Civil Engineering

Topic title	Possible scientific supervisors	Source of funding
Design and development of an advanced BIM based tools for asset and operational building energy audits – BIM Audit	vyr.m.d. dr. Paris Fokaides	state-funded
Optimization of area of transparent partitions of Energy-efficient residential buildings	v.m.d. dr. Raimondas BLIŪDŽIUS	state non-funded	Research Topic Summary. The transparent partitions of energy-efficient buildings are not only of natural lighting and visual controlling, but also of solar heat gain that reduce the heat demand of the building for heating in the cold season and cause overheating in the summer. The purpose of the dissertation work is to investigate the influence of area of the transparent partition on the heat losses, solar heat gain, indoor lighting, visual control of energy-efficient buildings and thermal comfort of the premises. To create a methodology for optimizing the area of transparent external partitions in energy efficient residential buildings on the basis of these studies.
Investigation of performance and durability of sealing tapes for building airtightness accomplishment	m.d. dr. Vaida DOBILAITĖ	state non-funded	Research Topic Summary. An essential prerequisite for energy efficiency is the long-term airtightness accomplishment of the building. Various materials are used for this purpose: internal plasterings, fillers, mastic, various types of films and sheet materials. Tape sealing materials are used for sealing these materials, for attaching them to structures, as well as for sealing structural joints. The technical characteristics of the new sealing materials are given in their technical specifications. The sealing tapes used for the intended purpose ensure that the sealed joints meet the requirements of the building sealing. However, during an operation of building these sealing tapes are subject to variable humidity and temperature conditions. A temperature and humidity of the surfaces to which the sealing materials are applied changes as well, causing tapes to damage. Changes in the properties of the sealing materials and their adhesion to the surfaces of various materials during the operation of the building may cause a significant decrease in the airtightness accomplishment of the building. Therefore, it is important to investigate the changes in the deformability, breaking strength and tear resistance of tape sealing materials and to determine changes in the strength of adhesion of these materials to various surfaces during the operation of a building. The research is aimed to investigate the changes in the sealing materials and their adhesion to the surfaces of building materials during operation and to develop recommendations for the use of the tape sealing materials for the long-term airtightness accomplishment of the building. For detailed information please contact the supervisor of the topic.
Investigation of textile waste utilization for eco-friendly interior decoration panels	v.m.d. dr. Milda JUCIENĖ	state non-funded	Research Topic Summary. The aim of the research is to investigate the possibilities of producing ecological materials from textile waste for interior decoration of buildings. It is planned to make interior panels from different textile waste using different textile materials. The main properties of panels (such as strength, impact resistance, chemical resistance, etc.), the acoustic properties of the panels, the durability of the panels will be evaluated. The result of this research is the development of a prototype - an eco-friendly interior panels for the buildings.
The influence of changes in the structure of hardened cement paste on the aggregate transparency on the visible surface of precast concrete	prof. dr. Mindaugas DAUKŠYS	state non-funded	Research Topic Summary. The quality and appearance of the visible surface of precast concrete products mainly depends on high-quality concrete and appropriate product manufacturing technology. Every manufacturer of precast concrete products attempts to achieve the highest possible surface quality required by the customer at the lowest possible cost. Notwithstanding the improvements in concrete technology in the last decade, more than 60 % of precast concrete products fail to meet the requirements applicable to the visible surface of concrete products. The repair of surface defects not only involves high costs related to the use of repair mixtures and/or daubs and additional labour but also contributes to environment pollution due to accumulating scrap of precast elements rejected for quality issues. Surface defects may occur on the visible surface of a precast product that comes into contact with the horizontal and vertical surfaces of the mould during manufacture. Precast concrete products may have the following minor surface defects: honeycomb, a lump, an undulation, a step discontinuity, a ‘moon’ effect, a crack of certain width, a groove and a chamfer. The following characteristics of concrete surface are classified as unmeasurable: surface texture and structure, colour variation, efflorescence, cement laitance, reinforcement shadows and aggregate transparency.... For further information please contact the supervisor of the topic.

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Minimum requirements

Persons with a Master’s Degree or equivalent degree of higher education may participate in an open competition for admission to doctoral studies.

Applicants to the doctoral program in the field of science are accepted by competition according to the competition score. Minimum Competition Score 8

Application procedure

Application and the following documents are submitted online at apply.ktu.edu

Official legalised Bachelor’s and Master’s diplomas or a higher education degree equivalents and academic transcripts (translated into English or Lithuanian and notary verified)
Curriculum Vitae
Recommendations by two researchers of the relevant science field (one of the recommendations must be written by the supervisor of the research topic the candidate is applying for)
A research proposal on the selected topic
A list of the research works (this list is submitted with full bibliographic description) along with copies of the research works (or a research paper on the topic (-s) consistent with the dissertation topic (-s) indicated in the candidate’s application, if a candidate does not have any research works)
A copy of the passport personal data page, or a copy of the ID card
A copy of the receipt of the application fee payment (40 EUR for EU citizens, and 100 EUR for non-EU citizens)
A certificate issued by IELTS, TOEFL, CERF or any other competent institution within the last 2 years certifying the level of the English language if the candidate is not a graduate of the first or second cycle studies conducted in the English language

Participation in motivational interview (Kaunas University of Technology, K. Donelaičio g. 73, Kaunas, Lithuania or online)

Signing a study agreement (if invited to study)

Selection criteria and their weighted coefficients

Weighted grade point average of the diploma supplement	0,5
Research experience Research experience in ten-point grading system (The evaluation of the research experience includes the candidate’s scientific publications or the research paper, other research experience, scientific qualifications, the compliance of the scientific publications and research experience with the topic of doctoral studies)	0,25
Motivational interview, including evaluation of the knowledge of a foreign language	0,15
Research proposal	0,1

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Code	T002
Cycle	Third cycle
Language	Lithuanian, English
Duration	4 y.
Degree awarded	Doctor of Science

Research Topic Summary.

Research Topic Summary.

Research Topic Summary.

Research Topic Summary.

Minimum requirements

Application procedure

Selection criteria and their weighted coefficients