PhD Degree Programme in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Degree Programme in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering

Today’s society is besieged with numerous Geotechnical and Coastal challenges that pose risk to health, life and property The Center for Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering Research, (CGCER), University of Port Harcourt proposes to run the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering. The recent and up-surging interest in geotechnical and shore protection activities has made Geotechnical / Coastal challenges a front burner issue. Therefore, there is need to train manpower that can rise up to these challenges with solutions that can address the problems. The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering programme has been designed to provide practicing engineers, Academics and Researchers with the advanced Geotechnical and Coastal engineering knowledge and skills required to solve these problems.

The Center for Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering Research has been running a Masters degree programme for the past two years.

The Philosophy of the PhD Programme is anchored on the drive of initiating, encouraging, promoting and sustaining advanced applied research and development in the various aspects of Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering in order to equip the graduates with advanced knowledge and skill set in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering so that they can proffer solutions to real environmental problems.

To turn in internationally recognized Graduates whose Professionalism would be of immense benefit in tackling the problems associated with coastal issues. In addition, the PhD Programme also has the vision of preparing interested Graduates for academic positions and research assignments.

To create, preserve and apply knowledge obtained through Applied Research to the service of humanity through comprehensive Research and Development in Coastal Technology Management.

Aim

The main aim of the PhD programme in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering is to prepare students for professional work in the respective Research areas and also to produce a hands-on, Industry-ready Geotechnical Engineers and Coastal Engineers with a wide-range of Job Opportunities in Marine & Coastal Environment, Shore Protection, Artificial Intelligence, Dams, Port & Harbour, Geotechnical Services, Ocean Survey, Construction, Consultancy, and Coastal Infrastructure Research & Development.

Objectives

To achieve the aim of the Doctor in Philosophy Programme in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering, the following under listed objectives will be pursued:

  1. Sourcing of highly qualified resource persons from both the academic and industrial worlds to deliver knowledge filled and experienced based lectures.
  2. Organization of conferences, seminars and workshops in the relevant areas of interest.
  3. Providing Internship opportunities for interested students in recognized industries.

Flood, Erosion and Ocean encroac

Flood, Erosion and Ocean encroachment around Coastlines have made infrastructural development in such environment highly challenging, hence man is forced to think of ways of living with the Coastal environment. Exploring challenging Soils, Marine and Coastal environment therefore becomes inevitable, for both Geotechnical research and Infrastructural development.

Addressing challenges in shore protection, Coastal vunerability and adaptability are some of the very key reasons for the PhD programme in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering. Furthermore, exploitation and processing activities derived from Security threats and militancy in the host Onshore communities has forced International Oil and Gas companies (IOCs) to extend the frontiers of their activities Offshore, into the deep water region. Hence the need for advanced research activities into the Coastal environment.

hment around Coastal civilizations have made infrastructural development in that domain highly challenging, hence man is forced to thinker ways of living with the Sea environment. Exploring challenging Soils, Marine and Coastal environment therefore becomes inevitable, both for Geotechnical research and Infrastructural development.
Besides, the harsh Onshore Oil and Gas exploration, exploitation and processing activities deriving from Security threats and militancy in the host Onshore communities has forced International Oil and Gas companies (IOCs) to extend the frontiers of their activities Offshore, into the deepwaters region. This further necessitates advanced research activities into the Coastal environment.

The main aim of the programmes of the Center is to produce a hands-on, Industry-ready Geotechnical Engineers and Coastal Engineers with a wide-range of Job Opportunities in Marine & Coastal Environment, Shore Protection, Artificial Intelligence, Dams, Port & Harbour, Geotechnical Services, Ocean Survey, Construction, Consultancy, Coastal Infrastructure Research & Development.

All lectures for every Programme shall be administered / delivered on modular basis from 08.00am to 04.00pm (with One Hour (12.00 - 01.00) break) from Mondays to Fridays. That is, 40 hours lecture per week per Course which is approximately equal to 14 weeks Semester of Academic work for a 3 Credit Units (2-hours lecture plus l hour Practical or Tutorial per week) Course. Examination for a Course is taken after the Lectures on Saturdays, while the Continuous Assessment is done within the lecture periods as Practical reports, Test, Group Discussions, Field Trips reports and Assignments.

  1. The full-time candidates will be required to spend a minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 5 years.
  2. The part-time candidates will be required to spend a minimum of 3 years and a maximum of 7 years.

To be admitted into the PhD Degree programmes in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering, candidates must satisfy one of the following categories;

  1. Candidates that have successfully completed the relevant M.Sc degree in the University of Port Harcourt with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 5 point scale in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering or any other relevant discipline.
  2.  Candidates with equivalent qualifications from other Universities.
  3.  Qualified industry staff with relevant M.Sc. (in Civil Engineering or any other closely related discipline) degree can apply.
  4.  Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview /presentation of research proposals. Limited sponsorship opportunity is available for students however, candidates are encouraged to seek for sponsorship from other sponsoring agencies and employers.

To achieve the above objectives and qualify for the award of the PhD degree, the student must complete and pass all the prescribed courses in the chosen area of interest, participate in and present seminars and produced a well supervised dissertation on an approved research topic relevant to the interest of the Center.

S/No

Module Code

Module Title

Credit Unit

1

GCE 910

Advanced Concepts in Engineering Behavior of Soils

3

2

GCE 912

Finite Element and Mathematical Modelling Techniques in Geomechanics

3

3

GCE 913

Advanced Probability and Reliability of Geotechnical Systems

3

4

GCE 915

Advanced Earthquake Engineering and Foundation Vibrations

3

5

GCE 916

Advanced Earth Structures and Slopes

3

6

GCE 917

Advanced Concepts in Theoretical Soil Mechanics

3

7

GCE 918

Advanced Dam Engineering, Embankments and Seepage

3

8

GCE 920

Advanced Project Management

3

9

CTM 902

Advanced Coastal Infrastructure

3

10

CTM 904

Advanced Coastal Measurement and Data Analysis

3

11

GCE 905

ICT/Big Data Analysis

3

12

GCE 901

Technical Seminar

3

13

GCE 902

Thesis

6

                                           TOTAL

42

GCE 910 - Advanced Concepts in Engineering Behavior of Soils (3 Credits).

Parameters and representation of soil properties. Advanced concepts in Critical State Soil Mechanics – Limit and Critical State Models. Strength behavior of simple contractive soils. Strength behavior of dilative soils. Behavior of heavily over-consolidated clays including residual strength. Quantitative models of pore pressure. Volume change and compressibility behavior: Consolidation, compression, creep and other time effects. Conduction phenomena-uncoupled and coupled. Sensitive soils. Stress-Deformation of soils. Models for stress-strain and other constitutive laws. Transient and dynamic loading response. Effects of cyclic loading. Failure theories.

 

GCE 912 - Finite Element and Mathematical Modelling Techniques in Geomechanics

Introduction: Geotechnical Modelling of soil behaviour – Limit and Critical States (a Review); Constitutive Modelling: Elastic, elastic – plastic models; Numerical modelling: Finite Element modelling, Finite differences; Physical Modelling: Dimensional analysis, Soil – Structure Interaction; Centrifuge Modelling; Theoretical Modelling; Application of Modelling techniques in solving soil – Structure Interaction Problems.

 

GCE 913 - Advanced Probability and Reliability of Geotechnical Systems (3 Credits).

Basic probability theory and applications; common probability distributions and geotechnical applications; joint distributions; moment approximations; Reliability of soil structures; system reliability and applications; Geotechnical applications of entropy and lest biased distribution, the hazard function; Applications of diffusion theory to subsidence, consolidation and stress distribution (Probability consolidation, probabilistic stress distribution); Markov Process and progressive slope failure; Time series analysis and groundwater fluctuation; Uncertainty and soil parameters; Decision making under uncertainty; site characterization.

 

GCE 915 - Advanced Earthquake Engineering and Foundation Vibrations (3 Credits).

Introduction: Dynamic Response Characteristics; Wave Propagation; Dynamic Soil properties; Foundation response to vibrations, Blasting Vibrations; Seismic slope stability analysis; Seismic design of retaining walls; Liquefaction; Seismic response of clays; Risk analysis and stability; offshore dynamics. Engineering earthquakes from engineering point of view; Earthquake mechanism; Basic characteristics of strong ground motion; Response of simple systems to earthquakes; structural design for earthquakes; seismic codes; earthquake resistant design; site effects; soil amplification; seismic risk and design decisions; Soil-structure interaction; nuclear reactor containment structures; earth dam design (seismic); fluids in tanks and reservoirs; Blast loading.

 

GCE 916 - Advanced Earth Structures and Slopes (3 Credits).

Equilibrium of Retained soil: Limiting equilibrium analysis; Earth pressure theories; Lateral earth; Rigid retaining walls; sheet pile walls; anchored bulkhead. Deep excavations in soil; pressure distribution, base instability, bracing and other support methods; Earth anchored excavation; concrete diaphragm walls; Reinforced earth walls; cellular cofferdams; soft ground tunneling; Ground movement accompanying excavations and tunneling operations; Slope stability:- Design and analysis of slopes and embankments, circular and non-circular failure surfaces, concept of safety; Probabilistic slope stability analysis; stress strain and time-dependent behavior; Identification and control of slope stability problems; Graduate soil Laboratory.

 

GCE 917 - Advanced Concepts in Theoretical Soil Mechanics (3 Credits).

Stress distribution in soil: Concept of stress and strain; Elastic equations; Applications to various loading and boundary conditions in soil. Stability problems in soil: - Failure theories; Development of conventional stability methods; Effects of retaining wall movements; Sokolovski’s methods of characteristics. Consolidation:-Theoretical development and solution of one dimensional consolidation; Higher-dimensional consolidation. Seepage: -Theory of groundwater movement; method of fragments.

 

GCE 918 - Advanced Dam Engineering, Embankments and Seepage (3 Credits).

Types of Dams, Design consideration; design details; site explorations; behavior of rockfills; stress-strain modeling, Finite element modeling, stresses, load transfer; Cracking; pore pressure; observations / monitoring; inspection and maintenance; foundation and abutment treatment, cut-off; causes of failure; Trailings dam, Permeability, flow equations; flow nets. Numerical analyses, Seepage analogies; unknown boundaries; Transfer conditions;

Anisotropic seepage; layered systems; piping filters.

 

GCE 920 – Advanced Project Management (3 Credits).

Project Management overview:  Identify project management processes, professional and social responsibilities, interpersonal skills required for a project management. Project Management Methodology. Project Management Toolset. Project Management Documentation. System Development Life Cycle. Initiating a project: Examine the project management content, examine project selection, prepare a project statement of work, create a project charter, Identify project stakeholders. The Planning Phase: Identify elements of the project management plan, Document stakeholder requirements, create a scope statement, develop a work breakdown structure.

 

CTM 902 - Advanced Coastal Infrastructure (3 Credits).

Review of planning and design of critical coastal infrastructure. Review of design criteria. Advanced design of break waters, jetties, seawalls, groins, piers, submerged pipelines, harbor design and Tsunami defense. Use of laboratory models, numerical simulation and observation for design.

 

CTM 904 - Advanced Coastal Management and Data Analysis (3 Credits).

Advanced coastal measurement. Advanced bathymetric survey. Online data archival and retrieval systems. Data analysis: Fourier transform applications to the processing of coastal related types of signal. Advanced statistics. Digital processing technique. Laboratory work involving analysis of coastal related signals using modern data acquisition systems.

 

GCE 905 – ICT/Big Data Analysis (3 Credits).

Overview of Big Data. Using Big Data in Businesses. Technologies for Handling Big Data. Understanding Hadoop Ecosystem. Dig Deep to understand the fundamental of MapReduce and HBase. Understanding Big Data Technology Foundations. Databases and Data Warehouses. Using Hadoop to store data. Learn to Process Data using Map Reduce. Testing and Debugging Map Reduce Applications. Learn Hadoop YARN Architechture. Exploring Hive. Exploring Pig. Exploring Oozie. Learn NoSQL Data Management. Integrating R and Hadoop and Understanding Hive in Detail.

 

GCE 901 - Technical Seminar (3 Credits).

This is a required course for all graduate students. Intensive review of the literature in the student area of specialization will be required. Series of seminars will be delivered by students in topic of interest.

 

GCE 902 - Research and Dissertation (6 Credits).

This is a directed research on problems in the student’s area of specialization. Emphasis will be on the use of research methodology for scientific investigation leading to a written thesis.

To be awarded the PhD degree in Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering, the student must fulfill the following requirements.

  1. Be registered in the School of Graduate Studies for equivalent of twenty-four (24) calendar months for full-time mode of study. 
  2. Complete a total of forty-two (42) credit units. At least 6 credits must be on a dissertation devoted to managing Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering problems.
  3. Complete eight (8) core Geotechnical and Coastal Engineering courses and a graduate seminar course with at least a ‘C’ grade.
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