ABOUT ME

Personal Profile

Coming from a humble background in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, I have been guided by perseverance and curiosity throughout my academic journey. I began my professional career in 2008 and firmly believe that teaching and learning are inseparable. Having served in various roles over the years, I continue to deepen my understanding of fundamental concepts in science and engineering. While on this journey of learning, I take pride in sharing my knowledge and experience with the student community.
Currently, I serve as an Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar. I obtained my PhD and M.Tech. from IIT Kanpur and my B.E. from GCT–Anna University. With over eight years of teaching, research & consultancy experience and more than two years of industrial experience, my work bridges academic research and practical applications in geotechnical engineering. My research focuses on numerical and analytical methods in geomechanics, particularly in areas such as retaining systems, rigid pavements, skirted footings, interaction effects, seismic response of geotechnical structures, pile foundations, and ground improvement techniques.

Explore my portfolio, and feel free to get in touch with any queries.

Home: Bio

SANTHOSHKUMAR G

Assistant Professor

"We gain or strengthen a testimony by bearing it" - Dallin H. Oaks

This site provides a brief overview of my ongoing professional journey. I invite you to explore the pages to learn more about my work and interests. Prospective PhD students with a strong interest in geomechanics and related areas are welcome to join my research group

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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Home: Experience

Nov 2022 - Present

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

IIT BHUBANESWAR

I am handling UG and PG courses in the School of Infrastructure (SIF), IIT Bhubaneswar. In addition to academic, research and consultancy works, I am also involved in several administrative acitivities at School and Institute level.

March 2021 - Nov 2022

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

AMRITA VVP UNIVERSITY

Amrita university welcomed me again for continuing my academic career in teaching and research. I handled UG and PG courses in the Department of Civil Engineering. I was also the Coordinator of the PhD program during my tenure.

July 2020 - March 2021

SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW

IIT KANPUR

Soon after completing PhD, I joined with my advisor to explore more in the field of computational geomechanics. I have also started exploring the field application by performing several challenging consultancy activities.

June 2012 - December 2014

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

AMRITA VVP UNIVERSITY

Amirta University offered me a chance to kick-start my career in academics and research. It is always a great pleasure when we share our thoughts to young minds. I was handling UG courses and laboratories in the Department of Civil Engineering.

April 2010 - June 2010

PROJECT ASSOCIATE

IIT MADRAS

This short experience at IIT Madras before I entered into my Master's Degree at IIT Kanpur gave me a glimpse of the nature of consultancy jobs. I performed some preliminary design of intake wells and working sketches for offshore projects, GAMBIT models for the diffuser units in the Department of Offshore Engineering.

September 2008 - June 2009

ENGINEER

GAMMON INDIA LIMITED

My first ever core field job after completing my B.E. I was proud to be a part in various construction activities like Slab works at JSW Steel ltd (Bellary, Karnataka), Surveying, piling and building works in NTPC power plant site (Chennai, Tamilnadu)

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND

Learning and Living

PHD,
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR

December 2014 - July 2020

Completed my doctoral research in the field of geomechanics and soil dynamics.
Scored a CPI of 10 in my course work
Published 8 research articles from my PhD work.
Reviewed several scientific articles and two NPTEL courses.
Received ISSMGE Foundation awards 2019 (Financial Support for attending 16ARC)

M.TECH
INDIAN INSITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KANPUR

July 2010 - June 2012

Scored a CPI of 8.0.
Received GATE scholarship from MHRD for two years
Published a paper from my Dissertation at the national conference.

B.E.
GOVT. COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY COIMBATORE

August 2004 - May 2008

Scored 78.95% in the program
Received Tamilnadu Govt. Merit Scholarship for 4 years
Presented papers in 3 technical symposia outside the institute

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RESEARCH INTEREST

Theoretical soil mechanics, Geomechanics, Soil plasticity, Soil dynamics, Pavement geotechnics

Team Members

Dr. Kishore M S (Completed, 2025)
Pavithra M
Abhishek Dash

Soumisree Chowdhury (2024)
Syamaraman Pattanayak (2024)
Gayathri Romeo (2025)
Shubhangi Shukla (2025)
Ameya B Thale
Devika Bijikumar

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LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

Research Articles

Rakesh, S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Srinivasan, V. (2025). "Evaluating pullout capacity of inclined strip anchors in layered cohesionless soil: an analytical perspective", Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Springer (accepted).
Kishore, M.S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Viswanath, P. (2025). "Mitigating Seismic Hazards in Earth Retaining Structures using Surcharge Imposition", Innovative Infrastructure Solutions, Springer, Vol.10, No. 393, 1-16.
Kishore, M.S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Viswanath, P. (2025). "Pseudo-dynamic analysis of bilinear waterfront retaining wall under earthquakes and tsunamis", International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE), Vol. 25, No. 4, 04025044-1-12.
Kishore, M.S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Viswanath, P. (2025). "Effects of earthquake and tsunami on the stability of quay walls with a bilinear backface – an analytical study", Indian Geotechnical Journal (Springer), https://doi.org/10.1007/s40098-024-01146-7.
Rakesh, S., Srinivasan, V., G. Santhoshkumar, and Pathak, P. (2024). "Oblique pullout of strip anchor embedded in layered sandbed", GRAĐEVINAR, Vo. 76, No. 6, 503-514.
Manna, D., G. Santhoshkumar, and Ghosh, P. (2024) "Ultimate load-bearing capacity of rigid two-way pavements placed on geosynthetic-supported soil embankment". Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board (SAGE), Vol. 2678, No. 6, 40-55
Nandi, S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Ghosh, P. (2022). “Assesment of seismic stability of finite slope in c-ϕ soils - a plasticity approach”, Geomechanics and Engineering (Techno Press), Vol. 31, No. 5, 439 – 452.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2021) “Plasticity based estimation of active earth pressure exerted by layered cohesionless backfill”, International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE), Vol. 21, No. 11, 06021028.
Manna, D., G. Santhoshkumar, and Ghosh, P. (2021). “Upper-bound limit load of rigid pavements resting on reinforced soil embankments - kinematic approach”, Transportation Geotechnics (Elsevier), Vol. 30, 100611.
Nandi, S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Ghosh, P. (2021). “Development of limiting soil slope profile under seismic condition using slip line theory”, Acta Geotechnica (Springer), Published Online. DOI: 10.1007/s11440-021-01251-4.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2021) “Passive resistance of retaining walls supporting layered cohesionless backfill - a plasticity approach”, Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering (ASCE), Vol. 147, No. 8, 06021008.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2021) “Closed-form solution for seismic earth pressure on bilinear retaining wall using method of characteristics”, Journal of Earthquake Engineering (Taylor & Francis), Vol. 25, No. 6, pp 1171-1190.
Nandi, S., G. Santhoshkumar, and Ghosh, P. (2021). “Determination of critical slope face in c-ϕ soil under seismic condition using method of stress characteristics”, International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE), Vol. 21, No. 4, 04021031.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2020) “Seismic stability analysis of a hunchbacked retaining wall under passive state using method of stress characteristics”, Acta Geotechnica (Springer). Vol. 15, No. 6, pp 2969–2982.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2020) “Seismic stability of a broken-back retaining wall using adaptive collapse mechanism”, International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE), Vol. 20, No. 9, 04020154.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2020) “Ultimate bearing capacity of skirted foundation on cohesionless soil using slip line theory”, Computers and Geotechnics (Elsevier), Vol. 123, 103573.
Srinivasan, V., Ghosh, P. and Santhoshkumar, G. (2020). “Experimental and numerical analysis of interacting circular plate anchors embedded in homogeneous and layered cohesionless soil”, International Journal of Civil Engineering (Springer), Vol. 18, No. 2, pp 231-244.
G. Santhoshkumar, Ghosh, P. and Murakami, A. (2019) “Seismic active resistance of a tilted cantilever retaining wall considering adaptive failure mechanism”, International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE), Vol. 19, No. 8, 04019086.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. (2018) “Seismic passive earth pressure on an inclined cantilever retaining wall using method of stress characteristics - a new approach”, Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering (Elsevier), Vol. 107, pp 77-82.
Ghosh, P. and Santhoshkumar, G. (2016) “Vertical uplift capacity of two nearby horizontal strip anchors using method of stress characteristics”, International Journal of Geomechanics (ASCE), Vol. 16, No. 1, 04015015.

Conference Proceedings

Gayathri, R. and G. Santhoshkumar. "A quantitative assessment on the usage of geofoam blocks in underground utilities," Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, December 19-21, 2024, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
Pattanayak, S., G. Santhoshkumar and S. Surapreddi, "Numerical analysis of the uplift capacity of a twin pipeline system on an inclined seabed," Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, December 19-21, 2024, Chhtrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. "Slip-line solution to the seismic active earth pressure considering varying shear modulus of backfill", 8th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics, December 11-14, 2024, IIT Guwahati, India.
Kishore, M.S., G. Santhoshkumar, and P. Viswanath. "Influence of surcharge and phase difference of seismic waves on seismic passive earth pressure of vertical retaining wall", 8th International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics, December 11-14, 2024, IIT Guwahati, India.
Pandey, B.K., G. Santhoshkumar, Shukla, C. and Ingale, R. "Geoenvironmental Aspects of Carbon Sequestration Process: An Overview", Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, December 14–16, 2023, IIT Roorkee.
Surapreddi, S., G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. “Analysis and design of foundation system for the horizontal solar axis tracker”, Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, December 16–18, 2021, NIT Tiruchirappalli. (Best Paper)
Manna, D., G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. “Ultimate bearing capacity of strip footing on reinforced embankment using upper bound limit analysis”, Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, December 17–19, 2020, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. (Third Prize – Best presentation)
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. “Seismic passive resistance of cantilever retaining wall with an efficient adaptive failure mechanism”, 16th Asian Regional Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (16th ARC), October 14–18, 2019, Taipei, Taiwan. (Scopus Indexed) (Funded by ISSMGE).
G. Santhoshkumar and Ghosh, P. “Vertical pullout capacity of two interfering ground anchors in cohesionless soil medium”, Proceedings of Indian Geotechnical Conference, December 13–15, 2012, IIT Delhi, pp.704-707.