Atharva Mungale - Civil Engineering
Why did you choose this programme?
During the two years of work experience after my bachelor's degree, I realized the importance of returning to an academic environment to gain expertise in a field I've always found interesting: soil behaviour. I choose the MSc in Civil Engineering at TU Delft because it is a globally renowned programme. The English-taught curriculum, top-notch research, and diverse student cohort were key factors in my decision.
After a couple of common programme modules in the first quarter, I choose the Geo-Engineering Track, allowing me to dive deep into this field. This track has provided me with the tools for understanding the conceptual engineering behaviours of soils and its significance in soil-structure interaction. The inherent unpredictability and variability of the subsurface, make this field so special as it plays a critical role in the design-process of structures.
What are you currently working on?
As part of my graduation project, I am studying the coupled hydro-mechanical characteristics of a specific type of soft soil known as peat. Peats are particularly relevant to geotechnical infrastructures in regions with a temperate climate, such as the Netherlands. For example, due to increasingly warmer summers, the engineering properties of the soft soils in the Netherlands are shrinking and losing volume, causing the ground level to decrease. This alters the soil’s response to stresses coming from structures above ground, such as dykes. It’s therefore important to re-assess the designs of (existing) dykes to account for these changes in the soil.
My approach involves utilizing finite element modelling to predict (as closely as possible) the engineering behaviour of natural fibrous peats. This study is crucial as there is insufficient geotechnical knowledge on this topic.
What do you hope to achieve?
My ultimate goal is to establish my own geotechnical consultancy firm in Mumbai, India. I aspire to contribute to the infrastructure development and safety of projects in Mumbai and beyond. By providing expert geotechnical services, my firm will aim to give solutions for safe, sustainable and resilient built environments.