Research interests
- Use of microbially mediated mineral precipitation for ground improvement and ground sealing
- Development and application of colloidal silica-based grouts for ground improvement and ground sealing
- Development of detectable cementitious grouts for reliable barrier formation
- Fluid flow in geological faults, estimating fault permeability (particular relevance to radioactive waste disposal, CO2 sequestration and oil and gas exploitation)
- The relationaship between fault permeability and seismicity - temporal and spatial evolution
- Predicting ground permeability through structural geology and rock mechanics
- Groundwater flow and contaminant transport
- Rock mechanics and structural geology
- Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems
- Computer modelling
Professional activities
- Scottish Government (External organisation)
- Member
- 2015
- Royal Society of Edinburgh (External organisation)
- Member
- 2015
- UK Government (External organisation)
- Member
- 2012
- Geology (Journal)
- Editorial board member
- 2010
- Journal of Structural Geology (Journal)
- Guest editor
- 2010
- EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
- Visiting researcher
- 2010
more professional activities
Projects
- SAFE - a Systems Approach For Engineered Barriers
- Lunn, Rebecca (Principal Investigator) Reid, Christopher (Administrator)
- Steel waste canisters, bentonite clay and cement backfills constitute the multi barrier concept for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste. The aim of this research project was to deploy and refine advanced monitoring technologies for simultaneous imaging of THMC variables (pH, temperature, pore-water pressure, swelling etc) within these elements of the multi-barrier systemi n these elements of the multi barrier system in these elements of the multi barrier system in these elements ofin the laboratory. State-of-the-art micro-to-nano scale wireless devices were embeded into bentonite, and, combined with micro-scale geophysical and magnetic monitoring surveys, 2D and 3D heterogeneities in THMC behaviour were illumnated. These monitoring technologies were integrated with experiments to gain a predictive understanding of the THMC evolution of clay-based engineered barriers, and their interfaces, up to the upper-bound of realistic environmental conditions. Interfaces comprised of joints within the clay as well as interfaces to the surrounding rock, cement and waste container. Experiments and modelling focused on the effects of strong gradients in temperature (<150 degrees C), low pH cements and high salinity (10-40 g/l) across the EBS interfaces, and on the fingering of flow along joints and interfaces that may give rise to a heterogeneous THMC system response.
- Period 30-Sep-2012 - 29-Mar-2017
- What happens to groundwater chemistry during fault slip: implications for rock friction (£1.2K)
- Stillings, Mark (Principal Investigator) Shipton, Zoe (Co-investigator) Lunn, Rebecca (Co-investigator) Lord, Richard (Co-investigator)
- Mimicking the pressure changes in groundwater during earthquakes. Changes in groundwater pressure can trigger precipitation and dissolution of minerals, changing water chemistry and fracture surfaces. This in turn can lead to changes in rock friction, potentially increasing the magnitude of future earthquakes.
- Period 31-Mar-2018 - 31-Mar-2019
- Groundwater geochemistry changes during unloading due to reservoir drainage - pilot study (£7K)
- Lord, Richard (Principal Investigator) Stillings, Mark (Co-investigator) Lunn, Rebecca (Co-investigator) Shipton, Zoe (Co-investigator)
- Use of NERC Isotope Community Support Facility, application IP-1583-1115
- Period 01-Feb-2016
- Groundwater geochemistry changes during unloading due to reservoir drainage: Main study (£70K)
- Lord, Richard (Principal Investigator) Stillings, Mark (Post Grad Student) Lunn, Rebecca (Co-investigator) Shipton, Zoe (Co-investigator)
- Use of NERC Isotope Community Support Facility Application IP-1762-1117 (£70K)
- Period 01-Feb-2018
- Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP 2016-2017 University of Strathclyde) | McKay, Lucy
- Shipton, Zoe (Principal Investigator) Lunn, Rebecca (Co-investigator) McKay, Lucy (Research Co-investigator)
- Period 01-Jan-2017 - 01-Jul-2020
- Underpinning the safety case for the use of colloidal silica based grout for waste containment
- Bots, Pieter (Co-investigator) Lunn, Rebecca (Principal Investigator) El Mountassir, Grainne (Co-investigator) Pedrotti, Matteo (Co-investigator) Renshaw, Joanna (Co-investigator)
- X-ray Computed Tomography beamtime awarded by Diamond Light Source (STFC) at equivalent funding value of £95,940.
Abstract of funded proposal:
In the proposed experiments we aim to develop the scientific case to underpin the use of novel colloidal silica based grouts for radioactive waste containment. We aim to use the element specific capabilities of synchrotron based X-ray CT at beamline I13-2 to investigate the effects of the grout injection on the geochemistry of Sr, Cs and U. We will also utilize the time resolved capabilities to determine the influence of complex solid matrices on the (injection) behaviour of the silica grouts.
- Period 06-Sep-2017 - 11-Sep-2017
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Address
Civil and Environmental Engineering
James Weir Building
James Weir Building
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