- Discipline: architecture and urban planning (3)
- Title of project: Urban agriculture as an element defining the new urban landscape. Agri-urban landscape in its architectural dimention.
Supervisor: dr hab. inż. arch.Justyna Kleszcz, prof. ucz.
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The agri-urban landscape is becoming an important element in shaping the compositional coherence of European cities. The emergence of urban agriculture as a programmatic element of creating housing estates in cities, as a realization of the need to ensure greater self-sufficiency of urban areas in terms of food and waste management, has resulted in unprecedented spatial forms appearing in urban space. Examining them, determining the relationship with traditional urban development and functional connections inside the city is the basis for further sustainable development of the cities of the future.
- Title of project: The renewal of urban square. Approaches, solutions, users
Supervisor: dr hab. inż. arch. Monika Ewa Adamska
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
Urban squares are public spaces of special importance in the fabric of cities. They are urban interiors focusing city life, mirroring its history and culture, often being the heart of the city. Over the decades many historic city squares in Europe fall into degradation resulting in spatial chaos and inadequate functions assigned. The turn of the 20th century brought a renewed focus on reclaiming back these public spaces as attractive parts of cities. This study proposes to focus on approaches in urban squares renewal, followed by physical and functional characteristics of selected squares with reference to evolving user profile. In the presence of changes of climate and people’s lifestyles the essential part of the research constitute nature-based and human-oriented solutions implemented in the urban squares’ space.
- Title of project: “Governance and planning of urban and peri-urban open spaces”
Supervisor: dr inż. arch.Marcin Spyra
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
Urban and peri-urban open spaces continue to diminish in European and non-European contexts. This dynamic process has a significant and negative impact on landscapes sustainability. Thus, a protection of urban and peri-urban open spaces is a crucial aspect that must be addressed in the frame of governance and planning approaches.
The research project will investigate the dynamics of open spaces transformations and governance approached implemented so far to protect such spaces. Quantitative (GIS-based) and qualitative research methods are envisioned to be used in this research.
The research will be developed with a close cooperation of international research networks: Global Land Programme (GLP https://glp.earth/ ) and International Association of Landscape Ecology (IALE https://www.landscape-ecology.org/ ). It will open a possibility for the selected PhD candidate to develop a scientific career in interdisciplinary and international contexts.
- Discipline: Environmental engineering, mining and Energy (4)
Title of project: Hydrothermal carbonisation of livestock waste
Supervisor: Małgorzata Wzorek, BEng, PhD, DSc
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
Research on hydrothermal carbonisation of three types of animal waste (AW) in a batch-type reactor at variable pressure, temperature and residence time; formulation of a process Kinetics model; design of a semi-technical scale continuous HTC-AW reactor; supervision of HTC-AW reactor manufacturing; research on the hydrothermal carbonisation of AW in HTC reactor to optimise the physicochemical composition of the product as a function of pressure, temperature and residence time; investigating the effect of additives as catalysts in the HTC-AW process.
- Discipline: Environmental engineering, mining and energy
Title of project: Research on environmental engineering processes in a circular economy
Supervisor: Anna Hnydiuk-Stefan, BEng, PhD, DSc
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
Concept, selection and justification of the environmental process in the circular economy. Modeling the process along with formulating a research thesis. Implementation of the process on a laboratory scale using the selected measurement methodology. Characteristics of the research results along with a description of the course of the experiment and the results obtained. An example of a solution to be developed may be determining the added value of the indicated process in the form of using a selected species of mushrooms in the bioremediation of heavy metals from the environment, derivatives of crude oil processing or radioactive isotopes.
- Discipline: Environmental engineering, mining and energy
Title of project: Research on the properties of nanomaterials, determining the possibility of their use in environmental engineering
Supervisor: Anna Hnydiuk-Stefan, BEng, PhD, DSc
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
Work involving the selection of nanoparticles of substances potentially acting as a catalyst in a selected environmental engineering process. Research on the properties, structure and application of the selected nanomaterial. Synthesis and physical characterization of nanoparticles by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to determine the crystal structure of the synthesized material, BET isotherm to calculate the surface area and pore size distribution of the material, and elemental state by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Research on theoretical aspects showing the role of a foreign element in a selected process.
- Discipline: Environmental engineering, mining and energy
Title of project: Forecasting prices of CO2 emission allowances along with analyzing the impact of EU ETS market regulations on the Polish/European energy system
Supervisor: Anna Hnydiuk-Stefan, BEng, PhD, DSc
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
EUA price prediction based on a wide range of fuel and energy factors based on stock exchange data. The use of a quantitative approach using, among others, statistical methods such as PCA principal component analysis, machine learning methods, Gaussian process regression models - GPR, in order to identify variables that influence EUA price fluctuations and the possibility of their forecasting. The use of a qualitative approach (e.g. directed fuzzy numbers) for modeling enabling the analysis of potential directions of EUA price changes, determining their trends along with the probability of their occurrence in the future. Development of models taking into account EU ETS regulation factors and, based on them, determining the impact of EU ETS market regulation on the Polis hor European energy system.
- Discipline: Mechanical Engineering (4)
- Title of project: Development of novel alloys for 3d printing via ultrasonic atomization
Supervisor: Dr hab. inż. Marta Kurek
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The project will focus on designing new alloy compositions tailored for 3D printing applications, utilizing ultrasonic atomization to produce fine metal powders. The research will explore the addition of novel chemical components to existing alloys, aiming to enhance mechanical properties, particularly fatigue resistance. The work will include alloy design, powder production, and characterization to assess the suitability of the new alloys for additive manufacturing.
- Title of project: Optimization of Ultrasonic Atomization Parameters for Improved Powder Quality and Printability
Supervisor: Dr hab. inż. Marta Kurek
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
Investigate the effects of ultrasonic atomization parameters (e.g., frequency, amplitude, and environment) on the quality of metal powders, specifically targeting properties that affect printability and fatigue life. This project aims to establish a set of optimized atomization conditions that produce powders with ideal characteristics for DMLS, including particle size distribution, morphology, and purity.
- Title of project: Enhancing Fatigue Properties of 3D Printed Components through Alloying and Process Optimization
Supervisor: Dr hab. inż. Marta Kurek
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
This research will explore how introducing specific alloying elements and optimising DMLS process parameters (e.g., laser power, scan speed) influence the microstructure and fatigue properties of printed components. The project will involve a systematic study to identify the best combinations of alloy composition and printing conditions for maximum fatigue life.
- Title of project: Fatigue lifetime of elements with a notch under conditions of combined cyclic bending and torsion
Supervisor: Prof. hab. inż. Tadeusz Łagoda
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
In this work, you should become familiar with the impact of the notch on fatigue life. Analyze fatigue tests in the conditions of combined bending and torsion of samples with and without a geometric notch. In addition, you should perform your own fatigue tests and perform FEM analysis for your own tests and tests taken from the literature. The FEM analysis is to be performed both according to the elastic and elastic-plastic models. Finally, an appropriate multiaxial fatigue criterion should be used to assess fatigue life under complex loading conditions.
- Discipline: automation, electronics, electrical engineering and space technologies (2)
- Title of project: Study on optimisation and control of brushless doubly fed induction machine (BDFIM) for motoring operation
Supervisor: prof. dr hab. inż. Mariusz Jagieła
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The object of study will be a brushless doubly fed induction machine with two stator windings of different pole numbers and a nested-loop rotor. The machine has many features useful in particular in operation as a wind power generator. There is a significant knowledge gap regarding this machine operating as variable-speed drive. The aim of this study is to determine the optimal topological configuration and conditions to operate this machine as a motor. The works will be conducted using mathematical modeling, computer simulations and laboratory measurements. The candidate has to demonstrate a sound knowledge in the area of electrical drives, numerical methods and programming using Python and Matlab.
2) Title of project: Studies of streaming electrification of liquid dielectrics modified with nanoparticles
Supervisor: dr hab. inż. Maciej Zdanowski
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The research will consist in the development of dielectric liquids with better insulating properties for use in power transformers. The research will consist in doping mineral oil and natural and synthetic esters with various types of nanoparticles. Static electrification, resistivity, dielectric constant, kinematic viscosity and density will be measured. The doctoral thesis supervisor has a fully equipped laboratory base and many years of research experience.
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Response of a soil-steel bridge to an excitation caused by the passing of a high-speed train
Supervisor: Damian Bęben, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor
Brief description of work to do within the project:
Literature review on bridge dynamics. Development of FEM computational models taking into account the soil-structure interaction phenomenon. Performing experimental tests of the soil-steel bridge under dynamic load (train passages). Analysis and discussion of the results of FEM calculations and in-situ measurements. Formulation of final conclusions.
Note: In addition, it is possible to perform another topic of the PhD on bridges and culverts (to be agreed individually).
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Robustness measures of reinforced concrete structures against progressive collapse under column removal
Supervisor: Seweryn Kokot, PhD, DSc, Associate Professor
Brief description of work to do within the project:
A removal of a column in a reinforced concrete structures can be caused by various undesirable conditions. A sudden column removal can lead to excessive vibrations resulting in partial or total collapse. This project deals with the nonlinear modelling of reinforced concrete structures using advanced finite element method (preferably OpenSees framework). Robustness measures describing the degree of structural resistance against progressive collapse should also be investigated. The developed numerical methods and results should be validated with existing experimental data or through laboratory tests.
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Stiffness analysis and defect detection of composite timber beams by means of DIC
Supervisor: Zbigniew Perkowski, D.Sc., Ph.D., Assoc. Prof.
Brief description of work to do within the project:
It is planned that the following issues will be developed as part of the doctoral thesis:
- review of the state of the literature on the measurement of bending stiffness and detection of defects in beams related to the reduction of their stiffness,
- carrying out bending tests of a series of composite timber beams with the measurement of deflections using the ARAMIS system,
- development of own methodology for measuring stiffness and detecting beam defects using the ARAMIS system and the Matlab software.
- verification of the developed methodology and its validation using the experimental data.
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Optimal placements of translational and rotational sensors for early warning damage detection
Supervisor: Professor Zbigniew Zembaty, PhD, DSc and Piotr Bońkowski (assistant advisor), PhD
Brief description of work to do within the project: Review of multi-story, multi-bay steel and concrete structural systems. Nonlinear FEM simulations of seismic response multi-story, multi-bay structural systems. Numerical analyses of various configurations of sensors to give the best damage quantification and localisation. Choice of optimum sensor array configuration. Conclusions and recommandations for structural health monitoring.
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Rotational-translational analysis of Soil Structure Interaction problem
Supervisor: Professor Zbigniew Zembaty, PhD, DSc and Piotr Bońkowski (assistant advisor), PhD
Brief description of work to do within the project: Choice of simplified models of soil-structure interaction problems, accounting for rocking excitations and responses. Literature review on the SSI problems. Literature review on rotational effects on slender towers and tall buildings. Preparation of simplified, parametric models to account for seismic effects with and without rotational ground motion excitatons and responses. Carrying out extended numerical analyses in Matlab. Making conclusions on seismic structural responses.
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Spatial seismic effects on a curved in plane, multi-support bridge structure
Supervisor: Professor Zbigniew Zembaty, PhD, DSc
Brief description of work to do within the project:
Review o fmulit-support reinforced concrete bridges curved in plane. Review of spatial models of seismic ground motion. Formulation of random vibration problem of multi-supprt bridges. Preparation of a FEM model of a curved "in-plane" bridge. Carrying out parametric analyses of various curved bridges under spatial seismic excitations. Formulating conclusions.
Discipline: Civil Engineering, Geodesy and Transport
Title of project: Analysis and assessment of the unit energy consumption of a passenger car in real road conditions
Supervisor: Prof. dr hab. inż. Jarosław Mamala
Brief description of work to do within the project:
The aim of the work is to analyse and evaluate the energy consumption of a passenger car under normal driving conditions in the city of Opole. For this purpose, the dynamic driving cycle (RDE) should be determined, for which it will be necessary to carry out a multi-seasonal analysis of indicators for selected passenger cars. For the purpose of analysis and comparative assessment, the unit energy consumption index of the vehicle will be determined for the tested cars. In this way, in comparable conditions and using an objective indicator, an attempt will be made to assess the energy consumption of a vehicle per kilometre of the travelled distance. In this way, it will be possible to compare various types of passenger car drive systems, from combustion to electric.
- Discipline: management and quality studies (4)
- Title of project: Optimization of the production process based on the methodology of multivalued logical decision trees
Supervisor: Adam Deptuła, PhD. Eng
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The goal of the project will be to apply the methodology of multi- valued logic trees based on the Rosser Turquette system to multi-criteria optimization of the production process of a selected enterprise. The developed methodology will make it possible to rank logical variables , which can be assigned to the parameters of the analyzed decision-making processes in the organization. The subject of improvement of the production process can be the entire production process as well as individual sub-processes of this process (manufacturing process, research and development process or distribution and customer service process) or operations, activities and also work movements performed within these processes.
- Title of project: Application of the method of modified game- tree graphs in the knowledge process in a selected system
Supervisor: Adam Deptuła, PhD. Eng
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The goal of the project will be to use modified game- tree graphs as tools in the generation and extraction of knowledge in a selected system (manufacturing company or mechanical system). The scope of work will include the analysis of computational assumptions of guidelines supporting knowledge generation and decision-making. The novelty is the use of modified parametric graph structures (game-tree graphs) as an alternative method to inductive trees and multi- valued logic trees. The optimization process is designed to improve the parameters of the selected multi-criteria function.
- Title of project: Management processes in the pharmaceutical industry, in particular regarding dietary supplements
Supervisor: Prof. DSc. PhD. Eng. Katarzyna Hys
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The work will address aspects related to, among others: identification of determinants of the development of the pharmaceutical market, defining models of development of this market, defining consumption patterns, identification of consumer reaction models to marketing sales support used on the pharmaceutical market. Research on the relationship between the purchasing decisions of individual consumers and the intensity and type of activities carried out by entities representing the supply side of exchange on the market. Application of scientific methods to develop, diagnose and create changes in the profile of consumers of the pharmaceutical market.
- Discipline: Management and Quality sciences
Title of project: The importance of organizational citizenship behavior for the performance of service enterprises
Supervisor: dr hab. Marcin Komańda, Assoc. Prof.
Brief description of work to do within the project (5-10 sentences):
The aim of the work is to recognize the importance for service enterprises of employee behavior undertaken voluntarily and not related to the assignment of duties, which is conducive to the efficient functioning of the organization. The scope of conceptual work will be related in the first stage to a critical review of the literature. Its effect will be to recognize the definition, scope and dimensions of the concept of organizational civic behavior and to formulate a conceptual framework for interpreting this phenomenon in the light of business practice. The next stage of the project will be the implementation of empirical research.