I am applying for a PhD by Portfolio with South Wales University in Treforest. Professor Bai is head of civil engineering and has given me the specific requirements. Below is my proposal:
Prepared for Professor Jiping Bai – PhD by Portfolio Application, Teams meeting scheduled: 23rd June 2026
Martin Reynolds BEng – 16th June 2026
Portfolio Structure Overview (Three Related Projects)
The majority of the work is already complete (2008–2026). I propose the following three distinct but related projects, all grounded in professional practice and conceptual investigation:
Project 1: Historical Provenance & State of Practice Audit (2008)
- BEng thesis on circular concrete tanks as audit
- Outputs: Full thesis resubmitted with updates: references to Lewe 1915 via Carpenter 1927, identification of missing provenance in PCA 1942/1965/1993 editions.
- Individual contribution: Systematic audit revealing the broken reference chain; first modern linking of PCA tables back to Lewe.
Project 2: Geometric First-Principles Extension of Lewe (2023–2026)
- Development of the Lewe Disc model and ring-tension judder wave.
- Outputs: Notebook derivations, force-logic diagrams, modified Young’s modulus / post-yield transition graphs, pi-tensor mappings.
- Individual contribution: Treating the wall as an infinitely thin 2D ring/disc, deriving the circumferential judder wave and augmented hoop-stress equation (σ_θ = pr/t + M_rot + σ_ring tension), demonstrating 18–20% material savings.
Project 3: Application to Sustainability & Safety Factor Visibility (2026)
- Integration with sustainable concrete design and critical infrastructure.
- Outputs: Technical Notes on material efficiency, nuclear containment relevance, dilatancy clamping, and full geometric visibility of safety factors.
- Individual contribution: Linking the geometric framework to low-carbon design, reduced embodied carbon, and forensic control of cumulative safety margins.
These three projects form a coherent narrative: from audit of existing practice → geometric first-principles innovation → practical application to sustainability and critical structures.
Critical Overview (Proposed Structure)
The Critical Overview (~15,000 words) will:
- Demonstrate the relationship between the three projects (historical gap → theoretical extension → applied benefit).
- Articulate the original contribution: A transparent, coefficient-independent geometric mechanics framework that restores visibility of all safety factors from first principles, enabling measurable material and carbon savings while maintaining stability.
- Position the work in the field: Builds directly on Lewe 1906/1915/1923, addresses limitations of empirical tables, and offers a novel route for sustainable shell design.
- Reflect on limitations and future work: Assumptions, validation needs, and potential integration with FEA/surrogate modelling.
Supporting Materials Ready
- Full 2008 BEng thesis (Project 1)
- Notebook derivations and diagrams (Project 2)
- Latest Technical Notes and pi-tensor drawings (Project 3)
This portfolio is ready for formal presentation. The Critical Overview can be written to demonstrate originality at PhD standard.
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