biodegradable vertical drains and drainage boards, especially in soft soil contexts. He develops and applies advanced preloading techniques—including vacuum preloading with surcharge and phase-change materials—to tackle problems in deep soft ground. Additionally, he investigates geological hazard mitigation, participating in simulation-based research to predict and control urban subsurface deformation. Wei also focuses on how environmental evolution affects soil properties, offering practical insights for infrastructure development in complex urban settings. His contributions bridge academic theory and engineering practice, aiming to enhance urban sustainability and resilience through innovative, data-driven geotechnical engineering.
✅ Conclusion
Wei Yuan stands out as an emerging talent in geotechnical and sustainable civil engineering research. His strong publication record, active international collaboration, and involvement in innovative environmental engineering solutions make him a highly suitable candidate for the Best Researcher Award. With further professional development in leadership and broader outreach, he is poised to become a leading figure in his field.
Publication
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Title: Dewatering mechanisms of heating-assisted vacuum preloading of river/lake dredged sediments
Year: 2025
Authors: Wei Yuan, Qi Feng, Hongkai Huang, Kai Cao, Zi Ying, Yongfeng Deng
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enggeo.2025.108128 -
Title: Engineering properties of biodegradable vertical drains for soft ground improvement
Year: 2024
Authors: Wei Yuan, Zi Ying, Yinqiang Su, Qiong Wang, Sheng Chen, Yongfeng Deng
Link: https://doi.org/10.1680/jgein.24.00110 -
Title: Performance of deep soft ground improved by straight-line vacuum combined with surcharge preloading: Case study
Year: 2024
Authors: Wei Yuan, Yinqiang Su, Zi Ying, Yongfeng Deng, Qian Yang, Sheng Chen
Link: https://doi.org/10.1080/1064119X.2024.2391879 -
Title: Degradation of straw-based wick drain and its effect on consolidation
Year: 2024
Authors: Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng, Zi Ying, Qian Yang, Yinqiang Su, Zhenshun Hong
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2024.142182 -
Title: Laboratory degradation test and field application of straw drainage board
Year: 2024
Authors: Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng, Xiaobing Chen, Yinqing Su -
Title: Settlement prediction method for staged preloading on soft clay ground
Year: 2024
Authors: Wei Yuan, Rubtian Zhu, Yinqiang Su, Qi Feng, Yongfeng Deng -
Title: One-Dimensional Consolidation Properties of Soft Clay under Multi-Stage Loading
Year: 2023
Authors: Jiangfeng Wang, Wei Yuan, Xuexuan Yin, Wenjie Li, Xinya Li
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/app131810340 -
Title: Performance evaluation of light-weighted cement-stabilized-clay columns for soft ground improvement using the centrifuge model test
Year: 2023
Authors: Zhenping Zhao, Zi Ying, Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng, Xiaoqiang Liu, Chengfu Chu, Xingwen Gu
Link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trgeo.2023.101034 -
Title: Evaluation of the Laboratory Degradation Performance of a Straw Drainage Board
Year: 2022
Authors: Runtian Zhu, Yinqiang Su, Cankun Wu, Wei Yuan, Yongfeng Deng
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/su142416365 -
Title: One-Dimensional Consolidation Analysis of Saturated Soft Clay Based on Water Content Variation
Year: 2021
Authors: Wei Yuan, Jiangfeng Wang
Link: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12205-020-0789-4 -
Title: Influence of Stress History on Consolidation Coefficient of Saturated Soft Soil
Year: 2020
Authors: Jiangfeng Wang, Wei Yuan