Professor Sam Clarke (he/him)

School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering

Professor of Blast Geotechnics

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Profile picture of Headshot of Sam C
sam.clarke@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 222 5703

Full contact details

Professor Sam Clarke
School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering
Room D121
Sir Frederick Mappin Building (Broad Lane Building)
Mappin Street
Sheffield
S1 3JD
Profile

My research aims to understand the fundamentals of blast impact to save lives and infrastructure.

Dr Sam Clarke


Sam graduated from The University of Sheffield with a MEng (Hons) degree in Structural Engineering and Architecture in 2006.

He then joined the Geotechnical Engineering Group and completed his PhD in advanced numerical modelling in 2009. During his doctorate studies Sam spent a number of periods working with Arup Geotechnics' Numerical Skills Team in London and the university spin-out company LimitState.

He spent a short period as a Research Assistant before taking up the post of Lecturer in Geotechnical Engineering in November 2009.

Over the past decade Sam has spent much time investigating the role of soil in blast events. He works on the fundamental physics that govern the interaction between soil, air and explosive charges.

Soil is a variable material; unlike steel, its behavior is not easy to predict. Understanding the fundamentals enables Sam to make accurate predictions of what the effects of a blast in a particular environment would be.

Understanding the impact of blast on soil, buildings, transport and communication networks can contribute to the design of infrastructure that is more resilient to terrorism. Sam’s work also helps to protect troops, vehicles and structures in warzones.

 

Research interests

Sam’s research has led to many collaborations with the Defence Science & Technology Laboratory.

He is currently investigating the high stress, high strain-rate response of geomaterials experienced in blast loading events as well as novel techniques for the quantification of the loading in such events.

He is now a core member of the Blast and Impact Dynamics research group.

His main research interests focus on:

  • The role of soil in buried explosive events
  • Numerical modelling of soil in blast events
  • Quantification of rate effects in soils
  • Experimental techniques for the measurement of blast loading
Publications

Journal articles

Conference proceedings papers

  • Clarke SD, Fay SD, Tyas A, Warren J, Rigby SE, Elgy I & Livesey R (2014) Repeatability of Buried Charge Testing. Military Aspects of Blast and Shock 23. Oxford, UK, 7 September 2014 - 12 September 2014. View this article in WRRO RIS download Bibtex download
Research group

Structures - Blast & Impact Engineering, Geotechnics

Grants

View all research projects

Past Grants

Mechanisms & Characterisation of Explosions

The overall aim of MaCE is to develop a comprehensive conceptual model of blast loading which will serve to underpin accurate predictive models for protection engineers.

PhD opportunities

Understanding Rate Effects In Geomaterials

The purpose of this project will be to conduct experimental work to identify:

  • The triaxial behaviour of different geomaterials at a range of loading rates and
  • The parameters which affect the geomaterials sensitivity to loading rate

The outcome of this work will be well validated material models which can be used in computational analysis models to predict the response of protection systems to intense transient loading.


Predicting The Impulse From Buried Charges

To date, no-one has attempted to synthesise all the disparate data sources into a single complied dataset to allow for a meta-analysis to be conducted. This will involve collating data from the literature and from the Sheffield Blast tests in an attempt to model and predict the output of shallow buried charges. This data can then be fed into the Sheffield predictive model for blast behaviour, which is detailed in the paper linked to below.


Shock Transmission Through Geological Materials

The aim of the PhD will be to investigate the 3 zone model below. It is expected that zones 1 and 3 will be of lesser interest and zone 2 is where the work will be focussed.

  • Zone 1: Cratering- total compaction of the layer with the material being ejected. This is assuming that the initial source is buried. For an above ground burst it is highly likely that cratering will not occur. It is proposed that this is covered by a focussed literature review.
  • Zone 2: Dynamic compaction and shock propagation using the Split-Hopkinson Pressure Bar (Kolsky Bar) apparatus.
  • Zone 3: Elastic shock propagation - traditional earthquake mechanics, soils can and have previously been quantified using "bender" element tests. It is proposed that this is covered by a focussed literature review.

If you're interested in one of these projects or would like to self-propose a project, please contact Sam on the email above. Current PhD opportunities in the department can be viewed here.