Full-time study

4 years

prof. Ing. Marcela Karmazínová, CSc.

Chairman :
prof. Ing. Marcela Karmazínová, CSc.
Councillor internal :
prof. Ing. Zbyněk Keršner, CSc.
doc. Ing. Lumír Miča, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Ivana Laníková, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Leonard Hobst, CSc.
prof. Ing. Drahomír Novák, DrSc.
prof. RNDr. Ing. Petr Štěpánek, CSc., dr. h. c.
prof. Dr.techn. Ing. Michal Varaus
doc. Ing. Otto Plášek, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
Ing. Mojmír Nejezchleb
prof. Ing. Stanislav Vejvoda, CSc.

The aim of the doctoral study program Structures and Traffic Structures is to provide excellent graduates with a specialized university degree and scientific training in selected current fields of study, particularly in the field of mechanics of load-bearing building structures, concrete, masonry, composite, metal, wood, geotechnics, building testing and diagnostics of load-bearing building structures as well as in the areas of road construction and railway structures and constructions. The study is focused on complex scientific preparation, methodology of independent scientific work and on the development of knowledge in the field of the theory of load-bearing structures, engineering structures and transport structures, with the basic disciplines presented areas of mechanics of load-bearing structures of engineering and transport structures. . The scientific preparation in this study program is based on mastering the initial theoretical disciplines of the science-based basis and theoretical and scientific disciplines of the relevant focus.
The aim of the study is also the involvement of students in the preparation and solution of national and international scientific research projects, presentation of achieved results at national and international level and their publication in professional and scientific foreign and domestic journals as well as at scientific and professional conferences. During his / her studies, the student gains not only new theoretical knowledge, but also own experience from experimental activities and necessary practical knowledge also thanks to close cooperation with construction practice in the field of designing and designing and realization of load-bearing building structures as well as to a foreign university or research institution, or work placements at another professional workplace.

Graduates of the doctoral study program Structural and Transport Engineering will be prepared for creative activities in the field of science, research, development and innovation, both individually and in teams at national and international level. During his / her doctoral program he / she acquires and acquires deep knowledge of theoretical and professional disciplines, acquires not only new theoretical knowledge but also new own experience and acquires the necessary habits for independent scientific research and creative activities in research and development. in addressing current scientific issues and issues arising from practice requirements. Upon successful completion of the highest level of university studies in the doctoral study program Construction and Traffic Structures, the graduate will be able to deepen the knowledge and level of knowledge in the field and successfully use knowledge and scientific approaches in solving theoretical and practical tasks.
Scientific preparation is focused on the following basic specializations: Mechanics of load-bearing structures; Concrete and masonry structures; Metal, wood and composite structures; Geotechnics; Experimental technology and testing; Roads; Railway structures and constructions. Graduates can be employed mainly in research and development workplaces, in designing organizations, in state administration bodies, and the experience gained during their teaching experience within the doctoral study program can be applied also in education in the academic sphere or in other educational or research institutions. Completion of the doctoral study program is also a necessary precondition for possible further career and professional academic growth of the graduate.

Doctoral degree programs are primarily aimed at graduate employment in science and research, which is, among other things, anchored in the objectives of study, learning outcomes and graduate profile. This implies the employment of graduates especially in organizations, institutions and companies that are engaged in research and development activities. These are mainly research organizations whose main activity is research and development, but also construction practice entities, ie companies, where research and development is one of the part of the whole spectrum of activities in addition to commonly realized activities such as production and implementation. A number of implementing companies are currently creating support for their own research and development as they can strengthen their position, competitiveness and marketability in a highly competitive environment. In this regard, there is a growing demand for younger generation professionals with independent creative scientific work, knowledge and insight into new modern trends not only in their expertise but also in related expertise and activities such as PC modeling, simulation, experimental methods and procedures. Last but not least, the graduate has the opportunity to work in the academic sphere, which involves combining scientific research and educational activities. Graduates can thus find employment especially in research organizations and construction practice companies in the context of related development and innovation activities, in educational institutions, especially in the university sphere, which provides them with the possibility of further personal and career development and professional academic growth. Moreover, experience shows that graduates of doctoral study programs are very successful in organizations of the mentioned types not only in the Czech Republic but also abroad, which is also true for graduates in the field of Construction and Transport Structures. Completion of the doctoral study program gives graduates very good prerequisites for employment in, for example, design organizations or state administration in higher professional and managerial positions.

Fulfillment of the subjects of the individual study plan, successful completion of the state doctoral examination, foreign experience, relevant creative activity and successful defense of the dissertation.

The rules and conditions for the creation of study plans of study programs carried out at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the BUT define:
Rules of BUT study programs (www.vutbr.cz/uredni-deska/vnitrni-predpisy-a-dokumenty), which according to Article 1, paragraph 1, point:
c) defines the processes of creation, approval and changes of study program proposals before their submission for accreditation to the National Accreditation Office for Higher Education,
d) lays down the formal requirements for study programs and courses,
e) defines the obligations of study program and subject guarantors,
f) defines the standards of study programs at BUT,
g) defines the principles of quality assurance of study programs.
Study and Examination Regulations of the Brno University of Technology (www.vutbr.cz/uredni-deska/international-details-and-documents)
Details of the conditions for study at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the BUT are governed by the Dean's Directive )
The PhD student studies according to an individual study plan, which is elaborated by the supervisor in cooperation with the PhD student. The individual study plan is binding for the doctoral student. It specifies all duties set in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Regulations that a doctoral student must fulfill in order to successfully complete his / her studies.
During the first three semesters, the doctoral student consists of compulsory, compulsorily elective or at the same time, it is intensively engaged in its own study and analysis of knowledge in the field determined by the topic of the dissertation and continuous publication of the knowledge and results obtained in this way. In the following semesters, the doctoral student focuses more on research and development related to the topic of the dissertation, on the publication of the results of his / her creative work and on his / her own dissertation. By the end of the fifth semester, the doctoral student has passed the state doctoral examination. The doctoral student is also involved in pedagogical activities, which is a part of his scientific preparation.
The individual study plan includes scientific outputs in individual years:
- regular publishing activity (Juniorstav and similar),
- participation in scientific conferences at home and abroad,
- for defense of DZP it is necessary to publish - min. 2x Scopus or 1x WOS with impact factor.

At the Faculty of Civil Engineering, BUT, barrier-free access to all teaching rooms is currently provided. However, students must be physically fit to be qualified as a civil engineer. In practically oriented laboratory teaching, they must be able to operate measuring instruments and similar laboratory equipment independently without endangering themselves or their surroundings.
BUT provides support to students with specific needs, for details see Guideline 11/2017 (www.vutbr.cz/uredni-deska/international-documents-and-documents/-d141841/uplne-zneni-smernice-c-11- 2017-p147550).
In order to promote equal access to higher education, BUT incorporates the Alfons Advisory Center, part of the BUT Institute of Lifelong Learning, to provide guidance and support services to applicants and students with specific educational needs. Specific educational needs include learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, chronic somatic illness, autistic spectrum disorders, impaired communication skills and mental illness (alfons.vutbr.cz/o-nas).
Students are provided with information concerning the accessibility of study programs with respect to the specific needs of the applicant, information about the architectural accessibility of individual faculties and university parts, about accommodation at the BUT dormitory, about the possibilities of adapting the admission procedure and adapting the study itself. Other services of the Center for Students with Special Educational Needs also include interpreting and rewriting services, or assistance services - guiding, spatial orientation, in order to enable these students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the same way as other students. This is done through the so-called adaptation of study, ie by appropriate adjustment of the study regime, which cannot be understood as a simplification of the content of study or relief of study obligations.

The doctoral study program Construction and Traffic Structures is a follow-up to the follow-up Master's study program Civil Engineering, in particular the study field Construction and Traffic Structures, respectively. as well as other fields of study and nursing master's degree programs. After accreditation of the follow-up master's study program Civil Engineering - Structures and Traffic Constructions for this program.

1. Concrete and fatigue: Characterisation of damage and crack initiation induced by cyclic load

   Ph.D. student is going to take attention of the fundamental understanding of the fatigue phenomenon, which is less understood for cement composites than for the metallic materials. The Ph.D. topic deals with the numerical and experimental fracture and fatigue analysis of cement composites made from various types of aggregates. Moreover, the influence of the inner structure, meso-structure of the cement composite and its influence on the fatigue crack initiation will be analysed. The numerical simulations will be performed in the FEM software, taking into account a random meso-structure of the cement composite with implementation of cohesive elements and/or a non-linear material model. These simulations will consider both 2D and 3D models. Experimental testing will cover fatigue and fracture testing on a composite material made with various types of the aggregates (pebble or recycled shape)

   Tutor: Seitl Stanislav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Continuous Welded Rail in Small Radius Curves

   The topic is focused on static stability analysis of continuous welded rail in small radius curves. The aim of the topic is to deepen the knowledge about the behaviour of continuous welded rai under thermal and traffic loads in curves with radius 250 m and smaller. The influence of non-linear characteristics of the track, especially lateral and longitudinal resistance, imperfections of geometrical parameters on the stability of continuous welded rai will be studied.

   Tutor: Plášek Otto, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Discrete modeling of physical processes in heterogeneous materials

   The dissertation is focused on development of simulation techniques for representation of physical processes in heterogeneous materials. The models are to be focused preferably on materials with irregular inner structure and at the same time, those that are relevant for civil engineering (concrete and similar composites). The processes to be modeled are fracture, transport phenomena and fatigue.

   Tutor: Vořechovský Miroslav, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Fatigue of concrete and reinforced concrete

   Numerical and analytical modeling of fatigue in concrete and reinforced concrete

   Tutor: Vořechovský Miroslav, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Investigation of hydraulic and mechanical properties of clayey soils treated with lime binders

   In recent years, due to the lack of suitable soils for earth dams, their treatment with hydraulic binders has begun. In the case of this type of construction, it is important to know the hydraulic conductivity and mechanical properties of the soils built into the dam. The subject of the dissertation is to perform an extensive series of laboratory tests in order to determine the change in the coefficient of hydraulic conductivity, compressibility and shear strength of clayey soils over time for different levels of loading.

   Tutor: Miča Lumír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

6. Moninoring and Diagonostic of Railway Structures

   The theme is focused on the study of mechanical phenomena in the track structure, it includes static and dynamic analyses of the track structure with regard to digital diagnostics and monitoring of railway structures - superstructure and substructure. The topic is focused on deepening the knowledge of the behaviour of railway structures in service, the development of autonomous systems of sensing quantities and their evaluation using artificial intelligence technologies, in connection with the system of predictive maintenance.

   Tutor: Plášek Otto, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

7. Numerical Methods in Uncertainty and Reliability Analyses

   Development of simulation and appximation methods for numerical analyses of problems featuring random variables. The bottom line is the development of advanced Monte Carlo strategies.

   Tutor: Vořechovský Miroslav, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

8. Rail wear on railway lines in small radius curves

   The topic is focused on the development of rail wear on railway lines in small radius curves in relation to other parameters of the track design and geometric layout. The influence of parameters affecting the dynamic properties of the track structure, in particular bridges, tunnels and level crossings, will also be investigated.

   Tutor: Plášek Otto, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

9. Stability and strength of steel structural members in natural environmental conditions

   Stainless and high strength steels are new types of building materials that lacks long-term observations of structural degradation. Testing of steel materials under different environmental conditions (temperatures) is key to reliable predictions of the behaviour of structural elements, such as bridges, in real operating conditions. With the advanced integrated computational-experimental research program, we aim to build on our experience in modelling steel structures and contribute to a better and deeper understanding of the reliability of steel structures.

   Tutor: Seitl Stanislav, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

10. Stochastic Finite Element Method

    Random spatial fluctuation of material and geometrical parameters of structures modeled by random fields in computational models.

    Tutor: Vořechovský Miroslav, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

11. The research of dynamic behaviour of railway lines

    The theme is focused on study of dynamic behaviour of railway lines. The theme includes railway superstructure and railway subbase. The topic involves experiment and simulation techniques. Within the simulations, an orientation to the Finite Element Method is assumed, and within the experiment to diagnostics with the use of stationary stations and measuring train sets. The theme also includes application of a suitable modern mathematical apparatus for the evaluation of the railway lines parameters including of artificial intelligence methods use.

    Tutor: Smutný Jaroslav, prof. Ing., Dr.

12. Thermo-mechanical behaviour of soil

    The topic of the thesis is the investigation of the mechanical behavior of soils loaded not only mechanically, but also thermally. The content of the thesis will analyze the effect of temperature on the strength and compressibility of a selected group of soils. Laboratory tests and their evaluation will be carried out.

    Tutor: Miča Lumír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

1. round (applications submitted from 08.06.2022 to 31.07.2022)

1. Continuous Welded Rail in Small Radius Curves

   The topic is focused on static stability analysis of continuous welded rail in small radius curves. The aim of the topic is to deepen the knowledge about the behaviour of continuous welded rai under thermal and traffic loads in curves with radius 250 m and smaller. The influence of non-linear characteristics of the track, especially lateral and longitudinal resistance, imperfections of geometrical parameters on the stability of continuous welded rai will be studied.

   Tutor: Plášek Otto, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Investigation of hydraulic and mechanical properties of clayey soils treated with lime binders

   In recent years, due to the lack of suitable soils for earth dams, their treatment with hydraulic binders has begun. In the case of this type of construction, it is important to know the hydraulic conductivity and mechanical properties of the soils built into the dam. The subject of the dissertation is to perform an extensive series of laboratory tests in order to determine the change in the coefficient of hydraulic conductivity, compressibility and shear strength of clayey soils over time for different levels of loading.

   Tutor: Miča Lumír, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Life-time and reliability of concrete structures under combined mechanical and environmental load

   Durability and reliability of structures are among the basic structure properties that can have significant economic consequences. This thesis is focused on a relatively new topic – the combination of mechanical and environmental load of reinforced concrete structures and its effect on durability and reliability. The issue of durability of concrete structures is gaining importance, especially in connection with sustainable construction, issues of construction life cycle costs and also with the so called performance-based construction design. Moreover, research and development of relevant models and design procedures is not yet complete. What needs to be more closely examined is, for instance, the combination of load effects and the process of carbonation or penetration of chloride ions, but also the combination of other degrading effects and mechanical loading and the simultaneous impact of several degradation processes.

   Tutor: Vymazal Tomáš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Moninoring and Diagonostic of Railway Structures

   The theme is focused on the study of mechanical phenomena in the track structure, it includes static and dynamic analyses of the track structure with regard to digital diagnostics and monitoring of railway structures - superstructure and substructure. The topic is focused on deepening the knowledge of the behaviour of railway structures in service, the development of autonomous systems of sensing quantities and their evaluation using artificial intelligence technologies, in connection with the system of predictive maintenance.

   Tutor: Plášek Otto, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Physico-mechanical and durability characteristics of construction concrete elements with alternative addition of fibres from waste raw materials.

   Both organic and anorganic fibres from waste raw materials can be used purposefully in construction fibre concretes with extracted aggreate and concrete recyclate. The comparison of physical-mechanical and durability characteristics of fibre concretes with and without loading can contribute to estimating lifetime and ductility behaviour of fibre concretes of different formulations.

   Tutor: Stehlík Michal, doc. Ing., Ph.D.