Saba Ghassemi is a PhD researcher in structural Engineering at the University of Southampton, working within the Infrastructure Group. Her research focuses on the structural assessment of ageing bridge infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on corrosion-induced deterioration in reinforced-concrete and metallic bridge structures.

Her PhD work combines large-scale laboratory testing, advanced corrosion characterisation, structural health monitoring techniques, and nonlinear numerical modelling. A major part of her research investigates the behaviour of corroded reinforced concrete bridge deck slabs. These studies examine how corrosion affects load-carrying capacity, deformation response, cracking behaviour, stiffness degradation, and failure-mode transition. Alongside the reinforced-concrete slab work, she has contributed to research on ageing metallic railway bridges, including field monitoring, finite-element modelling, corrosion-scenario analysis, and laboratory testing of wrought-iron and steel samples from historic bridge structures. Her work supports improved assessment of ageing railway infrastructure, particularly where simplified assessment methods may not capture corrosion damage, localised deterioration, or nonlinear structural behaviour. Her research is connected to the Heavy Axle Weight / ageing infrastructure research programme and has relevance to Network Rail, bridge asset management, and the safe evaluation of existing infrastructure. 

Academic Qualifications

• PhD in Structural Engineering, , University of Southampton, UK (Jan 2024 – Expected Jan 2028).

• MEng in Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran (2018 – 2020).

• BEng in Civil Engineering, University of Tabriz, Iran (2012 – 2016).

Latest Publications

• Zhang, Z., Ghassemi, S., Watson, G., Moy, S., Powrie, W., & Kashani, M. M. (2026). A synthesised material model and statistical insights towards structure-scale assessment of wrought iron in historic railway underbridges. ASCE Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering (Accepted In Press).  

• Ghassemi, S., Zhang, Z., Powrie, W., & Kashani, M. M. (2026). Experimental investigation of corrosion effects on the structural performance of reinforced concrete bridge slabs. Proceedings of the fib Congress 2026, Lisbon.  

• Ghassemi, S., Ekraminia, S. S., Hajialilue-Bonab, M., Tohidvand, H. R., et al. (2025). Innovative insights into micropile seismic response: Shaking table tests reveal critical dependencies and liquefaction mitigation. Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 84(4), 206.

• Ghassemi, S., Zhang, Z., Powrie, W., & Kashani, M. M. (2025). Field testing and finite element model validation of ageing metal railway bridges with corrosion impact analysis. Structures, 82, 110813.  

• Ekraminia, S. S., Hajialilue Bonab, M., Ghassemi, S., & Derakhshani, R. (2023). Experimental study on seismic response of underground tunnel–soil–piled structure interaction using shaking table in loose sand. Buildings, 13(10), 2482.