Staff profile

Dr Robert Bird is a post-doctoral research associate in the Department of Engineering at Durham University, where he specialises in non-linear algorithms for computational mechanics. He completed his PhD at Durham in 2020 on discontinuous Galerkin finite element methods for crack propagation, work that received the UK Association for Computational Mechanics (UKACM) Roger Owen Prize for the best UK PhD thesis (etheses.dur.ac.uk/13463/). His current expertise is large-deformation contact with the material point method (MPM), on which he has published three articles since 2024, with a fourth on adaptivity under review. At UKACM2023 he won the prize for best post-doctoral researcher presentation, on contact with multiphase materials. During the EPSRC-funded project (EP/W000970/1) Robert developed a high-performance Julia MPM implementation for deformable-rigid body interactions. The framework proved robust and accurate enough for industry, leading to a second grant (UKRI788), "Leveraging the Material Point Method for Large-Deformation Soil-Structure Interaction to Realise Net Zero".

Chapter in book

• Immersed FEM and MPM: Similarities and Differences of Non-conforming Grid-Based Methods
  
  Coombs, W., Pretti, G., & Bird, R. E. (2025). Immersed FEM and MPM: Similarities and Differences of Non-conforming Grid-Based Methods. In W. Graf, R. Fleischhauer, J. Storm, & I. Wollny (Eds.), Advances and Challenges in Computational Mechanics (pp. 73-83). Springer Nature Switzerland. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-93213-7_6

Conference Paper

• Centrifuge modelling of drag embedment anchors subjected to inclined loading for floating wind
  
  Sharif, Y. U., Davidson, C., Brown, M. J., Coombs, W., Bird, R., Augarde, C., Carter, G., Macdonald, C., & Johnson, K. (2025). Centrifuge modelling of drag embedment anchors subjected to inclined loading for floating wind. In Proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Frontiers in Offshore Geotechnics (ISFOG2025). https://doi.org/10.53243/ISFOG2025-627
• Dynamic three-dimensional rigid body interaction with highly deformable solids, a material point approach
  
  Bird, R., Pretti, G., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., Sharif, Y., Brown, M., Carter, G., Macdonald, C., & Johnson, K. (2024). Dynamic three-dimensional rigid body interaction with highly deformable solids, a material point approach. In W. Coombs (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2024 UK Association for Computational Mechanics Conference (pp. 153-156). UK Association for Computational Mechanics and Durham University. https://doi.org/10.62512/conf.ukacm2024.092
• Immersed traction boundary conditions in phase field fracture modelling
  
  Sims, B., Bird, R. E., Coombs, W. M., & Giani, S. (2024). Immersed traction boundary conditions in phase field fracture modelling. In W. M. Coombs (Ed.), UKACM Proceedings 2024 (pp. 201-204). UK Association for Computational Mechanics. https://doi.org/10.62512/conf.ukacm2024.045
• Characterisation of anchor penetration behaviour for Cable burial risk assessment
  
  Sharif, Y. U., Brown, M. J., Coombs, W. M., Augarde, C. E., Bird, R. E., Carter, G., Macdonald, C., & Johnson, K. R. (2023, September 12). Characterisation of anchor penetration behaviour for Cable burial risk assessment. Presented at 9th Int. SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition”, London, UK. https://doi.org/10.3723/fgqd3896
• Cone penetration tests (CPTs) in bi-phase soils: A material point approach with rigid body interaction
  
  Bird, R., Pretti, G., Coombs, W. M., Augarde, C. E., Sharif, Y., Brown, M., Carter, G., & Johnson, K. (2023, April 19 – 2023, April 21). Cone penetration tests (CPTs) in bi-phase soils: A material point approach with rigid body interaction [Conference paper]. Presented at UK Association for Computational Mechanics 2023 (UKACM 2023), University of Warwick, UK.
• An open-source Julia code for geotechnical MPM
  
  Gavin, N., Bird, R. E., Coombs, W. M., & Augarde, C. E. (2023). An open-source Julia code for geotechnical MPM (L. Zdravkovic, S. Kontoe, D. M. G. Taborda, & A. Tsiampousi, Eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.53243/numge2023-35
• Depth of lowering and layered soils; a case study from across the North Sea
  
  Macdonald, C., Carter, G. D. O., Johnson, K. R., Augarde, C. E., Coombs, W. M., Bird, R. E., Brown, M. J., & Sharif, Y. U. (2023, January 1). Depth of lowering and layered soils; a case study from across the North Sea. Presented at 9th Int. SUT OSIG Conference “Innovative Geotechnologies for Energy Transition”, London, UK. https://doi.org/10.3723/agpn3616
• An investigation into the methods for modelling pre-existing cracks in phase field problems
  
  Sims, B., Bird, R., Giani, S., & Coombs, W. (2023). An investigation into the methods for modelling pre-existing cracks in phase field problems. Presented at UKACM 2023, Warwick, UK.
• Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs) in layered soils: a Material Point approach
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., Brown, M., Sharif, Y., Carter, G., Johnson, K., & Macdonald, C. (2023). Cone Penetration Tests (CPTs) in layered soils: a Material Point approach (L. Zdravkovic, S. Kontoe, D. M. G. Taborda, & A. Tsiampousi, Eds.). International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering. https://doi.org/10.53243/numge2023-743
• A discontinuous Galerkin hp-adaptive finite element method for brittlecrack propagation
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2017). A discontinuous Galerkin hp-adaptive finite element method for brittlecrack propagation. In A. Faramarzi & S. Dirar (Eds.), Proceedings of the 25th Conference on Computational Mechanics (UKACM 2017): 11th – 13th April 2017, School of Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK. (pp. 138-141). University of Birmingham.
• Two dimensional configurational-force-driven crack propagation using the discontinuous Galerkin method with rp-adaptivity
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2016). Two dimensional configurational-force-driven crack propagation using the discontinuous Galerkin method with rp-adaptivity. In Proceedings of the 24th UK Conference of the Association for Computational Mechanics in Engineering, 31 March - 01 April 2016, Cardiff University, Cardiff. (pp. 137-140). Cardiff University.

Conference Proceeding

• UKACM Proceedings 2024
  
  Coombs, W. M. (Ed.). (2024). UKACM Proceedings 2024. UK Association for Computational Mechanics and Durham University. https://doi.org/10.62512/conf.ukacm2024

Journal Article

• Caveats on formulating finite elasto-plasticity in curvilinear coordinates
  
  Pretti, G., Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Augarde, C. (2026). Caveats on formulating finite elasto-plasticity in curvilinear coordinates. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 339, Article 114097. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijsolstr.2026.114097
• Three-dimensional modelling of drag anchor penetration using the material point method
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., Brown, M., Augarde, C., Sharif, Y., Pretti, G., Macdonald, C., Stevens, D., & Carter, G. (2026). Three-dimensional modelling of drag anchor penetration using the material point method. Ocean Engineering, 358(2), Article 125456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oceaneng.2026.125456
• A celatus method for the efficient solution of linear elastic problems with re-entrant corner singularities
  
  Bird, R., Giani, S., & Coombs, W. (2026). A celatus method for the efficient solution of linear elastic problems with re-entrant corner singularities. Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics. Advance online publication, Article 105539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tafmec.2026.105539
• Effect of drag rates on drag embedment anchor penetration for cable burial risk assessment
  
  Brown, M., Sharif, Y., Bird, R., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., Macdonald, C., & Stevens, D. (2025). Effect of drag rates on drag embedment anchor penetration for cable burial risk assessment. Géotechnique Letters. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1680/jgele.25.00069
• Including Pre‐Existing Fractures in Phase Field Fracture Models
  
  Sims, B., Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2025). Including Pre‐Existing Fractures in Phase Field Fracture Models. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 126(23), Article e70181. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.70181
• The Stress-Continuous Material Point Method: a technique to alleviate cell-crossing instability while retaining linear shape functions
  
  Pretti, G., Bird, R., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., & Giani, S. (2025). The Stress-Continuous Material Point Method: a technique to alleviate cell-crossing instability while retaining linear shape functions. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 446(Part A), Article 118168.
• A dynamic implicit 3D material point-to-rigid body contact approach for large deformation analysis
  
  Bird, R., Pretti, G., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., Sharif, Y. U., Brown, M. J., Carter, G., Macdonald, C., & Johnson, K. (2025). A dynamic implicit 3D material point-to-rigid body contact approach for large deformation analysis. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 126(14), Article e70080. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.70080
• The Aggregated Material Point Method (AgMPM)
  
  Coombs, W., Bird, R., & Pretti, G. (2025). The Aggregated Material Point Method (AgMPM). Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 442, Article 118012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2025.118012
• A stable poro-mechanical formulation for Material Point Methods leveraging overlapping meshes and multi-field ghost penalisation
  
  Pretti, G., Bird, R., Gavin, N., Coombs, W., & Augarde, C. (2025). A stable poro-mechanical formulation for Material Point Methods leveraging overlapping meshes and multi-field ghost penalisation. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 126(5), Article e7630. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.7630
• Comparison of 1g and centrifuge modelling of drag embedment anchors with subsurface wireless tracking
  
  Sharif, Y., Brown, M. J., Knappett, J., Davidson, C., Bird, R., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., Carter, G., Macdonald, C., & Johnson, K. (2025). Comparison of 1g and centrifuge modelling of drag embedment anchors with subsurface wireless tracking. International Journal of Physical Modelling in Geotechnics, 25(2), 102-114. https://doi.org/10.1680/jphmg.24.00029
• An implicit material point-to-rigid body contact approach for large deformation soil-structure interaction
  
  Bird, R., Pretti, G., Coombs, W., Augarde, C., Sharif, Y., Brown, M., Carter, G., Macdonald, C., & Johnson, K. (2024). An implicit material point-to-rigid body contact approach for large deformation soil-structure interaction. Computers and Geotechnics, 174, Article 106646. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compgeo.2024.106646
• An hp-adaptive discontinuous Galerkin method for phase field fracture
  
  Bird, R. E., Augarde, C. E., Coombs, W. M., Duddu, R., Giani, S., Huynh, P. T., & Sims, B. (2023). An hp-adaptive discontinuous Galerkin method for phase field fracture. Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 416, Article 116336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cma.2023.116336
• An open source hp-adaptive discontinuous Galerkin finite element solver for linear elasticity
  
  Wiltshire, T., Bird, R. E., Coombs, W. M., & Giani, S. (2022). An open source hp-adaptive discontinuous Galerkin finite element solver for linear elasticity. Advances in Engineering Software, 171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advengsoft.2022.103147
• Accurate Configuration Force Evaluation via hp-adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Analysis
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2019). Accurate Configuration Force Evaluation via hp-adaptive Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Analysis. Engineering Fracture Mechanics, 216, Article 106370. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engfracmech.2019.02.029
• A configurational force driven cracking particle method for modelling crack propagation in 2D
  
  Ai, W., Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Augarde, C. (2019). A configurational force driven cracking particle method for modelling crack propagation in 2D. Engineering Analysis With Boundary Elements, 104, 197-208. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enganabound.2019.03.008
• A posteriori discontinuous Galerkin error estimator for linear elasticity
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2019). A posteriori discontinuous Galerkin error estimator for linear elasticity. Applied Mathematics and Computation, 344-345, 78-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amc.2018.08.039
• Rapid non-linear finite element analysis of continuous and discontinuous Galerkin methods in MATLAB
  
  O’Sullivan, S., Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2019). Rapid non-linear finite element analysis of continuous and discontinuous Galerkin methods in MATLAB. Computers and Mathematics With Applications, 78(9), 3007-3026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.camwa.2019.03.012
• A quasi-static discontinuous Galerkin configurational force crack propagation method for brittle materials
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2018). A quasi-static discontinuous Galerkin configurational force crack propagation method for brittle materials. International Journal for Numerical Methods in Engineering, 113(7), 1061-1080. https://doi.org/10.1002/nme.5699
• Earthquake Nucleation Size: Evidence of Loading Rate Dependence in Laboratory Faults
  
  Guérin‐Marthe, S., Nielsen, S., Bird, R., Giani, S., & Di Toro, G. (2018). Earthquake Nucleation Size: Evidence of Loading Rate Dependence in Laboratory Faults. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 124(1), 689-708. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jb016803
• Fast native-MATLAB stiffness assembly for SIPG linear elasticity
  
  Bird, R., Coombs, W., & Giani, S. (2017). Fast native-MATLAB stiffness assembly for SIPG linear elasticity. Computers and Mathematics With Applications, 74(12), 3209-3230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.camwa.2017.08.022

Report

• Layered soils in the shallow subsurface (<6.0 m), North Sea: a data report
  
  Johnson, K. R., Carter, G., & Macdonald, C. (2024). Layered soils in the shallow subsurface (<6.0 m), North Sea: a data report (W. M. Coombs, R. E. Bird, C. E. Augarde, M. J. Brown, & Y. Sharif, Eds.). British Geological Survey.