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Tue Jul 13 11:18:30 EST 1999
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Copyright © Monash University 1998 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
The faculty offers both the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and the Master of Engineering Science (MEngSc) degrees by research. These courses are currently offered at the Caulfield, Clayton and Gippsland campuses.
For admission to full candidature for the degree of MEngSc(Research) there must be clear and irrefutable evidence that a candidate has (a) a university honours degree in engineering or (b) a university pass degree in engineering or similar degree plus honours-equivalent experience appropriate to the field of study.
A candidate who seems to have the potential but is deemed to be inadequately prepared for MEngSc(Research) studies may be considered for preliminary candidature. Such a candidate would be required to pass a preliminary prescription recommended by the head of the department; this will normally consist of undergraduate subjects for which credit towards the MEngSc(Research) will not be allowed. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an appropriate recommendation from the head of department certifying that the preliminary prescription has been passed.
Candidature
is either on a full-time or part-time basis as determined by the Graduate
Affairs Committee of the faculty board. The duration of the full-time course is
twenty-four months and every two months of part-time study counts as one month
of full-time study for the purpose of calculation of duration of candidature.
There are no levels of candidature other than part-time or full-time.
Part-time candidature is permitted under the following guidelines, approved by
the Graduate Affairs Committee at its meeting no. 2/94.
(a) The supervisor shall be a full-time member of the academic staff of the
university. An associate supervisor may be an appropriately qualified member of
an external organisation. If the associate supervisor is from an external
organisation, frequent communication with the supervisor should be
maintained.
(b) The topic of the thesis shall be decided by the candidate in consultation
with the supervisor.
(c) (i) In order to undertake part-time candidature, a candidate must be able
to devote the equivalent of a minimum of two days per week to the pursuit of
the research project.
(c) (ii) Where the postgraduate's research work involves the systematic use of
the university facilities, the faculty may require that these two days be week
days.
(c) (iii) Where the candidate is engaged in full-time employment, the head of
the department will be required to certify that the head is satisfied that the
candidate is able to spend the equivalent of two days a week in pursuit of the
research project.
(d) The candidate must discuss progress with the supervisor in person at least
once each calendar month.
(d) The candidate must attend the university frequently and on a regular basis;
one day per week on average is considered the minimum necessary.
(f) The candidate must attend all such courses, seminars, workshops, etc., as
are deemed necessary by the head of department (in the case of a regular
seminar or lecture series a minimum of 80 per cent attendance may be deemed
adequate).
(g) The candidate shall be required to undertake the equivalent of three months
of full-time study within the university (including its research stations and
teaching hospitals); the apportionment of that attendance period should be
determined by the faculty at the time of application but need not be
continuous.
(h) Where the candidate is engaged in full-time employment, the head of
department will be required to certify at the time of application that the head
is satisfied that the candidate will be able to comply with the residency
requirements of this regulation.
(i) The supervisor and head shall certify that the requirements for candidature
have been met and an annual report of attendance and progress will be presented
to the Graduate Affairs Committee.
(j) The thesis is to be available for publication (under conditions no more
restrictive than at present).
(k) Off-campus equipment and other facilities may be used with the permission
of the head and supervisor. Whenever feasible, on-campus facilities shall be
used or developed in preference to those off-campus.
The faculty administrative officer will maintain a master list of all
candidates enrolled on a part-time basis, and the certification required should
be presented for all such candidates at the December meeting of the Graduate
Affairs Committee.
There may well be circumstances in which to ensure equity with regard to
duration of candidature, a supervisor may wish to recommend that a part-time
candidate be registered as a full-time candidate who is undertaking field work
(see regulation 7 of the MEngSc[Research] regulations). All such cases should
be brought to the Graduate Affairs Committee who will consider each case on its
merits.
A
candidate whose preparation for the MEngSc(Research) and potential for
MEngSc(Research) studies may be adequate, but for whom some doubt exists in
respect of either or both, may be considered for probationary candidature.
Such a candidate will be required to pass a probationary prescription
recommended by the head of department. This prescription may take different
forms dependent upon the nature of candidature.
The prescription may consist of the requirement to prepare an adequate
literature survey and research program proposal in the candidate's chosen field
of study. Admission to full candidature will follow on receipt of an
appropriate recommendation from the head of department which includes
examiners' reports on the documentation submitted.
For all MEngSc(Research) candidates probationary candidature will not normally
exceed one calendar year.
Probationary candidature is not applicable to MEngSc(C'wk&MinThes)
candidature.
In
exceptional circumstances, external candidature for the MEngSc (Research) is
available for interstate and international students. All external candidates
are admitted on a probationary basis.
A minimum of twenty days of attendance per year at the department or school at
Monash University for the duration of candidature is required. Apportionment of
these days would be determined on a case by case basis (eg a single or the
equivalent in several smaller blocks of time). A portion of this attendance
could be off campus, provided that the candidate is able to interact with the
principal or associate (university) supervisor during this time (eg attending a
conference). Proposals for programs considered equivalent to twenty days of
residency would be considered by the graduate affairs committee of the faculty
as they arose.
It must be certified that there are appropriate means by which the candidate
could communicate with the supervisor on a daily basis, eg email, fax,
telephone. Regular interactive communication between candidate and supervisor
should take place at least once a month via telephone, video conference or
other interactive communication.
Candidates may be permitted to transfer between standard and external
candidature in special circumstances, as assessed on a case by case basis.
External MEngSc(Research) candidates would be permitted to transfer to external
PhD candidature under the same guidelines, approved by the Graduate Affairs
Committee, which apply to standard candidature.
The
guidelines for part-time PhD candidature were approved by the Graduate Affairs
Committee at its meeting no. 2/94 and are the same as the eighteen points
listed above for MEngSc(Research), save that part-time PhD candidates must also
attend the department, faculty, centre, school or unit for not less than six of
the first twenty-four months of candidature.
In this faculty the six months attendance requirement for each candidate should
be specified at the time of admission. Each case is considered in terms of the
candidate's demonstrated experience and aptitude for research.
All requests for admission to part-time candidature and for transfer from
full-time to part-time candidature should be brought before the Graduate
Affairs Committee which will decide each case on its merits.
The duration of candidature is five years for full-time candidates and eight
years for part-time candidates.
A candidate for a PhD will normally undertake the first year of studies on
probation. During this probationary year the candidate may be registered either
for a MEngSc(Research) or for a probationary PhD. It should be noted that, in
general, it is not possible in the Faculty of Engineering to transfer from PhD
candidature to MEngSc(Research) candidature. Candidates who do not possess an
honours degree in either the first or upper second class must register
initially for an MEngSc(Research) degree.
The transfer to full PhD status will be initiated by the PhD and Scholarships
Committee in the case of a candidate who is registered or a probationary PhD or
by the candidate's department in the case of a candidate who is registered for
an MEngSc(Research). In either case, on receipt of an appropriate
recommendation from the head of department and the presentation to the Graduate
Affairs Committee of an account of the candidate's progress during the first
year of research and performance in the appropriate departmental transfer
procedures together with assessors' reports of the candidate's performance in
such departmental transfer procedures, the candidate will be permitted to
transfer to full PhD candidature.
In order to preserve the status of an MEngSc(Research) as a major academic
award within the Faculty of Engineering no transfer will be permitted from PhD
status to MEngSc(Research) status on academic grounds.
The
Department of Chemical Engineering offers to engineering and science graduates
the opportunity to work towards the degrees of Master of Engineering Science
(Research) and Doctor of Philosophy.
Research activities are aimed at improving techniques and at understanding the
phenomena in the fields of fluid dynamics, kinetics, thermodynamics, control
and reactor design for organic and inorganic processes and the material
properties of pulp and paper. Of interest are processes in which natural
resources are utilised, especially those in the metallurgical, pulp and paper,
food, energy and biochemical areas.
In addition to the specialised equipment necessary for the work outlined below,
the department has a range of service instruments including infrared and
ultraviolet spectrophotometers, atomic absorption spectrographs, gas
chromatographs, polarographs, a thermal gravimetric and differential thermal
analyser, a Weissenberg rheogoniometer and other rheometers, a mass
spectrometer, high pressure liquid chromotographs, a micro-Raman spectrometer,
confocal microscopes, an Instron materials testing machine, an atomic force
microscope and a dynamic mechanical thermal analyser.
An X-ray diffractometer and a scanning electron microscope are available for
use in conjunction with the Department of Materials Engineering. Microprobe
facilities are available in conjunction with the Department of Earth
Sciences.
Currently research is in progress in the following broad areas: general
chemical engineering, in particular chemical reactor engineering, coal
conversion processes, membrane technology; process economics; rheology; pulp
and paper technology; separation process; biochemical engineering and food
processing; and environmental protection engineering.
Full descriptions of these research programs are available from the Department
of Chemical Engineering on request.
The graduate research program in the Department of Civil Engineering at both Caulfield and Clayton is designed to equip the student with skills and knowledge through individually supervised projects on advanced topics of relevance to professional needs and practice. Graduate students may specialise in one of six areas of civil engineering: structural engineering (Caulfield and Clayton), geomechanics (Caulfield and Clayton), offshore engineering (Clayton only), water resources/environmental engineering (Caulfield and Clayton), transport and traffic engineering (Clayton only) or timber engineering (Caulfield only).
The
PhD is awarded by the university to candidates who submit a thesis which
represents a significant contribution to knowledge or understanding, and which
demonstrates the capacity to carry out independent research.
Depending on qualifications, candidates may be enrolled initially for PhD,
probationary PhD or MEngSc(Research). Probationary PhD and MEngSc(Research)
candidates are assessed after about twelve months candidature and, if suitable,
may convert to PhD. The maximum period of candidature for PhD is eight years.
In most cases, candidature for PhD is back-dated to the start of
MEngSc(Research) candidature.
Research students enrolled for MEngSc(Research) are required to undertake a research project in their area of specialisation. The maximum period of full-time candidature is two years, and students are encouraged to complete their work in eighteen months.
Entry requirements for admission to MEngSc(Research) are an honours degree in engineering or equivalent. Proven research ability, usually established in the way described above, is necessary for entry to PhD candidature.
Research in structural engineering covers the full spectrum from fundamental theory to practical problems, the latter stimulated by enquiries from industry. Particular areas of interest include the effects of variable repeated loads on structures, crashworthiness of structures, design criteria, thin-walled structures such as box girders, stiffened plates and pipe bends, structural steel connections, performance of steel structures in fire, softening in reinforced concrete structures, buckling of concrete panels and high strength concrete, and timber structural members and systems. Projects range in content from fundamental and analytical, through numerical to experimental. Various levels of computing facilities exist to match the complexity of numerical tasks. Comprehensive and flexible testing and data logging facilities are also available.
Research in geomechanics is oriented mainly towards the field and laboratory determination of soil and rock parameters for use in design and analysis, and the development of improved methods for design. Current research is concentrated in the following areas: the stability of soft clays, including three dimensional failure criteria and finite element elastoplastic analyses; the behaviour of shallow and deep foundations in weak rock, including full-scale loading tests, laboratory tests on rock, rockjoint and rockconcrete interfaces, numerical and mathematical modelling and statistical analysis, fracture behaviour; performance predictions for earth and rock dams through parameter determination and numerical analysis, slope stability analyses; repeated load behaviour of soils and rocks; analysis and interpretation of pressuremeter tests including laboratory and numerical modelling; creep phenomena; numerical analysis of earth pressures.
Research activity in water engineering in the department covers the fields of hydrology, hydraulics, water resource systems and environmental engineering. Projects have included modelling the infiltration process, river hydraulics, effect of land-use change, mathematical models of rainfall and runoff, parameter estimation for rainfall-runoff models, urban hydrology, low streamflow analysis, reservoir capacity and yield analysis and stochastic data generation and water resource optimisation. Recent research has also involved projects relating to runoff-routing for flood estimation, flood flows in rivers, physical and numerical hydraulic modelling relating to spillway flows, flow measurement in open channels, culverts and flood plain hydraulics, hydrologic effects of land use change, design guidelines for stable channels and waterways, capacity sharing of surface water resources, and delivery of engineering experience using computer-aided learning. Both field and laboratory studies are performed.
Research in transport engineering is oriented towards transport planning, traffic engineering, road safety, freight and public transport operations, with continuing research in the following fields: transport and location choice modelling, transport management, intelligent transport systems, public transport use and operation, traffic management, road safety, traffic flow, parking, urban and non-urban freight and transport systems modelling.
Research activity in timber engineering is undertaken almost exclusively at Caulfield. It is inspired largely by problems associated with the forest products industry. As such there is a strong focus on timber engineered structures, the manufacture of forest products and quality systems. Current research is concentrated in the following areas: timber connections for industrial portal frames, structural stability theory, finite element applications, finger jointed and glued laminated timber manufacture, Monte Carlo simulation to predict the strength of adhesive bonded products, forest product durability with particular reference to adhesive bonded products, life extension studies for timber pallets, nail plated structures, quality systems, concrete formwork design. A wide range of testing, data logging and environmental aging equipment is available.
Further details of the department's research activities may be found in a leaflet entitled 'Graduate studies and research', available from the department.
The
department offers to suitably qualified students the opportunity to undertake
postgraduate studies and research. The degrees awarded are Master of
Engineering Science(Research) and Doctor of Philosophy.
Clayton maintains a number of well equipped graduate laboratories such as
telecommunications, electronics, optical communications, bioengineering, video
coding, protocol engineering, ISDN, ionospheric propagation, control, computer
engineering, computer vision and robotics, electrical machines, power systems,
power electronics and high voltage. These laboratories are supported by
excellent workshop facilities and highly qualified technical staff.
The current research activities at Clayton fall into the following broad
categories: circuit theory and signal processing; electronic circuit design;
electro-acoustics; ATM; multimedia communications; ionospheric propogation;
antennas and wave propogation; optical fibre communications; computer vision;
robot navigation; tactile sensing; artificial intelligence (expert systems and
neural networks); digital signal processing; high performance computing;
software engineering; power electronics; high voltage engineering; reliability;
alternative energy sources; robust control; muscle physiology; bioengineering;
bioengineering (molecular electronics); bioelectronics and high voltage
equipment condition monitoring, surge arrester design, cogeneration and treeing
in HV cables.
Further information on detailed research activities and supporting facilities
at Clayton are contained in a booklet entitled Postgraduate studies and
research opportunities in electrical and computer systems engineering,
available on request from the department at Clayton.
Suitably
qualified graduates in engineering or science may undertake studies in the
Department of Materials Engineering towards the degrees of Master of
Engineering Science (Research) and Doctor of Philosophy in one of six research
programs: ceramics engineering, metal forming, corrosion engineering, physical
metallurgy, polymer engineering and surface engineering.
Candidates for the degrees of Doctor of Philosophy or Master of Engineering
Science (Research) undertake full-time supervised research work.
The major current research activities in the department include properties of
engineering plastics, composites, rubbers and adhesives; polymer alloys and
blends; polymer visioelasticity; solvent and gas permeability in polymers;
ageing of polymers; thermosets; liquid crystalline polymers; conducting
polymers and blends; polymer composites; elastomers; corrosion and corrosion
protection; refractories; damage and remanent life in engineering materials;
electrical and magnetic properties of alloys; ultra-high strength aluminium
alloys; thermo-mechanical analysis of steels; metals and metal forming;
morphology and deformation modelling; wear and lifetime assessment of metals
and ceramics; metal-matrix composites; solidification processing; biomaterials;
thermally sprayed coatings; properties of surface coatings and films; ceramic
powder processing; superconducting ceramic oxide; mechanical properties of
ceramics and analytical electron microscopy.
Further details of the department's excellent research facilities and ongoing
research projects are available on request from the department.
The
department offers to suitably qualified candidates the opportunity to undertake
postgraduate study for the degrees Master of Engineering Science (Research) and
Doctor of Philosophy.
The department has graduate teaching and research capabilities in engineering
dynamics, hydraulic and pneumatic systems for powered control and logic,
kinematics and mechanisms, robotics, manufacturing management and technology,
experimental and computational structural (solids) mechanics, composite
structures, bonded structures, repair technology and ageing structures,
vibration analysis and control, acoustics and noise control, environmental
fluid mechanics, transition and turbulence, computational fluid mechanics, wind
effects on buildings and structures, hydrodynamics and water quality of bays
and estuaries, mixing in swirling flows, scalar mixing, energy conversion, heat
transfer and gas flow in non-circular ducts, boiling heat transfer, technology
policy, automation, control and systems and machine condition monitoring. At
Caulfield a wide range of mechanical and industrial engineering subject areas
are studied. Caulfield has special facilities for materials testing, composites
and adhesives, pumping systems, manufacturing engineering including machining,
automation, flexible manufacturing. Caulfield also has active research in the
management areas of CAD/CAM/CIM and industrial engineering including
manufacturing and resource planning, optimisation of manufacturing systems and
quality improvement.
There are well-equipped laboratories and supporting workshops catering for
teaching, research and projects in these areas, including several world-class
research facilities. The department has very substantial digital computing and
data processing facilities and access to faculty analog and hybrid
facilities.
The department offers MEngSc(Research) candidature by full-time, major research
in accordance with Section 3 of the MEngSc[Research] regulations. Candidates
are also required to complete two compulsory coursework subjects, MEC5410
(Research practices) and MEC5415 (Professional disputation). Further details of
these subjects are to be found in the preceding chapter.
Candidates for the PhD degree in the department are also required to complete
these coursework subjects.
Documents providing further details on graduate study are available from the
department.
The
Gippsland school offers to suitably qualified candidates the opportunity to
undertake postgraduate study for the degrees Master of Engineering Science
(Research) and Doctor of Philosophy. The Master of Engineering Science program
by research is individually tailored to suit the needs of applicants.
Encouragement is given to programs which are industry based. Candidates must
demonstrate that they have the necessary background to succeed: approval to
undertake a program will only be given where appropriate supervisors and
adequate resources are available. Anyone contemplating a masters degree program
should contact the head of school to discuss its suitability.
At Gippsland, research is currently being conducted in the following areas:
metal deformation processing, machine condition monitoring (especially
vibration analysis and performance monitoring); strain gauge applications and
dynamic response of robots; renewable energy applications (especially wind
energy and solar refrigeration systems); energy auditing; utilisation of brown
coal (especially gasification); engineering applications of geographic
information systems (especially flood predictions); road pavement construction;
traffic management and transport planning; engineering applications of digital
imaging; artificial intelligence and expert systems; engineering management
(especially maintenance management and reliability engineering); interaction
between energy utilisation, economics, politics and the environment.
wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Tue Jul 13 11:18:30 EST 1999