Hem Bahadur Motra

@hem.motra@ifg.uni-kiel.de

Lecturer, Geomechanics, Rock Mecahnics and Geotechnical Engineering
University of Kiel

Hem Bahadur Motra


                           Download Compact PDF  
https://researchid.co/hemmotra
I currently work as a academic staff at the institute of geoscience Kiel University, Germany. My research is mainly driven by my curiosity about the reliable engineering computing, structural reliability, risk and hazard analysis, quality evaluation of models, geostatistics, probabilistic methods, physical processes control rock material behaviour in the subsurface, along with the direct relevance of this field to socially relevant issues, such as mining, nuclear disposal, geotechnical engineering, geo-energy and oil production.
I am a leading academic and researcher in geomechanics, rock mechanics, mining geomechanics, and engineering geology, with a strong international profile in both teaching and research. I have published over 50 peer-reviewed journal papers and hold an h-index of 15, reflecting my substantial impact on the field. I have taught and supervised B.Sc., M.Sc., and PhD theses across core geotechnical subjects.

EDUCATION

PhD in Geotechnical Engineering

RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS

Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology, Civil and Structural Engineering, Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

FUTURE PROJECTS

How Important is Compositional Layering within the Earth? Testing the Hypothesis using Seismic Anisotropy

Seismological observations indicate that large regions within Earth show directionally dependent seismic wave speeds. Such seismic anisotropy is a unique and invaluable indicator for geodynamic processes, structure and rheology of the Earth. However, a challenge in using anisotropy is that it arises from different sources, leading to non-unique interpretations of the geodynamic process that give rise to anisotropy. Intrinsic anisotropy originates from single crystals, or aggregates of oriented crystals, which is known as crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO). It is an important source for anisotropy in the deeper parts of the crust, mantle and core. Extrinsic, or apparent, anisotropy arises from geometrical effects such as layering of rocks, and oriented crack and fluid networks. In this project, particular focus is placed on testing the hypothesis that mineral compositional banding is an important contributor to seismic anisotropy throughout the interior of Earth, which has not


Applications Invited
50

Scopus Publications

984

Scholar Citations

16

Scholar h-index

23

Scholar i10-index

Scopus Publications

  • Investigation of bentonite–goethite mixture as a novel material for low-level landfill liners
    Mohammad Nadi, Amin Azhari, Hajar Share Isfahani, Hem B. Motra, Mahmoud Hefny, Abbas Salati, Mohsen Bazargan
    Scientific Reports, 2025
    The safe containment of hazardous waste requires landfill liner materials with both effective radiation shielding and strong hydro-mechanical performance. This study investigates the potential of a bentonite-goethite mixture as a novel material for hazardous waste landfill liners. The study examines the radiation shielding of the mixtures, represented by the linear attenuation coefficient, through experimental (Na (Tl) spectrometer detector), numerical (MCNP code), and reference database (XCOM and PHY-X) approaches. Moreover, the hydraulic permeability and mechanical properties are evaluated experimentally. For this, the varying proportions of goethite from 10 to 50% were examined. The results show an increase of up to 20, 24, and 28 percent in the linear attenuation coefficient at gamma ray energies of Cs $$^{137}$$ (661.6 keV) and Co $$^{60}$$ (1173.2 and 1332.5 keV). Higher goethite percentages, correlating with density variations and enhancing radiation shielding effectiveness. Numerical and reference database results align closely with experimental findings, suggesting their utility for assessing other mixtures. The direct shear test reveals that with an increase of goethite proportion to 50 percent, the cohesion is reduced to half and the friction angle is inclined twice the pure bentonite values, attributed to bentonite reduction and goethite roughness. Unconfined compressive strength trends show 20% improvement at specific mixture composition with 30% goethite, while hydraulic conductivity inclines with goethite content to $$\\mathrm { 8.8\\times 10^{-10}}$$ m/s. In this study the bentonite-goethite mixture illustrates improving radiation shielding and maintaining hydro-mechanical properties for landfill liners. This may offer a sustainable alternative using waste materials from mineral processing, contributing to waste management and environmental sustainability.
  • Advance in Marine Geotechnical Engineering
    Hem Bahadur Motra
    Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 2025
    Marine geotechnical engineering is undergoing a rapid transformation driven by the increasing global demand for offshore energy, resilient coastal infrastructure, and sustainable seabed utilization [...]
  • Optimizing Rock Bolt Support for Large Underground Structures Using 3D DFN-DEM Method
    Nooshin Senemarian Isfahani, Amin Azhari, Hem B. Motra, Hamid Hashemalhoseini, Mohammadreza Hajian Hosseinabadi, Alireza Baghbanan, Mohsen Bazargan
    Geosciences Switzerland, 2025
    A systematic sensitivity analysis using three-dimensional discrete element models with discrete fracture networks (DEM-DFN) was conducted to evaluate underground excavation support in jointed rock masses at the CLAB2 site in Southeastern Sweden. The site features a joint network comprising six distinct joint sets, each with unique geometrical properties. The study examined 10 DFNs and 19 rock bolt patterns, both conventional and unconventional. It covered 200 scenarios, including 10 unsupported and 190 supported cases. Technical and economic criteria for stability were assessed for each support system. The results indicated that increasing rock bolt length enhances stability up to a certain point. However, multi-length rock bolt patterns with similar consumption can yield significantly different stability outcomes. Notably, the arrangement and properties of rock bolts are crucial for stability, particularly in blocks between bolting sections. These blocks remain interlocked in unsupported areas due to the induced pressure from supported sections. Although equal-length rock bolt patterns are commonly used, the analysis revealed that triple-length rock bolts (3, 6, and 9 m) provided the most effective support across all ten DFN scenarios.
  • Elastic properties of anisotropic rocks using an stepwise loading framework in a true triaxial testing apparatus
    Farshad Sadeghpour, Hem Bahadur Motra, Chinmay Sethi, Sandra Wind, Bodhisatwa Hazra, Ghasem Aghli, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 2025
    Directional dependence of mechanical properties, or waves propagating in geomaterials, known as anisotropy, is important in accurately predicting their response to stresses in various engineering applications. These measurements are generally conducted on cylindrical samples under conventional uniaxial or triaxial loading conditions where two or three samples that are prepared at different directions to the plane of symmetry would be required. To avoid using several samples and the variability that might exist in the specimens, this paper explores laboratory testing of anisotropic shale rock samples under true triaxial test (TTT or polyaxial testing) conditions. Herein, two cubic shale samples (A and B) of different lithotypes, were subjected to an step-wise loading path that was increased gradually on each side of the sample. At the same time, compressional and shear wave velocities were measured in three separate directions when isostatic stress conditions are achieved. As a result, independent components of the stiffness tensor of a transversely isotropic media (static elastic modulus and Poisson's ratio) are calculated from the directional stress-strain curve, while dynamic mechanical parameters are determined from directional ultrasonic wave velocities. The results showed strong dependence of these parameters to the direction of measurements with respect to the plane of symmetry, differing between these two lithotypes, confirming transversely isotropic behavior of the samples with varying magnitudes. Petrographic analysis of the samples revealed this is due to the internal structure and orientation of minerals and foliation, particularly muscovite and clay. Moreover, dynamic mechanical parameters were found larger than the static ones and a robust relationship between them was established. Additionally, Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio along axis of symmetry, as well as the P and S wave velocities traveling perpendicular to the bedding were found smaller compared to those parallel to the bedding. Collectively, this approach made us independent from running tests on several samples and avoid the bias that can exist in testing shale samples with high structural complexity when samples should be prepared in several directions. • Anisotropic modulus aids in predicting geomaterials' response to stress in engineering. • True triaxial tests (TTT) enable anisotropy study on single shale samples. • Compressional and shear waves were measured in three directions under isostatic stress. • Results confirm transversely isotropic behavior with strong directional dependence. • Dynamic mechanical properties exceed static, with lower values perpendicular to bedding.
  • Implications of Fracture Networks in Elastic Response of Heterogeneous Carbonate Reservoirs
    Ghasem Aghli, Reza Gholami, Mohammad Reza Saberi, Mohammad Nikbin, Tahura Ahsani, Hem Bahadur Motra, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Earth and Space Science, 2025
    In this research, we explored how various fracture parameters could influence the elastic response of heterogeneous carbonates. Herein, 16 core plugs from a fractured carbonate formation are subjected to a comprehensive analysis including CT‐scanning, optical and electron microscopy, and XRD analysis to identify and characterize open fractures and their corresponding features. Subsequently, these samples underwent hydrostatic compression under reservoir conditions, during which ultrasonic wave velocities and strain were continuously measured while confining pressure was gradually increased to 65 MPa, pore pressure remained constant at zero, and temperature at 90°C. Our findings revealed that the presence of open fractures would cause a reduction in both compressional and shear wave velocities while causing strain variations. The extent of these changes, however, is notably influenced by fracture parameters, particularly connectivity, dip, and aperture. Furthermore, the study showed that the influence of stylolites and solution seams is the secondary influential factor, primarily impacting the P‐wave and increasing the strain. This research suggests that the impact of structural features, especially fractures, supersedes the role of porosity percentage in controlling the elastic properties of carbonate rocks. Furthermore, it was concluded that when fractures form a network, they exert a more pronounced impact on the elastic response compared to their isolated existence. This observation confirms that detection of fractures should be supplemented with a detailed assessment of their parameters. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into how distinct fracture parameters would improve our interpretation of carbonate reservoirs elastic response, with a particular focus on wave velocities.
  • Influence of lithological contrast on elastic anisotropy of shales under true-triaxial stress and thermal conditions
    Chinmay Sethi, Hem Bahadur Motra, Bodhisatwa Hazra, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2025
    The intrinsic anisotropy of shales, arising from their complex microstructure, including mineral alignment and bedding orientation, significantly influences seismic wave propagation, impacting subsurface imaging and reservoir characterization. Despite extensive research on shale anisotropy, studies employing cubic specimens under true-triaxial conditions, which provide a more realistic simulation of subsurface stress states, remain limited. This study investigates the elastic anisotropic behaviour of two distinct shale lithotypes: grey shale (GSH) and silty shale (SSH) from the Permian Barakar Formation of Lower Gondwana in the Jharia Basin, India, under varying isostatic pressures (8 MPa, 12 MPa, 25 MPa, 35 MPa, and 51 MPa) and temperatures (20 °C, 50 °C, 100 °C, 150 °C, and 200 °C) using a polyaxial loading apparatus. Compressional (Vp) and shear wave (Vs) velocities were measured in multiple orientations—parallel, perpendicular, and at 45° to the bedding plane—allowing for a comprehensive evaluation of elastic properties. The results reveal that both Vp and Vs exhibit a noticeable increase with rising isostatic pressure, indicating enhanced stiffness due to the closure of microcracks and pores. Moreover, GSH consistently demonstrated higher wave velocities compared to SSH, attributed to its higher quartz content and mineral alignment, which contributed to reduced shear wave splitting. The analysis of dynamic bulk modulus (K) indicated a consistent increase with pressure for both shale types, with GSH exhibiting a more linear response compared to the non-linear behaviour observed in SSH, influenced by its clay-rich composition. Temperature-induced changes in elastic properties were minimal, with only slight decrease in wave velocities observed at higher temperatures under constant pressure, inferring to the stability of the shale structure. This stability suggests that thermal expansion and mineralogical transformations do not significantly impact the elastic behaviour of these shales within the temperature range of the test. Furthermore, Thomsen anisotropy parameters (ε and γ) exhibited distinct trends under varying pressure and temperature conditions where overall a reduction in anisotropy was observed with increased pressure, reflecting a transition to more isotropic behaviour as pre-existing microcracks closed. The study provides a baseline understanding of variations in elastic properties of two different shale lithotypes to support subsurface resource exploitation strategies, underscoring the significance of employing cubic specimens under true-triaxial conditions to accurately simulate subsurface stress states.
  • Elastic anisotropy and deformation characteristics of Pennsylvania anthracite
    Bodhisatwa Hazra, Hem Bahadur Motra, James C. Hower, Maria Mastalerz, Chinmay Sethi, Harold Schobert
    International Journal of Coal Geology, 2025
  • Micromechanical variation of organic matter (kerogen type I) under controlled thermal maturity progression
    Bo Liu, Aydin Larestani, Kouqi Liu, Yifei Gao, Hem B. Motra, Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2025
    Shale formations have recently gained plenty of attention owing to their large amounts of reserves. Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are the proposed approaches for the development of shale formations. The extended information of the mechanical properties of shale formation is crucial for designing a successful hydraulic fracturing operation. On the other hand, the mechanical properties of such organic-rich formations are greatly affected by the mechanical characteristics of the present kerogen (organic matter), which dramatically changes during the maturation process. In this study, a Qingshankou shale sample containing kerogen type I is mechanically investigated at different maturity levels using the grid nanoindentation approach. To this end, the original immature sample is artificially matured during hydrous (HP) and anhydrous (AHP) pyrolysis. More than 930 nanoindentation tests were performed on grids of 9 × 8 on the surface of 13 samples with different maturities. The test results showed that the presence of water during pyrolysis can significantly affect the shale sample’s mechanical characteristics. In higher temperatures and higher levels of maturity, the role of water becomes more pronounced. During hydrous pyrolysis, kerogen produces larger amounts of oil and bitumen, which become progressively porous. While the original sample showed a Young’s modulus value of more than 48 GPa, and it fluctuated between approximately 19 and 32 GPa during the HP scenario and between 17 and 34 GPa during the AHP process. In terms of hardness, the original sample exhibited an initial value of about 1.1 GPa and more mature samples reflected hardness values in the range of approximately 0.3 and 0.97 GPa in both scenarios. According to the trends of mechanical properties during maturation, mechanical properties decreased at the initial stage of maturation and remained relatively constant during the oil window. Then, another decline was detected at the wet-gas window’s closure. In the dry-gas window, HP and AHP scenarios exhibited different behaviors mainly due to the chemical structure of the kerogen residue.
  • Fracture Development and Characterization from Field Data in a Dolomite-Limestone Sequence
    Ghasem Aghli, Hem Bahadur Motra, Mohammad Reza Saberi, Mohammad Nikbin, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 2025
    Open fractures are an important contributor to reservoir quality in carbonate formations. Herein, their development and relevant parameters are controlled by various factors, among which lithology is considered the most critical. With this in mind, we investigated differences in open-fracture parameters between dolomite and calcite intervals to understand how lithology influences fracturing. To this end, several wells within a sequence of dolomitic and calcitic intervals from the major oil producing Asmari Formation (southwest Iran) which is a major fractured reservoir were chosen. Detailed petrographic and petrophysical analyses were carried out to characterize the fracture intervals in this reservoir. Then, fracture parameters such as density, aperture, porosity, and dip as well as reservoir heterogeneity were quantified using high-quality electrical image logs and core data. Finally, fracture parameters were compared between the two lithologies to delineate their variations. Furthermore, sonic waveforms and well-test data from the selected wells confirmed the presence of fractures and their estimated parameters. Our results indicate that all dolomites in this reservoir are diagenetic and range from fine- to coarse-crystalline. Image logs confirmed that all detected fractures are structural (due to folding and faulting) and show larger apertures and better connectivity in the dolomite intervals, particularly in the coarser sections, than in calcites. Moreover, open fractures with large apertures appear to be the main source of heterogeneity within the dolomite intervals. Therefore, crystal size and structural features were identified as two additional governing factors in fracture development. This enhanced fracture network was distinguished by fluctuations in sonic waveforms within the coarser dolomite intervals (due to a better fracture network). Finally, the role of effective fracture parameters on reservoir heterogeneity is discussed. These findings provide valuable insights into fracture characterization in heterogeneous carbonate systems and can support more accurate reservoir modeling and improved development strategies in similar fractured reservoirs worldwide.
  • Temperature and pressure effects on the mechanical behavior of porous carbonates saturated by viscous fluids
    Fabio Trippetta, Roberta Ruggieri, Hem B. Motra
    International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, 2024
    Pressure, temperature, and infilling fluids influence the petrophysical properties and the associated damaging processes of rocks at all scales and at all depths. Moreover, each fluid-rock system possesses peculiar mechanical behavior, being this particularly complex in carbonate rocks. We focus on an outcropping carbonate-bearing reservoir (Majella, Central Italy), that represents a very good analogue for buried reservoirs. We performed hydrostatic and triaxial deformation tests up to a temperature of 100 °C and a confining pressure up to 100 MPa on both clean and naturally hydrocarbon-filled samples. Results show increasing seismic velocity and Young's modulus with increasing confining pressures for both clean and saturated samples. However, different results are observed when the temperature is increased. At low temperatures, saturated samples show larger seismic velocity and rigidity with respect to clean samples due to the solid state of the hydrocarbon at ambient conditions, whilst at higher temperatures the opposite occurs. When temperature is raised up to 100 °C the Young's modulus of the saturated samples decreases by ∼25 %, being coupled by a volume reduction of ∼1 cm 3 even during hydrostatic tests (no differential stress applied). Accordingly, microstructural observations highlight crackle breccia and grain crushing microstructures with a large number (more than 30/100 μm) of randomly distributed cracks in saturated samples after both hydrostatic and triaxial tests. On the contrary, tested clean samples are characterized by few microfractures (less than 1/μm), pointing out the primary role played by melting hydrocarbons. Thus, the presence of melted hydrocarbons weakens the rock promoting fracturing, whilst at lower temperature the presence of solid hydrocarbons increases the mechanical properties of hydrocarbon-bearing rock. These observations have a large impact on the risk related to mining or porous carbonate reservoirs depletion and for understanding microscale to mesoscale mechanisms of deformation and viscous fluids movement along rock volumes.
  • Effect of stress on fracture development in the Asmari reservoir in the Zagros Thrust Belt
    Ghasem Aghli, Babak Aminshahidy, Hem Bahadur Motra, Ardavan Darkhal, Farshad Sadeghpour, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2024
  • Comparison of geomechanical upscaling methods for prediction of elastic modulus of heterogeneous media
    Farshad Sadeghpour, Ardavan Darkhal, Yifei Gao, Hem B. Motra, Ghasem Aghli, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 2024
  • Greenstone of Calabria: A multi-analytical characterization of heritage metabasite from Southern Italy
    R. Punturo, S. Mineo, H.B. Motra, G. Lanzafame, V. Indelicato, G. Pappalardo, R. Cirrincione
    Case Studies in Construction Materials, 2024
  • Depositional environmental controls on mechanical stratigraphy of Barakar Shales in Rajmahal Basin, India
    Chinmay Sethi, Bodhisatwa Hazra, Mehdi Ostadhassan, Hem Bahadur Motra, Arpan Dutta, J.K. Pandey, Santosh Kumar
    International Journal of Coal Geology, 2024
  • Integrating experimental study and intelligent modeling of pore evolution in the Bakken during simulated thermal progression for CO2 storage goals
    Chao Wang, Bo Liu, Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi, Li Fu, Elham Fattahi, Hem Bahadur Motra, Bodhisatwa Hazra, Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Applied Energy, 2024
  • Static and dynamic behavior of cemented heat storage materials
    Henok Hailemariam, Nils Blume, Hem B. Motra, Frank Wuttke
    Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures, 2024
  • Experimental investigation and intelligent modeling of pore structure changes in type III kerogen-rich shale artificially matured by hydrous and anhydrous pyrolysis
    Bo Liu, Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi, Zhongliang Ma, Longhui Bai, Liu Wang, Zhigang Wen, Yan Liu, Hem Bahadur Morta, Abdolhossein Hemmati-Sarapardeh, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Energy, 2023
  • Fracture toughness of organic rich shale via nanoindentation: A comparison of energy-based methods
    Kouqi Liu, Sirous Hosseinzadeh, Majid Safaei-Farouji, Bo Liu, Hem B. Morta, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 2023
  • Physico-chemical variations of shale with artificial maturation: In the presence and absence of water
    Kouqi Liu, Majid Safaei-Farouji, Yifei Gao, Thomas Gentzis, Bo Liu, Hem B. Morta, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 2023
  • Physico-chemo-mechanical impact of sc-CO2 on shale formations: The Bakken
    Mohammad Hosein Khosravi, Mahdi Kheirollahi, Bo Liu, Thomas Gentzis, Kouqi Liu, Hem B. Morta, Mehdi Ostadhassan
    Gas Science and Engineering, 2023
  • A template for investigating pore pressure detectability based on wave velocity
    84th Eage Annual Conference and Exhibition, 2023
  • Elastic Wave Propagation in a Stainless-Steel Standard and Verification of a COMSOL Multiphysics Numerical Elastic Wave Toolbox
    Mohsen Bazargan, Bjarne S. G. Almqvist, Hem Bahadur Motra, Pooyan Broumand, Tobias Schmiedel, Christoph F. Hieronymus
    Resources, 2022
  • Highly variable petrophysical properties in felsic high-pressure rocks of the continental crust
    Sascha Zertani, Jan Pleuger, Hem B. Motra, Timm John
    Lithos, 2022
  • Pressure, temperature and lithological dependence of seismic and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy in amphibolites and gneisses from the central Scandinavian Caledonides
    Mohsen Bazargan, Hem Bahadur Motra, Bjarne Almqvist, Sandra Piazolo, Christoph Hieronymus
    Tectonophysics, 2021
  • A numerical toolbox to calculate the seismic properties of micro sized isotropic and anisotropic minerals
    Mineral Exploration Symposium 2020 Mes 2020, 2020
  • From peak force quantitative nanomechanical mapping measurements to triaxial testing: A comparative study of geomechanical properties of clay-rich carbonates
    Kim S. Mews, Mustafa M. Alhubail, Luka Hansen, Hem B. Motra, Frank Wuttke, Qiang Ye, Anil Misra, Reza Barati Ghahfarokhi
    Proceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering OMAE, 2020
  • Modification of the Seismic Properties of Subducting Continental Crust by Eclogitization and Deformation Processes
    Sascha Zertani, Timm John, Frederik Tilmann, Hem B. Motra, Ruth Keppler, Torgeir B. Andersen, Loic Labrousse
    Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth, 2019
  • Seismic exploration of a deep, possibly super-critical, hydrothermal reservoir in the larderello Area
    W. Rabbel, S. Buske, T. Jusri, D. Köhn, J. Lehr, H.B. Motra, L. Schreiter, M. Thorwart, and
    81st Eage Conference and Exhibition 2019 Workshop Programme, 2019
  • Laboratory evaluation of rock-based geopolymers for zonal isolation and permanent P&A applications
    Mahmoud Khalifeh, Arild Saasen, Helge Hodne, Hem Bahadur Motra
    Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 2019
  • A new lattice element method (LEM) with integrated interface elements to determine the effective thermal conductivity of rock solids under thermo-mechanical processes
    A. S. Sattari, H. B. Motra, Z. H. Rizvi, F. Wuttke
    Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering, 2019
  • Geomechanical Rock Properties Using Pressure and Temperature Dependence of Elastic P- and S-Wave Velocities
    Hem Bahadur Motra, Hans Henning Stutz
    Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 2018
  • Determining the influence of pressure and temperature on the elastic constants of anisotropic rock samples using ultrasonic wave techniques
    H.B. Motra, J. Mager, A. Ismail, F. Wuttke, W. Rabbel, D. Köhn, M. Thorwart, C. Simonetta, N. Costantino
    Journal of Applied Geophysics, 2018
  • Effects of seismic anisotropy on target depth determination in geothermal exploration
    D. Köhn, T. Jusri, W. Rabbel, H.B. Motra, L. Schreiter, M. Thorwart, D. De Nil, F. Wuttke, S. Buske
    24th European Meeting of Environmental and Engineering Geophysics, 2018
  • Influence of loading and heating processes on elastic and geomechanical properties of eclogites and granulites
    Hem Bahadur Motra, Sascha Zertani
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 2018
  • Poisson's Ratio and Auxetic Properties of Natural Rocks
    Shaocheng Ji, Le Li, Hem Bahadur Motra, Frank Wuttke, Shengsi Sun, Katsuyoshi Michibayashi, Matthew H. Salisbury
    Journal of Geophysical Research Solid Earth, 2018
  • Potential utilization for a rock-based geopolymer in oil well cementing
    Mahmoud Khalifeh, Hem Bahadur Motra, Arild Saasen, Helge Hodne
    Proceedings of the International Conference on Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering OMAE, 2018
  • Meso-scale modeling of heat transport in a heterogeneous cemented geomaterial by lattice element method
    A. S. Sattari, Z. H. Rizvi, H. B. Motra, F. Wuttke
    Granular Matter, 2017
  • Advanced meso-scale modelling to study the effective thermo-mechanical parameter in solid geomaterial
    F. Wuttke, A. S. Sattari, Z. H. Rizvi, H. B. Motra
    Springer Series in Geomechanics and Geoengineering, 2017
  • Seismic Velocity Uncertainties and their Effect on Geothermal Predictions: A Case Study
    Wolfgang Rabbel, Tomi Jusri, Daniel Köhn, Hem Bahadur Motra, Jan Niederau, Lena Schreiter, Martin Thorwart, Frank Wuttke
    Energy Procedia, 2017
  • The Monte Carlo Method for evaluating measurement uncertainty: Application for determining the properties of materials
    H.B. Motra, J. Hildebrand, F. Wuttke
    Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 2016
  • Uncertainty-based evaluation and coupling of mathematical and physical models
    F. Scheiber, H.B. Motra, D. Legatiuk, F. Werner
    Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 2016
  • Quality assessment of soil bearing capacity factor models of shallow foundations
    H.B. Motra, H. Stutz, F. Wuttke
    Soils and Foundations, 2016
  • Temperature dependence of elastic P- and S-wave properties of rocks: Applications to geothermal reservoir evaluation
    H Motra, F Wuttke
    Energy Geotechnics Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Energy Geotechnics Icegt 2016, 2016
  • Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis of cyclic creep models of concrete
    Hem Bahadur Motra
    Asian Journal of Applied Sciences, 2015
  • Assessment of strain measurement techniques to characterise mechanical properties of structural steel
    H.B. Motra, J. Hildebrand, A. Dimmig-Osburg
    Engineering Science and Technology an International Journal, 2014
  • Quality assessment of coupled partial models considering soil-structure coupling
    H. Keitel, B. Jung, H.B. Motra, H. Stutz
    Engineering Structures, 2014
  • Quality assessment of models with an application to cyclic creep prediction of concrete
    Hem Bahadur Motra, Andrea Dimmig Osburg, Jörg Hildebrand
    International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2014
  • Influence of specimen dimensions and orientation on the tensile properties of structural steel
    Hem Bahadur Motra, Jörg Hildebrand, Andrea Dimmig-Osburg
    Materialpruefung Materials Testing, 2014
  • Uncertainty quantification on creep deflection of concrete beam subjected to cyclic loading
    Safety Reliability Risk and Life Cycle Performance of Structures and Infrastructures Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability Icossar 2013, 2013
  • Influence of measurement uncertainties on results of creep prediction of concrete under cyclic loading
    Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Fracture Mechanics of Concrete and Concrete Structures Framcos 2013, 2013

RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Investigation of bentonite–goethite mixture as a novel material for low-level landfill liners
    M Nadi, A Azhari, HS Isfahani, HB Motra, M Hefny, A Salati, M Bazargan
    Scientific Reports , 2025
    2025
  • Fracture Development and Characterization from Field Data in a Dolomite-Limestone Sequence: G. Aghli et al.
    G Aghli, HB Motra, MR Saberi, M Nikbin, M Ostadhassan
    Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, 1-25 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Advance in Marine Geotechnical Engineering
    HB Motra
    Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 13 (11), 2123 , 2025
    2025
  • Numerical Modeling of Effective Thermal Conductivity for Polymineralic Rocks using Lattice Element Method
    N Haghighat, AS Sattari, HB Motra, F Wuttke
    arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.24304 , 2025
    2025
  • Thermal Acoustical and Mechanical Characterization of Rock under in-situ conditions
    N Haghighat, HB Motra, AS Sattari, F Wuttke
    arXiv preprint arXiv:2510.17353 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Optimizing Rock Bolt Support for Large Underground Structures Using 3D DFN-DEM Method
    NS Isfahani, A Azhari, HB Motra, H Hashemalhoseini, MH Hosseinabadi, ...
    Geosciences 15 (8), 293 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 1
  • Implications of fracture networks in elastic response of heterogeneous carbonate reservoirs
    G Aghli, R Gholami, MR Saberi, M Nikbin, T Ahsani, HB Motra, ...
    Earth and Space Science 12 (8), e2024EA003941 , 2025
    2025
  • Elastic properties of anisotropic rocks using an stepwise loading framework in a true triaxial testing apparatus
    F Sadeghpour, HB Motra, C Sethi, S Wind, B Hazra, G Aghli, ...
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering 251, 213883 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 3
  • Thermo-acoustical-mechanical characterization of rock properties under in-situ conditions
    NG Haghighat, HB Motra, AS Sattari, F Wuttke
    3rd International Conference on Energy Geotechnics 2025 , 2025
    2025
  • Influence of lithological contrast on elastic anisotropy of shales under true-triaxial stress and thermal conditions
    C Sethi, HB Motra, B Hazra, M Ostadhassan
    International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 190, 106100 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 9
  • Elastic anisotropy and deformation characteristics of Pennsylvania anthracite
    B Hazra, HB Motra, JC Hower, M Mastalerz, C Sethi, H Schobert
    International Journal of Coal Geology 303, 104740 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 4
  • Micromechanical variation of organic matter (kerogen type I) under controlled thermal maturity progression
    B Liu, A Larestani, K Liu, Y Gao, HB Motra, A Hemmati-Sarapardeh, ...
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 17 (3), 1387-1398 , 2025
    2025
    Citations: 6
  • Static and dynamic behavior of cemented heat storage materials
    H Hailemariam, N Blume, HB Motra, F Wuttke
    Mechanics of Advanced Materials and Structures 31 (28), 10014-10032 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 2
  • Effect of stress on fracture development in the Asmari reservoir in the Zagros Thrust Belt
    G Aghli, B Aminshahidy, HB Motra, A Darkhal, F Sadeghpour, ...
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 16 (11), 4491-4503 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 9
  • Temperature and pressure effects on the mechanical behavior of porous carbonates saturated by viscous fluids
    F Trippetta, R Ruggieri, HB Motra
    International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences 183, 105938 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 6
  • The role of petrophysics in interpreting geophysical images: the effect of rock chemistry and texture on seismic velocities
    M Sonnet, L Labrousse, J Bascou, J Fortin, H Motra
    alpshop2024 , 2024
    2024
  • Comparison of geomechanical upscaling methods for prediction of elastic modulus of heterogeneous media
    F Sadeghpour, A Darkhal, Y Gao, HB Motra, G Aghli, M Ostadhassan
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering 239, 212915 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 16
  • Greenstone of Calabria: A multi-analytical characterization of heritage metabasite from Southern Italy
    R Punturo, S Mineo, HB Motra, G Lanzafame, V Indelicato, G Pappalardo, ...
    Case Studies in Construction Materials 20, e03269 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 5
  • Depositional environmental controls on mechanical stratigraphy of Barakar Shales in Rajmahal Basin, India
    C Sethi, B Hazra, M Ostadhassan, HB Motra, A Dutta, JK Pandey, ...
    International Journal of Coal Geology 285, 104477 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 29
  • Integrating experimental study and intelligent modeling of pore evolution in the Bakken during simulated thermal progression for CO2 storage goals
    C Wang, B Liu, MR Mohammadi, L Fu, E Fattahi, HB Motra, B Hazra, ...
    Applied Energy 359, 122693 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 16

MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS

  • Assessment of strain measurement techniques to characterise mechanical properties of structural steel
    HB Motra, J Hildebrand, A Dimmig-Osburg
    Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 17 (4), 260-269 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 148
  • Poisson's ratio and auxetic properties of natural rocks
    S Ji, L Li, HB Motra, F Wuttke, S Sun, K Michibayashi, MH Salisbury
    Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 123 (2), 1161-1185 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 131
  • Laboratory evaluation of rock-based geopolymers for zonal isolation and permanent P&A applications
    M Khalifeh, A Saasen, H Hodne, HB Motra
    Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 175, 352-362 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 57
  • Meso-scale modeling of heat transport in a heterogeneous cemented geomaterial by lattice element method
    AS Sattari, ZH Rizvi, HB Motra, F Wuttke
    Granular Matter 19 (4), 66 , 2017
    2017
    Citations: 44
  • Geomechanical rock properties using pressure and temperature dependence of elastic P-and S-wave velocities
    HB Motra, HH Stutz
    Geotechnical and Geological Engineering 36 (6), 3751-3766 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 42
  • Experimental investigation and intelligent modeling of pore structure changes in type III kerogen-rich shale artificially matured by hydrous and anhydrous pyrolysis
    B Liu, MR Mohammadi, Z Ma, L Bai, L Wang, Z Wen, Y Liu, HB Morta, ...
    Energy 282, 128799 , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 37
  • The Monte Carlo Method for evaluating measurement uncertainty: Application for determining the properties of materials
    HB Motra, J Hildebrand, F Wuttke
    Probabilistic engineering mechanics 45, 220-228 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 36
  • Quality assessment of soil bearing capacity factor models of shallow foundations
    HB Motra, H Stutz, F Wuttke
    Soils and Foundations 56 (2), 265-276 , 2016
    2016
    Citations: 33
  • Physico-chemo-mechanical impact of sc-CO2 on shale formations: The Bakken
    MO Mohammad Hosein Khosravi , Mahdi Kheirollahi , Bo Liu, Thomas Gentzis ...
    Gas Science and Engineering , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 31
  • Depositional environmental controls on mechanical stratigraphy of Barakar Shales in Rajmahal Basin, India
    C Sethi, B Hazra, M Ostadhassan, HB Motra, A Dutta, JK Pandey, ...
    International Journal of Coal Geology 285, 104477 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 29
  • Influence of loading and heating processes on elastic and geomechanical properties of eclogites and granulites
    HB Motra, S Zertani
    Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering 10 (1), 127-137 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 27
  • Modification of the seismic properties of subducting continental crust by eclogitization and deformation processes
    S Zertani, T John, F Tilmann, HB Motra, R Keppler, TB Andersen, ...
    Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth 124 (9), 9731-9754 , 2019
    2019
    Citations: 26
  • Advanced meso-scale modelling to study the effective thermo-mechanical parameter in solid geomaterial
    F Wuttke, AS Sattari, ZH Rizvi, HB Motra
    Advances in laboratory testing and modelling of soils and shales, 85-95 , 2017
    2017
    Citations: 25
  • Determining the influence of pressure and temperature on the elastic constants of anisotropic rock samples using ultrasonic wave techniques
    HB Motra, J Mager, A Ismail, F Wuttke, W Rabbel, D Köhn, M Thorwart, ...
    Journal of Applied Geophysics 159, 715-730 , 2018
    2018
    Citations: 20
  • Fracture toughness of organic rich shale via nanoindentation: A comparison of energy-based methods
    MO Kouqi Liu b, Sirous Hosseinzadeh, Majid Safaei-Farouji , Bo Liu, HB Morta
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering , 2023
    2023
    Citations: 19
  • Influence of specimen dimensions and orientation on the tensile properties of structural steel
    HB Motra, J Hildebrand, A Dimmig-Osburg
    Materials Testing 56 (11-12), 929-936 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 19
  • Comparison of geomechanical upscaling methods for prediction of elastic modulus of heterogeneous media
    F Sadeghpour, A Darkhal, Y Gao, HB Motra, G Aghli, M Ostadhassan
    Geoenergy Science and Engineering 239, 212915 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 16
  • Integrating experimental study and intelligent modeling of pore evolution in the Bakken during simulated thermal progression for CO2 storage goals
    C Wang, B Liu, MR Mohammadi, L Fu, E Fattahi, HB Motra, B Hazra, ...
    Applied Energy 359, 122693 , 2024
    2024
    Citations: 16
  • Quality assessment of coupled partial models considering soil–structure coupling
    H Keitel, B Jung, HB Motra, H Stutz
    Engineering structures 59, 565-573 , 2014
    2014
    Citations: 15
  • Pressure, temperature and lithological dependence of seismic and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy in amphibolites and gneisses from the central Scandinavian Caledonides
    M Bazargan, HB Motra, B Almqvist, S Piazolo, C Hieronymus
    Tectonophysics 820, 229113 , 2021
    2021
    Citations: 13