Dr L. Zdravkovic BSc (Eng) - Geotechnical Consulting Group

Dr L. Zdravkovic
BSc (Eng) MSC PhD DIC
Associate
Areas of expertise
Numerical analysis of geotechnical structures, laboratory investigation of soil anisotropy.
Recent experience
After completing her PhD at Imperial College in 1996, Dr Zdravkovic has become
involved with the development and use of the Imperial College Finite Element Program
(ICFEP), a specialist finite element program for geotechnical analysis. New
developments include constitutive models for partially saturated soils, kinematic yield
surface(s) (or bubble) models for stiff clays, extension of the existing Fourier Series Aided
Finite Element Method for analysing tunnel heading problems, dynamic soil behaviour
and 3D shell elements. She has co-authored, with Professor David Potts of Imperial
College, two books on finite element analysis in geotechnical engineering, published by
Thomas Telford.
Apart from numerical research, Dr Zdravkovic supervises laboratory research into soil
anisotropy, using the large Imperial College hollow cylinder apparatus, as well as a
resonant column hollow cylinder device. This is a continuation of her PhD work that
involved experimental research into the stress-strain-strength anisotropy of a granular
soil and she is currently looking into the behaviour of loose, brittle sediments, as well as
natural soft clays (from Bothkennar and Pisa). The results of this work are used to
develop and verify constitutive models which are then used in finite element analysis to
investigate the effects of soil anisotropy on the behaviour of boundary value problems.
Work to date has investigated the behaviour of shallow foundations, offshore bucket
foundations and suction anchors and embankments on soft ground. Dr Zdravkovic has
also assisted with the development of hollow cylinder apparatus for the LNEC
Laboratories in Portugal and the Universities of Singapore and Bristol.
Work for industry has involved numerical analyses of different geotechnical problems for
contractors and consultants both in the UK and abroad. Among them are soil-structure
interaction problems on three sites in Malaysia: Johor Gateway, St. Mary’s development
and the Bank Bumiputra excavation; bearing capacity assessment of suction anchors in a
taut mooring system in the North Sea; assessment of the stability of Plavinas dam on the
Daugava river in Latvia; assessment of the effects of development and re-development
works in London on the behaviour of London Underground tunnels.
Dr Zdravkovic was appointed a Lecturer in Soil Mechanics at Imperial College in 1999
and she teaches Geotechnical Analysis both to undergraduate and MSc students. She is
also one of the initiators and main lecturers on the CPD short course on Numerical
Analysis in Geotechnical Engineering, initiated in 1997 and given biennially at Imperial
College.
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Previous experience
After graduating from the University of Belgrade in 1988, Dr Zdravkovic worked for four
years as an academic member of staff at the same university and was involved in
teaching, research and consulting work concerned with both structural and geotechnical
engineering problems. She assisted in teaching the Foundations course to the 4th year
undergraduates and undertook her own MSc research in the soil-structure interaction
problems, which led to the award of an MSc degree in 1992. Part of this research
involved the development of finite element program for soil-structure interaction.
The consulting projects involved work both in Yugoslavia and abroad and among them
were: design of ground works for foundations of an atomic shelter complex in Belgrade;
design of piled retaining structures to provide slope stability in several residential areas in
Belgrade; assessment of damage to buildings due to changes in the ground water regime
after the Djerdap dam construction on the Yugoslavian-Romanian border; design and
supervision of the foundation works for five large factories in Lipeck, Novokuzneck, Alma-
Ata, Brjansk and Biskek, USSR. She became a chartered engineer in 1990.
In 1992 Dr Zdravkovic came to Imperial College to undertake PhD research into soil
anisotropy, using the Imperial College large hollow cylinder apparatus. She was awarded
a PhD degree by the University of London in 1996.
Education/Research
PhD, DIC, Imperial College, London, 1996
MSc, University of Belgrade, 1992
BSc(Eng), (1st Class) University of Belgrade, 1988
Membership to professional bodies
Member of the Yugoslav Society for Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering.
Member of the British Geotechnical Association, UK.
Graduate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, UK.
Year of birth
1964