The graduate research program in the Department of Civil Engineering at 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, geomechanics, water resources/environmental engineering, transport and traffic engineering or timber engineering.
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 four 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 (at least H2B) 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 inquiries from industry. Particular areas of interest include the effects of variable repeated loads on structures, crashworthiness of structures, design criteria, steel tubular structures, thin-walled structures such as box girders, stiffened plates and pipe bends, structural steel connections, performance of steel structures subject to fire, fatigue and large deformation cyclic loading, 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 geoengineering. In both areas, there is a strong emphasis on innovative solutions for 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 geoengineering includes foundation performance including drilled foundations in weak rock and soils, filtration and drainage, the behaviour of rock joints and rock masses, rock dynamics, tunnelling in soft rocks, stabilisation of soils and crushed rocks, unsaturated soil and rock behaviour, pavement and railway geotechnics. The environmental geoengineering research is concerned with the geotechnical properties of waste materials; performance of natural innovative cover and systems and hybrid containment barriers for waste disposal; soil remediation, contaminant transport and multiphase flow, gas outburst and groundwater inundation. Joint research is being undertaken in ground improvement, geosynthetics 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 studies 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; modelling of water resource systems for optimisation of water resource allocation and use; and various improvements to flood estimation methods.
Most research projects will involve a combination of desk-top and computer-aided research with field and laboratory investigation, with a strong focus on undertaking fundamental research which can directly influence current industry practice.
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 focuses on timber engineering, life-time integrity, the development of engineered timber products and quality assurance. Some specific projects include: timber bridge load rating and repair with an emphasis on fibre reinforced plastic techniques, timber portal frame behaviour, epoxy grouted bars used in structural timber joints, mechano-sorptive response of timber, timber floor systems, timber composites, structural applications of particleboard, wood adhesive bonding. A wide range of testing equipment is available including universal testing machines (Shimadzu 100t and 10t, Instron screw loading with a wide range of load cells), Instron loose ram system, strong floor, timber tension tester (600kN), humidity cabinets, large scale environmental chambers (chamber A with temperature and humidity control, chamber B with water spray, salt, CO2), remote sensing equipment, hot baths, particleboard and MDF mechanical test equipment, furniture test rigs, wood working machinery. The timber laboratories are NATA accredited so that laboratory results from work done within the Timber Centre is automatically used directly by the timber industry in product development and marketing. Staff are widely represented on both national and international (International Standards Organisation) committees to ensure that an effective technology transfer mechanism is in place that ensures that its research findings are used.
Further details of the department's research activities may be found in a leaflet entitled `Graduate studies and research', available from the department.
Previous page | Next page | Section contents | Title and contents