Doctor of Philosophy Program
Doctoral studies consist of selected courses and independent research culminating in a dissertation. Each student’s degree plan is individually formulated through consultation with a faculty advisory committee. Recent dissertation research studies have included topics in the Civil Engineering specialty areas of structural engineering, engineering mechanics, geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering, water resources engineering, wind engineering, environmental engineering, and computational mechanics.
Typically, students with MS degrees in engineering programs enter the Civil Engineering doctoral program. Students with graduate degrees in non-engineering sciences initially may be accepted subject to completing specified leveling courses in Civil Engineering. Students with master’s degrees in Civil or Environmental engineering who have not completed courses equivalent to the core courses required for the MSCE degree will be required to satisfactorily complete the missing core courses at the earliest opportunity. Degree and tool course requirements are detailed in the latest edition of the Texas Tech University Graduate Catalog. Doctoral degree plans are individually prepared in consultation with a faculty advisor and usually comprise courses listed with CE or ENVE prefixes, but the degree plan often includes courses outside the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the College of Engineering.
Current Research
Some of the current and recently completed research studies in the Texas Tech University Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering include:
- Soil contamination remediation design
- Biological degradation of hydrocarbon-soaked natural fibers
- Finite element modeling of soil-venting for VOC removal from contaminated soils
- Radon in groundwater in the Southern High Plains
- Use of Spirulina as an integrated aquaculture waste treatment system
- Characterization of surface and groundwater pollution at the Pantex nuclear weapon assembly plant
- Examination of water quality in rural playa lakes
- Biological treatment of hydrocarbon waste
- Biological treatment of cattle waste
- Qualitative aspects of urban playa lake water
- Tornado missile impact analysis
- Evolution of building code requirements for mitigation of damage from hurricane winds
- Critical evaluation of metal building systems subjected to extreme wind loads
- Moisture and particle size effects on threshold friction velocity
- Modeling of soil erosion
- Wind erosion prediction and control
- Analysis of longitudinal cracking in flexible pavements on expansive soil embankments
- Parameters for predicting shrink/swell beneath slab foundations on expansive soils
- Evaluation of instruments to measure soil moisture condition
- Crack propagation in unsaturated soils
- Mitigation of damage to structures on expansive soils
- Lateral swelling pressures from soil backfill
- Interactive computer program for predicting shrink/swell and design of post-tensioned slabs on expansive soils
- Single-vehicle accidents on rural divided highways
- Traffic light synchronization
- Analysis of pavements with flexible reinforcement
- Performance testing of field measurement systems for full scale trafficked pavements
- Analysis of frictional properties of aggregates
- Soundness tests for pavement aggregates
- Wind drag coefficients for octagonal shapes
- Vibration mitigation of traffic signal structures
- Building frequency response to fluctuating wind pressures
- Mathematical modeling of structural glazing systems
- Finite element modeling of plates on elastic foundations
- Variational modeling of footing vibrations
- Dynamic testing of laminated glass
- Fatigue behavior of structural silicone sealant
- Strength analysis of weathered window glass
- Strength analysis of fully tempered glass
- Wind pressures on full scale buildings
- Assessment of wind gust factors
- Wind-induced changes in building internal pressures
- Wind pressure distribution on single-ply ballasted roof systems
- Wind-induced peak pressures in roof corners
- Building categorization for wind resistance
Graduate Faculty in Civil and Environmental Engineering
The Civil and Environmental Engineering graduate faculty members with their principal areas of expertise and research are:
- Professor Clifford B. Fedler, Ph.D., P.E.: Bioengineering, environmental engineering; land application of wastewater, aquaculture, bioremediation.
- Professor W. Andrew Jackson, Ph.D., P.E.: Environmental engineering
- Professor Ernst W. Kiesling, Ph.D., P.E.: Engineering mechanics; earth-sheltered structures.
- Professor Kishor C. Mehta, Ph.D.,P.E.: Environmental engineering, structural engineering, wind engineering; wind-induced forces on structures.
- Professor H. Scott Norville, Ph.D., P.E.: Structural engineering; structural glazing, structural dynamics.
- Professor Kenneth A. Rainwater, Ph.D., P.E.: Water resources, hydrology, environmental engineering; bioremediation, nonpoint pollution, groundwater pollution.
- Professor Jimmy H. Smith, Ph.D., P.E.: Structural engineering, engineering mechanics; engineering professionalism.
- Associate Professor Xinzhong Chen, Dr. Eng.: Structural Engineering
- Associate Professor Ted Cleveland, Ph.D., P.E. Water resources and Environmental engineering
- Associate Professor Priyantha W. Jayawickrama, Ph.D.: Geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering; unsaturated soils, solid waste systems, pavements.
- Associate Professor Hongchao Liu, Ph.D., P.E.: Transportation engineering
- Associate Professor Audra N. Morse, Ph.D.: Environmental engineering
- Associate Professor Moon Won,Ph.D., P.E.: Materials
- Associate Professor R. Heyward Ramsey, Ph.D., P.E.: Environmental engineering; water resource engineering, toxic and hazardous wastes.
- Associate Professor Sanjaya Senadheera, Ph.D.: Materials
- Associate Professor Douglas A. Smith, Ph.D., P.E.: Structural
- Assistant Professor Annetta Hernandez, Ph.D.: Environmental and water resources
- Assistant Professor William D. Lawson, Ph.D., P.E.: Geotechnical, Engineering ethics and Professionalism
- Assistant Professor Stephen M. Morse, Ph.D.: Engineering Mechanics, Structural engineering
- Assistant Professor Delong Zuo, Ph.D.: Engineering Mechanics, Structural engineering
Admission
Admission requirements to Texas Tech University and the College of Engineering are detailed in the latest TexasTech University Graduate Catalog. Students who wish to be admitted to the PhD program in Civil Engineering at Texas Tech University must meet requirements beyond the minimum Graduate Record Examination score and Grade Point Average established by the Graduate School. Admission is granted only to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional academic, research, and professional achievement potential, and who have demonstrated the maturity to formulate their own academic and research programs. Specific admission requirements to the doctoral program of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering include acceptance by the Graduate Faculty. Students entering the doctoral program not possessing baccalaureate degrees from engineering programs may be required to take leveling engineering courses to prepare them for advanced course work. Additionally, applicants for the doctoral program must receive approval of a separate application to the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering before being fully admitted.
Graduate Courses
Click on the link below to view graduate course offerings in Civil and Environmental Engineering. Civil Engineering(CE)Environmental Engineering(EE)
Further Information
Additional information on the civil engineering doctoral degree program may be obtained by contacting:
Glenna Andrews
Dept. of Civil Engineering
Box 41023
Texas Tech University
Lubbock , TX 79409-1023
Tel: (806) 742-3523
Fax: (806) 742-3488
You are welcome to visit the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering on campus and discuss career opportunities. We suggest calling beforehand to ensure that faculty advisors are available when you want to visit.
Additional detailed information on Texas Tech University may be obtained from:
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Office of the Dean The Graduate School Texas Tech University Box 41033 Lubbock , TX 79409-1033 Tel: (806) 742-2781 |
Office of the Dean Whitacre College of Engineering Texas Tech University Box 43103 Lubbock , TX 79409-3103 Tel: (806) 742-3451 |
Texas Tech university is committed to the principle that in no aspect of its programs shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, creed, national origin, age, sex, or disability, and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all.