Professor Hywel Thomas

Professor

Civil Engineering

+44 (0) 1792 205678 ext 1295

h.r.thomas@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 424
Fourth Floor
Engineering North
Bay Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3951-0409

About

I am a Distinguished Research Professor in the School of Engineering. My research interests are in the areas of Geo-Energy and Geo-environmental Engineering. More specifically I work on problems linked to “Coupled Processes” such as Thermo/Hydraulic or Thermo/Hydraulic/Chemical behaviour. Areas of application of my work include the disposal of waste below ground, including high level nuclear waste disposal; clean up of ground contamination; energy from the ground as in ground source heat applications; carbon dioxide storage below ground and underground coal gasification. I am a Fellow of the Royal Society, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and a Member of Academia Europaea. I am currently the President of the Learned Society of Wales.

Areas Of Expertise

High Speed Aerodynamics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Data Analysis
Geoenvironmental Engineering
Geotechnical Engineering
Coupled Processes in the Ground
Thermo/Hydraulic/Chemical/Mechanical/Biological Behaviour
Numerical Modelling

Publications

Research Highlights

Thomas, H., Vardon, P., & Cleall, P. (2014). Three-dimensional behaviour of a prototype radioactive waste repository in fractured granitic rock. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 51(3), 246-259.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0094, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52832
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0094
Sedighi, M. & Thomas, H. (2014). Micro porosity evolution in compacted swelling clays — A chemical approach. Applied Clay Science, 101, 608-618.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.09.027, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52876
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.09.027
Xie, H., Zhang, C., Sedighi, M., Thomas, H., & Chen, Y. (2015). An analytical model for diffusion of chemicals under thermal effects in semi-infinite porous media. Computers and Geotechnics, 69, 329-337.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.06.012, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52877
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.06.012
Sedighi, M., Thomas, H., & Vardon, P. (2016). Reactive transport of chemicals in unsaturated soils: numerical model development and verification. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 53(1), 162-172.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0436, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52878
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0436
Xie, H., Yan, H., Thomas, H., Feng, S., Ran, Q., & Chen, P. (2016). An analytical model for vapor-phase volatile organic compound diffusion through landfill composite covers. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 40(13), 1827-1843.
https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2514, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52879
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nag.2514

All Research

Journal Articles

Zhong, S., Ge, G., Thomas, H., & Li, C. (2024). Investigation of strain-sensitive properties of porous media through micro-CT imaging and numerical modelling. Computers and Geotechnics, 174, 106560
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106560, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67079
Tamaddon Jahromi, H., Sazonov, I., Jones, J., Coccarelli, A., Rolland, S., Chakshu, N., Thomas, H., & Nithiarasu, P. (2022). Predicting the airborne microbial transmission via human breath particles using a gated recurrent units neural network. International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, 32(9), 2964-2981.
https://doi.org/10.1108/hff-07-2021-0498, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58941
Chen, B., Barboza, B., Sun, Y., Bai, J., Thomas, H., Dutko, M., Cottrell, M., & Li, C. (2022). A Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Simulation. Archives of Computational Methods in Engineering, 29(4), 1-58.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11831-021-09653-z, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58667
Fu, P., Xiao, D., Li, D., Thomas, H., & Li, C. (2022). Stochastic reconstruction of 3D microstructures from 2D cross-sectional images using machine learning-based characterization. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 390, 114532
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2021.114532, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59176
Tamaddon Jahromi, H., Chakshu, N., Thomas, H., & Nithiarasu, P. (2022). DEEP LEARNING IN HEAT TRANSFER. Annual Review of Heat Transfer, 24(1), 271-301.
https://doi.org/10.1615/annualrevheattransfer.2022042131, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa61277
Cui, S., Fu, P., Cen, S., Thomas, H., & Li, C. (2021). The correlation between statistical descriptors of heterogeneous materials. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 384, 113948
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2021.113948, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa57162
Fu, J., Thomas, H., & Li, C. (2021). Tortuosity of porous media: Image analysis and physical simulation. Earth-Science Reviews, 212, 103439
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103439, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa55808
Tamaddon Jahromi, H., Chakshu, N., Sazonov, I., Evans, L., Thomas, H., & Nithiarasu, P. (2020). Data-driven inverse modelling through neural network (deep learning) and computational heat transfer. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 369
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2020.113217, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa54477
Brabham, P., Manju, M., Thomas, H., Farr, G., Francis, R., Sahid, R., & Sadasivam, S. (2020). The potential use of mine water for a district heating scheme at Caerau, Upper Llynfi valley, South Wales, UK. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 53(1), 145-158.
https://doi.org/10.1144/qjegh2018-213, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52885
Yan, H., Wu, J., Xie, H., Thomas, H., & Feng, S. (2019). An analytical model for chemical diffusion in layered contaminated sediment systems with bioreactive caps. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 43(15), 2471-2490.
https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2992, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52884
http://orca.cf.ac.uk/125026/
Sedighi, M., Thomas, H., & Vardon, P. (2018). Reactive Transport of Chemicals in Compacted Bentonite under Nonisothermal Water Infiltration. Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, 144(10), 04018075
https://doi.org/10.1061/(asce)gt.1943-5606.0001955, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52880
Masum, S. & Thomas, H. (2018). Modelling coupled microbial processes in the subsurface: Model development, verification, evaluation and application. Advances in Water Resources, 116, 1-17.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2018.03.015, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52882
Hosking, L., Thomas, H., & Sedighi, M. (2018). A dual porosity model of high-pressure gas flow for geoenergy applications. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 55(6), 839-851.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2016-0532, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52883
http://orca.cf.ac.uk/109195/
Xie, H., Yan, H., Thomas, H., Feng, S., Ran, Q., & Chen, P. (2016). An analytical model for vapor-phase volatile organic compound diffusion through landfill composite covers. International Journal for Numerical and Analytical Methods in Geomechanics, 40(13), 1827-1843.
https://doi.org/10.1002/nag.2514, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52879
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/nag.2514
Sedighi, M., Thomas, H., & Vardon, P. (2016). Reactive transport of chemicals in unsaturated soils: numerical model development and verification. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 53(1), 162-172.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0436, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52878
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2014-0436
Xie, H., Zhang, C., Sedighi, M., Thomas, H., & Chen, Y. (2015). An analytical model for diffusion of chemicals under thermal effects in semi-infinite porous media. Computers and Geotechnics, 69, 329-337.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.06.012, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52877
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2015.06.012
Sedighi, M. & Thomas, H. (2014). Micro porosity evolution in compacted swelling clays — A chemical approach. Applied Clay Science, 101, 608-618.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.09.027, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52876
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clay.2014.09.027
Thomas, H., Vardon, P., & Cleall, P. (2014). Three-dimensional behaviour of a prototype radioactive waste repository in fractured granitic rock. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 51(3), 246-259.
https://doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0094, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52832
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/cgj-2013-0094

Conference Contributions

Rolland, S., Tamaddon Jahromi, H., Jones, J., Coccarelli, A., Sazonov, I., Kershaw, C., Tizaoui, C., Holliman, P., Worsley, D., Thomas, H., & Nithiarasu, P. (2012). Modelling Ozone Disinfection to Prevent Covid-19 Transmission. In Mathematics in Industry (pp. 535-541). Springer International Publishing.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-11818-0_69, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa62181

Supervision

Improving Deep Foundation Construction by Simulation Approaches: CFD and CFD-DEM (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
Numerical modelling of tremie concrete in deep foundation construction (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
A novel DEM method to investigate the deformation of porous media and fast«br /» prediction of relative permeability and stress-sensitive permeability (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
A particle-based fluid modelling and its application to lubricating grease (awarded 2024)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
Digital integration of finite element and reservoir simulation technologies for sustainable energy development (awarded 2023)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
Ductile Failure Studies in Polycrystalline Nickel-Based Superalloy (awarded 2023)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
Digital remapping of the complete design process for Temporary structures within Civil «br /»«br /» Engineering (current)

PhD

Other supervisor: Prof Chenfeng Li
Critical Infrastructure Resilience: A Co-Simulation Co-Design Approach (awarded 2023)

PhD

Professor Hywel Thomas

Telephone number

Email address

Research Links

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Conference Contributions

Supervision

Improving Deep Foundation Construction by Simulation Approaches: CFD and CFD-DEM (current)

Numerical modelling of tremie concrete in deep foundation construction (current)

A novel DEM method to investigate the deformation of porous media and fast«br /» prediction of relative permeability and stress-sensitive permeability (awarded 2024)

A particle-based fluid modelling and its application to lubricating grease (awarded 2024)

Digital integration of finite element and reservoir simulation technologies for sustainable energy development (awarded 2023)

Ductile Failure Studies in Polycrystalline Nickel-Based Superalloy (awarded 2023)

Digital remapping of the complete design process for Temporary structures within Civil «br /»«br /» Engineering (current)

Critical Infrastructure Resilience: A Co-Simulation Co-Design Approach (awarded 2023)