PhD Scholar / Research Scholar
Zaheer Abass
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Rock Mechanics
Dynamic Strength
Fragmentation
Geomechanics
Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
Academic background & overview
I am a PhD Scholar in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati), working under the supervision of Dr. Vivek Padmanabha . at Shock Wave and Impact Research Laboratory (SWIRL). My doctoral research is focused on the dynamic strength and fragmentation analysis of brittle geomaterials, with a particular emphasis on rock mechanics and geomechanics.
My research aims to characterise the mechanical response of brittle synthetic and natural geo-materials emphasied on Rock under dynamic loading conditions, investigate fragmentation behaviour, and develop insights applicable to Blasting, underground excavation, slope stability, and earthquake-induced failures in challenging geological terrains.
Prior to joining IIT Guwahati, I completed my M.Tech. in Geotechnical Engineering from the National Institute of Technology Silchar (NIT Silchar) with a CGPA of 8.9/10. My published work includes studies on rock slope stability and seismic vulnerability assessment along the NH-1 Highway in Ladakh.
I am passionate about combining experimental investigations with numerical modelling tools to solve complex geotechnical and geo-mechanical problems, especially in the context of high-strain loading (under shock and impact) conditions.
Core areas of academic focus
Mechanical behaviour of rocks under static and dynamic loading; failure criteria and constitutive modelling.
High strain-rate response of rocks and geo-materials; rate-dependent failure mechanisms.
Size distribution and energy dissipation during dynamic fragmentation of rock specimens.
Stress-deformation behaviour of geo-materials; underground excavation and tunnel stability.
Kinematic and limit-equilibrium analysis of rock slopes; seismically triggered failures in mountainous terrain.
Rock mass classification and seismic slope stability analysis along highway corridors.
FEM/FDM simulation of geotechnical problems using RS2, RS3, Plaxis, and Abaqus.
Geotechnical investigations and hazard assessment for infrastructure in high-altitude and seismic zones.
Academic qualifications and training
Department of Civil Engineering | Specialisation: Geotechnical Engineering
Supervisor: Dr. Vivek Padmanabha
Ongoing
Specialisation: Geotechnical Engineering
CGPA: 8.9 / 10
Civil Engineering
Peer-reviewed book chapters and conference proceedings
In: Satyam, N., Singh, A.P., Dixit, M.S. (eds) Proceedings of 9IYGEC 2023, Volume 2. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, vol 606. Springer, Singapore (2025).
In: Proceedings of the International Conference on Recent Advances in Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics. Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering. Springer, Singapore (2026).
Ongoing doctoral research and major academic work
Doctoral research focused on characterising the dynamic mechanical behaviour and fragmentation patterns of natural and synthetic brittle geomaterials, emphasizing Rock under high-strain-rate loading. Investigating energy dissipation, crack propagation, and size and shape distribution of fragments, practically applicable to excavation and blasting applications. Under the supervision of Dr. Vivek Padmanabha .
Comprehensive stability analysis of rock slopes along National Highway 1 in Ladakh using kinematic analysis, rock mass classification (SMR, RMR, Q-system), and limit-equilibrium methods. Results published as a book chapter in LNCE (2025).
Seismic slope stability assessment along NH-1, Ladakh, combining rock mass classification systems with pseudo-static and dynamic seismic analysis. Identified critical failure zones and proposed mitigation strategies. Published in LNCE (2026) in collaboration with Dr. Vivek Padmanabha .
Finite element and finite difference simulations of geotechnical boundary value problems including slope stability, underground openings, and dynamic loading scenarios using RS2, RS3 (Rocscience), Plaxis, and Abaqus software platforms.
Reach out for collaborations, queries, or academic discussions
RS2 Annexure Building
Civil Engineering Department
IIT Guwahati, Guwahati – 781039
Assam, India
Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
North Guwahati, Assam – 781039, India
Dept. of Civil Engineering