wwwdev@monash.edu.au
Thu May 25 16:53:16 EST 2000
Auth: S Steele, ITS Web and Internet Facilities
Copyright © Monash University 1999 - All Rights Reserved - Caution
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 infra-red 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: 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 five areas of civil engineering: structural engineering (Caulfield and Clayton), geomechanics (Caulfield and Clayton, 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
probationary PhD or MEngSc(Research). Probationary PhD and MEngSc(Research)
candidates are assessed after about 12 months candidature and, if suitable, may
convert to full PhD candidature. The maximum period of candidature for PhD is
five years (full-time) or eight years (part-time). 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 18 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 non-linear and numerical analysis of concrete structures, strength assessment and lifetime performance of ageing concrete bridges, 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 activities are broadly divided into structural and environmental Geomechanics. In both areas, there is a strong emphasis on innovative solution of practical engineering problems, and the development of improved methods for design. This research is made possible through an extensive array of advanced field and laboratory equipment. Industry links are a key aspect of the research effort. Current research in structural geomechanics includes slope stability analysis; foundation performance including drilled foundations in weak rock and displacement screw piling; the behaviour of rock joints and rock masses for mining applications; low-strain and high-strain dynamic pile testing. The environmental geomechanics research is concerned with the geotechnical properties of waste materials; performance of natural, synthetic and hybrid containment barriers for waste disposal; soil remediation and contaminant transport. Joint research is being undertaken in soil improvement and reinforcement and site characterisation.
Academic
staff of the department of civil engineering are key researchers in the
Cooperative Research Centre for Catchment Hydrology and supervise many
postgraduate research projects funded by the centre. Research projects have
included highly specialised hydrologic and hydraulic engineering fields as well
as integrated water environment research involving water engineering aquatic
ecology, stream restoration and water quality improvements.
Recent projects undertaken by postgraduate research students have included
investigations into the influence of spatial variability of land-use and soil
types on catchment runoff; laboratory and field investigations of flow
hydraulics affecting open channel stability leading to design guidelines for
stable channels and waterways; theoretical, laboratory and field studies of
urban stormwater quality control methods for protection of urban aquatic
ecosystems; development of urban stormwater wetland technology for water
quality improvement; hydraulic modelling of fishways; capacity sharing of water
resources and optimisation of water resource utilisation; and runoff-routing
methods of flood estimation.
Most research projects will involve a combination of:
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 ageing 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.
The department 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 fall into the following broad categories:
circuit theory and signal processing; multimedia communications; ionospheric
propagation; antennas and wave propagation; control systems; asynchronous
transfer mode; video compression and archiving; optical fibre communications;
optical computing; electronic design; computer vision; robot navigation;
tactile sensing; artificial intelligence; high-performance computing; computer
software engineering; power electronics; high-voltage engineering; alternative
energy sources; robust control; muscle physiology; biomedical engineering;
auditory systems and prostheses; surge arrester design and cogeneration.
Further information on detailed research activities and supporting facilities
are contained in a booklet entitled Postgraduate Studies and Research
Opportunities in Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, available on
request from the department.
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 viscoelasticity; solvent and gas permeability in polymers;
ageing of polymers; thermosets; liquid crystalline polymers; conducting
polymers and blends; polymer composites; elastomers; corrosion and corrosion
protection; ceramics and 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 at Clayton 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, 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 computing and data
processing 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 'Subjects - all
faculties' section of this publication.
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
Thu May 25 16:53:16 EST 2000