PhD Civil Engineering

COURSE OVERVIEW

Swansea University has been at the forefront of international research in the area of civil and computational engineering.

Internationally renowned engineers at Swansea pioneered the development of numerical techniques, such as the finite element method, and associated computational procedures that have enabled the solution of many complex engineering problems.

The Zienkiewicz Centre for Computational Engineering has excellent computing facilities, including a state-of-the-art multi-processor super computer with virtual reality facilities and high-speed networking.

Recent PhD theses supervised in the area of Civil Engineering:

• Finite Element Simulation of Damage Assessment of Concrete Bridges subject to Seismic Loading
• Numerical Modelling and Optimisation of new RHS Column-to-I Beam Connections
• Cohesive Discrete Element Modelling and Industrial Applications
• Characterisation of Porous Media using the Lattice Boltzmann Method
• Compressible computational fluid dynamics for fluid structure interaction simulation

Programme Summary

This PhD in Civil Engineering at Swansea will enable you to undertake a substantial project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can present a career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 100,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The PhD is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva voce). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support. There will be an opportunity to deliver presentations to research students and staff at departmental seminars and conferences. There may also be opportunities to develop your teaching skills through undergraduate tutorials, demonstrations and seminars.

Programme Aims

This PhD programme will provide doctoral researchers with:

1. The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
2. Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
3. Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.

Assessment

Doctoral researchers for the PhD in Civil Engineering are examined in two parts.

The first part is a thesis which is an original body of work representing the methods and results of the research project. The maximum word limit is 100,000 for the main text. The word limit does not include appendices (if any), essential footnotes, introductory parts and statements or the bibliography and index. The second part is an oral examination (viva voce).