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 John Borrelli, Ph.D., RE.: water resources, environmental engineering; land application of wastewater, nonpoint pollution.
- Professor Clifford B. Fedler, Ph.D., RE.: bioengineering, environmental engineering; land application of wastewater, aquaculture, bioremediation.
- Professor James M. Gregory, Ph.D., RE.: erosion, soil physics; biological modeling, hydraulics, wind erosion.
- Professor Ernst W. Kiesling, Ph.D., P.E.:engineering mechanics; earth-sheltered structures.
- Professor Chris W. Letchford, DPhil., MIEAust, M.ASCE, CPEng
- Professor Kishor C. Mehta, Ph.D., RE.: structural engineering, wind engineering; wind-induced forces on structures.
- Professor H. Scott Norville, Ph.D., RE.: structural engineering; structural glazing, structural dynamics.
- Professor Kenneth A. Rainwater, Ph.D., PE.; water resources, hydrology, environmental engineering; bioremediation, nonpoint pollution, groundwater pollution.
- Professor Jimmy H. Smith, Ph.D., RE.: structural engineering, engineering mechanics; engineering professionalism.
- Professor Andrew H. P. Swift, Sc.D., P.E.
- Associate Professor W. Andrew Jackson, Ph.D.:
- Associate Professor Priyantha W. Jayawickrama, Ph.D.: geotechnical engineering, geoenvironmental engineering; unsaturated soils, solid waste systems, pavements.
- Associate Professor R. Heyward Ramsey, Ph.D., PE.: environmental engineering; water resource engineering, toxic and hazardous wastes.
- Associate Professor Douglas A. Smith, Ph.D., P.E.:
- Assistant Professor Andrew Budek, Ph.D.:
- Assistant Professor Xinzhong Chen, Dr. Eng.:
- Assistant Professor Hongchao Liu, Ph.D., P.E.
- Assistant Professor John McEnery, Ph.D.:
- Assistant Professor Audra N. Morse, Ph.D.:
- Assistant Professor Sanjaya Senadheera, Ph.D.:
Admission:
Admission requirements to Texas Tech University and the College of Engineering are detailed in the latest Texas Tech 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
The following graduate courses are offered by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering:
- CE 5101 Civil Engineering Seminar
- CE 5310 Numerical Methods in Engineering
- CE 5311 Advanced Mechanics of Solids
- CE 5313 Theory of Elastic Stability
- CE 5314 Theory of Plates and Shells
- CE 5316 Theory of Elasticity
- CE 5318 Finite Element Methods in Continuum Mechanics
- CE 5321 Advanced Soil Engineering I
- CE 5323 Advanced Foundation Engineering
- CE 5324 Foundation Structures
- CE 5325 Soil-Structure Interaction
- CE 5326 Analysis and Design of Earth Structures
- CE 5327 Geotechnical Practice for Waste Disposal
- CE 5331 Advanced Work in Specific Fields
- CE 5332 Advanced Work in Geotechnical Engineering
- CE 5333 Advanced Work in Water Resources
- CE 5340 Advanced Structural Analysis I
- CE 5341 Advanced Structural Analysis II
- CE 5342 Advanced Design of Steel Structures
- CE 5343 Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design
- CE 5346 Structural Dynamics I
- CE 5347 Structural Dynamics II
- CE 5348 Wind Engineering
- CE 5360 Open Channel Hydraulics
- CE 5361 Surface Water Hydrology
- CE 5362 Surface Water Modeling
- CE 5363 Groundwater Hydrology
- CE 5364 Groundwater Transport Phenomena
- CE 5365 Storm Water Management and Erosion Control Theory
- CE 5366 Water Resources Management
- CE 5383 Bioremediation of Wastes in Soil Systems
- CE 5390 Water and Wastewater Analysis
- CE 5391 Advanced Water Treatment
- CE 5392 Conventional Wastewater Treatment Systems
- CE 5393 Unit Processes Laboratory
- CE. 5394 Natural Systems for Wastewater Treatment
- CE 5395 Solid and Hazardous Waste Treatment
- CE 5396 Environmental Impact Analysis
- CE 5397 Limnological Aspects of Environmental Engineering
- CE 5398 Risk Management and Public Policy
- ENVE 5302 Environmental Hygiene Engineering and Control
- ENVE 5303 Design of Air Pollution Control Systems
- ENVE 5304 Environmental Law and Policies
- ENVE 5305,5306 Environmental Systems Design I, II
- ENVE 5310 Principles of Environmental Technology and Management
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) 742-3488You 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:
Office of the Dean The Graduate School Texas Tech University Box 41033 Lubbock , TX 79409-1033 Tel: (806) 742-2781Office of the Dean College of Engineering Texas Tech University Box 43103 Lubbock , TX 79409-3103 Tel: (806) 742-3451Texas 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.
Texas Tech University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 10th and Akron, Lubbock, TX 79409
806.742.3523