About

Dr.-Ing. Hem Bahadur Motra is a researcher and academic specializing in geomechanics, rock physics, and geotechnical engineering at the University of Kiel, Germany. His work advances the understanding of subsurface processes through innovative experimental and computational approaches.

He holds advanced degrees in civil and structural engineering and has completed extensive postdoctoral research in geotechnics, rock mechanics, and subsurface physics. As a research associate and head of the Geomechanics and Rock Mechanics Experimental Laboratory at Kiel University, he studies mechanical, thermal, and acoustic behavior of geomaterials under complex in situ conditions, bridging geosciences, civil engineering, and energy technologies.

He has authored more than 70 scientific publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports. His work has appeared in leading international journals such as the International Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences, Applied Energy, Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, Scientific Reports, and Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, reflecting sustained contributions across geomechanics, rock mechanics, rock physics, energy, and geotechnical engineering.

Education and Qualification

Ph.D (Civil Engineering) · 2011-09 to 2014-10
Bauhaus-University Weimar, Germany
M.Sc. (Civil Engineering) · 2008-08 to 2010-10
University of Hannover, Germany
Bachelor (Civil Engineering) · 2002-07 to 2006-11
Institute of Engineering, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

Employment

Lecturer and Researcher (Geology) · 2014-10 to Present
Kiel University, Germany
Research Assistant (Civil Engineering) · 2011-01 to 2014-10
Bauhaus-University Weimar, Germany

Teaching

Geomechanics
Deep Excavation
Rock Mechanics
Fracture Mechanics
Geotechnical Engineering

Research Topics

Experimental rock mechanics/physics and geomechanics from micro to macro scale
Influence of fractures on the hydro-mechanical behavior of rockmasses
Flow and transport in fractured porous media
Geo-energy applications: CO2 and H2 storage, nuclear waste disposal, gas shales, geothermal energy
Rock-fluid interaction: poroelasticity, poroviscoelasticity, plasticity, permeability, porosity waves
Multi-scale data integration and upscaling issues
Research samples and laboratory data
Research topic
Research topic
Research topic

Fellowships & Scholarships

SEA-EU Travel Cost Scholarship
Erasmus Teaching Grant
DAAD Scholarship (2008-2010)
Mahatma Gandhi Scholarship Scheme
Golden Jubilee Scholarship Scheme
EGU Higher Education Teaching Resources Grant 2025

Academic Memberships and Activities

Technical Committee Member, American Rock Mechanics Association (Hydraulic Fracturing, Tunneling, Underground Storage and Utilization, Induced Seismicity)
Technical Committee Member, International Association for Structural Safety and Reliability (IASSAR) Structural Safety and Reliability
Technical Committee Member, International Society for Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (Laboratory Stress-Strain Strength Testing of Geomaterials)
Expert section, Working Group Member German Geotechnical Society
Technical Committee, Commission 32, Internationl Association for Engineering Geology and the Environement (IAEG) (Engineering Geology and Rural Infrastructures)
Member of International Association of Rock Physicists
Alumnus of Future Ocean Excellence Cluster and Integrated Marine Postdoc Network
Member of European Geosciences Union (EGU)
Member of Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG)

Journal Editor and Reviewer Roles

Editorial Board Member – Discover Geoscience (Springer Nature)
Special Issue Editor – Reliability, Risk, and Hazard Assessment of Marine Structures (Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, MDPI)
Guest Editor – JMSE (MDPI) Special Issue: Reliability, Risk, and Hazard Assessment of Marine Structures
Special Issue Editor – Advances in Marine Geotechnical Engineering—2nd Edition
Special Issue Editor – Applications of AI Tools in Petroleum Industry from Geosciences to Engineering
Editorial Board Member – International Journal of Petroleum Technology (Avanti)
Editorial Board Member – SCIREA Journal of Civil Engineering and Building Construction (ISSN: 2995-6889)
Associate Editor – Current Trends in Civil & Structural Engineering - CTCSE

Selected Publications

Sethi, C., Hazra, B., Ostadhassan, M., Motra, H.B., Dutta, A., Panday, J.K., Kumar, S. (2024)
Depositional environmental controls on mechanical stratigraphy of Barakar Shales in Rajmahal Basin, India. International Journal of Coal Geology.
Wang, C., Liu, B., Mohammadi, M-R., Fu, L., Fattahi, E., Motra, H.B., et al. (2024)
Integrating experimental study and intelligent modeling of pore evolution in the Bakken during simulated thermal progression for CO2 storage goals
Sadeghpour, F., Darkhal, A., Gao, Y., Motra, H.B., et al. (2024)
Comparison of geomechanical upscaling methods for prediction of elastic modulus of heterogeneous media
Punturo, R., Mineo, S., Motra, H.B., et al. (2024)
Greenstone of Calabria: A multi-analytical characterization of heritage metabasite from Southern Italy
Hailemariam, H., Blume, N., Motra, H.B., Wuttke, F. (2023)
Static and dynamic behavior of cemented heat storage materials
Liu, B., Mohammadi, M.R., Ma, Z., Bai, L., et al. (2023)
Experimental investigation and intelligent modeling of pore structure changes in type III kerogen-rich shale artificially matured by hydrous and anhydrous pyrolysis. Energy.
Nadi, M., Motra, H.B., Azhari, A., Isfahani, H.S., Hefny, M., Bazargan, M.
Investigation of Bentonite-Goethite Mixture as a Novel Material for Low-Level Landfill Liners. Scientific Reports.
Aghli, G., Motra, H.B., Saberi, M.R., Nikbin, M., Ostadhassan, M.
Fracture Development and Characterization from Field Data in a Dolomite Limestone Sequence. Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering, published online 29 November 2025.
Aghli, G., Gholami, R., Saberi, M., Nikbin, M., Ahsani, T., Motra, H.B., Ostadhassan, M.
Implications of Fracture Networks in Elastic Response of Heterogeneous Carbonate Reservoirs. Earth and Space Science, Vol. 12 Issue 8, August 2025.
Hazra, B., Motra, H.B., Hower, J.C., Mastalerz, M., Sethi, C., Schobert, H.
Elastic anisotropy and deformation characteristics of Pennsylvania anthracite. International Journal of Coal Geology, 303(2025)104740.
Sadeghpour, F., Motra, H.B., Sethi, C., Hazra, B., Aghli, G., Ostadhassan, M.
Elastic Properties of Anisotropic Rocks Using Stepwise Loading Framework in a True Triaxial Testing Apparatus. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 251(2025)213883.
Trippetta, F., Ruggieri, R., Motra, H.B.
Temperature and pressure effects on the mechanical behavior of porous carbonates saturated by viscous fluids. International Journal of Rock Mechanics & Mining Sciences, 183(2024)105938.
Liu, B., Larestani, A., Liu, K., Gao, Y., Motra, H.B., Hemmati-Sarapardeh, A., Ostadhassan, M.
Micromechanical variation of organic matter (kerogen type I) under controlled thermal maturity progression. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, available online 16 July 2024.
Aghli, G., Aminshahidy, B., Motra, H.B., Darkhal, A., Sadeghpour, F., Ostadhassan, M.
Effect of stress on fracture development in the Asmari reservoir in the Zagros Thrust Belt. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, available online 19 April 2024.
Kouqi Liu, Sirous Hosseinzadeh, Majid Safaei-Farouji, Bo Liu, Hem B. Motra, Mehdi Ostadhassan
Fracture toughness from energy-based methods in organic rich shale via nanoindentation. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 225(2023)211695.
Kouqi Liu, Majid Safaei-Farouji, Yifei Gao, Thomas Gentzis, Bo Liu, Hem B. Motra, Mehdi Ostadhassan
Physico-chemical variations of shale with artificial maturation: In the presence and absence of water. Geoenergy Science and Engineering, 225(2023)211675.
Bazargan, M., Almqvist, B., Motra, H.B., Broumand, P., Schmiedel, T., Hieronymus, C.
Elastic Wave Propagation in a Stainless-Steel Standard and Verification of a COMSOL Multiphysics Numerical Elastic Wave Toolbox. Resources, 11, 49.
Zertani, S., Pleuger, J., Motra, H.B., John, T.
Highly variable petrophysical properties in felsic high-pressure rocks of the continental crust. LITHOS, 410-411(2022)106572.
Bazargan, M., Motra, H.B., Almqvist, B., Piazolo, S., Hieronymus, C.
Pressure, temperature and lithological dependence of seismic and magnetic susceptibility anisotropy in amphibolites and gneisses from the central Scandinavian Caledonides. Tectonophysics, 820(2021)229113.
Khalifeh, M., Saasen, A., Hodne, H., Motra, H.B.
Laboratory evaluation of rock-based geopolymers for zonal isolation and permanent P and A applications. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, 175(2019)352-362.
Zertani, S., John, T., Tilmann, F., Motra, H.B., Keppler, R., Andersen, T.B., Labrousse, L.
Modification of the seismic properties of subducting continental crust by eclogitization and deformation processes. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124(2019)9731-9754.
Shaocheng, J., Le, L., Motra, H.B., Wuttke, F., Michibayashi, K., Salisbury, M.H.
Poisson's ratio and auxetic properties of natural rocks. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 123, 1161-1185.
Motra, H.B., Magar, J., Ismail, A., Wuttke, F., Rabbel, W., Köhn, D., Thorwart, M., Simonetta, C., Costantin, N.
Determining the influence of pressure and temperature on the elastic constants of anisotropic rock samples using ultrasonic wave techniques. Journal of Applied Geophysics, 159(2018)715-730.
Motra, H.B., Stutz, H.H.
Geomechanical Rock Properties Using Pressure and Temperature Dependence of Elastic P- and S-Wave Velocities. Geotechnical and Geological Engineering, 36(2018)3751-3766.
Motra, H.B., Zertani, S.
Influence of loading and heating processes on elastic and geomechanical properties of eclogite rocks. Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering, 10(2018)127-137.
Rabbel, W., Köhn, D., Motra, H.B., Niederau, J., Thorwart, M., Wuttke, F.
Seismic velocity uncertainties and their effect on geothermal predictions: A case study. Energy Procedia, 125(2017)283-290.
Sattari, A.S., Rizvi, Z.H., Motra, H.B., Wuttke, F.
Meso-Scale Modeling of Heat Transport in a Heterogeneous Cemented Geomaterial by Lattice Element Method. Granular Matter, 19(2017)66, 1-12.
Wuttke, F., Sattari, A.S., Rizvi, Z.H., Motra, H.B.
Advanced Meso-Scale Modelling to Study the Effective Thermo-Mechanical Parameter in Solid Geomaterial. Advances in Laboratory Testing and Modelling of Soils and Shales (ATMSS), Springer (2017)85-95.
Motra, H.B., Stutz, H., Wuttke, F.
Quality assessment of soil bearing capacity factor models of shallow foundations. Soils and Foundations, 56(2016)265-276.
Motra, H.B., Hildebrand, J., Wuttke, F.
Monte Carlo method for the evaluation of measurement uncertainty: application to determine material properties. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 45(2016)220-228.
Scheiber, F., Motra, H.B., Legatiuk, D., Werner, F.
Uncertainty-based Evaluation and Coupling of Mathematical and Physical Models. Probabilistic Engineering Mechanics, 45(2016)52-60.
Keitel, H., Jung, B., Motra, H.B., Stutz, H.
Quality assessment of coupled partial models considering soil-structure coupling. Engineering Structures, 59(2)(2016)565-573.
Motra, H.B., Hildebrand, J., Dimmig-Osburg, A.
Assessment of Strain Measurement Techniques to Characterize Mechanical Properties of Structural Steel. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal (JESTECH), 17(2014)260-269.
Motra, H.B., Dimmig-Osburg, A., Hildebrand, J.
Quality assessment of models with an application to cyclic creep prediction of concrete. International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 8(2)(2014)262-283.
Motra, H.B., Hildebrand, J., Dimmig-Osburg, A.
Influence of specimen dimensions and orientations on the tensile properties of structural steel. Material Testing, 56(11-12)(2014)929-936.
Motra, H.B., Dimmig-Osburg, A., Hildebrand, J.
Evaluation of Experimental Measurement Uncertainty in Engineering Properties of PCC Samples. Journal of Civil Engineering Research, 3(3)(2013)104-113.
Motra, H.B.
Advances in Marine Geotechnical Engineering. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (JMSE) 13(11):2123.

Presentations

EGU 2025 – Tertiary Education in Geoscience
PDF · European Geosciences Union 2025

Contact

Email: hbmotra@gmail.com

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

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