Prof Hannes Gräbe

Hannes Gräbe is a civil engineer with 16 years’ experience in track technology, track geotechnology, advanced laboratory testing, field investigations, maintenance models and numerical analysis of track structures.  

• SVC 323: Transportation Engineering
• SSC 412: Research Project
• SBZ 420: Civil Engineering Construction Management

• Track formation design, based on layer stiffness and accurate estimates of plastic and resilient deformation.
• Numerical track analysis using Finite Element modelling and other numerical methods.
• The testing and evaluation of non-conventional track structures (e.g. Tubular Modular Track and slab track).
• Track condition assessment using new technologies such as Remote Video Monitoring (RVM) and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR). Formation investigations using in-situ tests (e.g. falling weight and Pencel Pressuremeter).
• Geosynthetic design using geotextiles, geogrids and geocells for load support, drainage and separation. Quality control and material compliance for track construction projects.
• Structural Dynamics problems involving amongst others, resilient pads and track transitions.
• Aspects related to Continuously Welded Rail (CWR) and the measurement of the stress free temperature in CWR.

Research Supervision (Current students)

• Broekman, A. (PhD, 2022) - The use of rail photogrammetry for track geometry measurement

Research Supervision (Graduated PhD students)

• Fourie, D.J. (PhD (Civil Engineering), 2018) - Railway Wheel Squeal as a result of unsteady longitudinal and spin creepage
• Mpye, D. (PhD (Civil Engineering), 2021) - The effect of increased axle loading on saturated and unsaturated railway foundation materials
• Vandoorne, R. (PhD (Civil Engineering), 2021) - Climatic effects on railway formation material

Research Supervision (Graduated MEng students)

• Broekman, A. (MEng (Transportation), 2018) - Metrology of mesoscale ballast particle dynamics using Kli-pi
• Demmerez de Charmoy, C.P. (MEng (Transportation)) - Quantifying the economic benefits of gauge changes on the South African core railway network
• Du Plooy, R - (MEng (Transportation), 2015) - Characterisation of rigid polyurethane foam reinforced ballast through cyclic loading box tests
• Hawley, C. (MEng (Transportation), 2021) - Water leakage mapping in concrete railway tunnels using LiDAR generated point clouds
• Jacobs, D. (MEng, 2022) - The management of track-bridge interaction
• Jideani, TC (MEng (Transportation), 2018) - The development of suitable cyclic loading and boundary conditions for ballast box tests
• Mones Ruiz Martin, HA (MEng (Transportation)) - A mechanistic-empirical method for characterisation of railway track formation
• Mvhelasi, M (MEng (Geotechnical)) - Ballast Characterisation using laser technology
• Myoya, R.L. (MEng (Transportation), 2018) - The influence of the gap on platform train interface occurrences
• Powell, A (MEng (Transportation)) - 
• Rondo, AJ (MSc (Transportation), 2016) - Railway formation condition assessment using seismic surface waves
• Schulz-Poblete, MC (MEng (Geotechnical)) - Soil suction response of granular railway formation materials under cyclic loading
• Vandoorne, R (MEng (Transportation), 2017) - Stochastic rail life cycle cost maintenance modeling using Monte Carlo simulation
• Van Niekerk, O.A. (MEng (Transportation))
• Van Schalkwyk, H. (MEng, 2021 (Transportation)) - Development of smart railpads for axle and load measurements
• Vorster, P - (MEng (Geotechnical). 2016) - Centrifuge modelling of railway embankments under static and cyclic loading
• Vorster, DJ - (MEng (Transportation)) - The use of Ground Penetrating Radar for Track Substructure Characterization
• Vd Westhuizen, NJ - (MEng (Transportation), 2013) - The integration of Railway Condition Monitoring Technologies to Establish Track Asset Management Improvement

​Publications list  (Google Scholar profile)

Full list of publications