1 Doctoral degree student

1.1 Civil engineering

Civil Engineering is one of the earliest established majors at Hefei University of Technology. In 2002, it obtained the doctoral degree authorization point for the second-level discipline of Structural Engineering, and in 2010, it obtained the doctoral degree authorization point for the first-level discipline of Civil Engineering.

Currently, the first-level discipline of Civil Engineering for doctoral degrees includes eight second-level disciplines: Structural Engineering, Bridge and Tunnel Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering, Municipal Engineering, Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Engineering, Heating, Gas Supply, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Engineering, Sustainable Building Engineering, and Water Resources Engineering and Structures. Among them, Structural Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering were designated as key disciplines in Anhui Province in 2002 and 2010, respectively, and the Civil Engineering program was recognized as a key discipline in Anhui Province in 2014.

1.1.1.1 Geotechnical Engineering

Geotechnical Engineering is a scientific field that applies engineering geology, soil mechanics, and rock mechanics to solve various engineering technical problems related to rocks and soil. It serves various engineering disciplines involving rocks and soil, such as underground engineering, civil engineering, mining engineering, transportation engineering, hydraulic engineering, urban subway engineering, petroleum engineering, municipal engineering, and navigation. It is an applied discipline with strong theoretical, technical, and practical aspects.

Underground Engineering and Geotechnical Engineering encompass various fields, including underground construction engineering, subway engineering, highways and railways, tunnel engineering, resource development projects, and various municipal construction projects. The academic issues related to these fields primarily fall under the category of complex academic problems in underground structures and geotechnical engineering.

Our university's Geotechnical Engineering discipline has made significant achievements in areas such as geotechnical stability analysis theory and numerical methods, geotechnical mechanical properties and foundation engineering, soil dynamics, soil-structure interaction, disaster reduction in geotechnical engineering, geotechnical engineering investigation, monitoring and design theory, geological characteristics of geotechnical engineering, site stability evaluation, building protection technology, and durability theory. It has undertaken more than fifty national natural science foundation projects, as well as projects at the provincial, ministerial, and local levels, and has received multiple awards at or above the provincial and ministerial levels.

Key research areas include:

Fundamental theories and applications of geotechnical mechanics；

Stability and deformation control of underground structures；

Stability theory of high slopes；

Characteristics and applications of geotechnical dynamics.

1.1.2 Structural engineering

Structural Engineering is a traditional discipline at Hefei University of Technology with a long history and strong comprehensive strength. It gained the authority to award doctoral degrees in 2002 and was designated as a key discipline in Anhui Province in the same year.

This discipline has distinct characteristics in areas such as concrete structures and prestressed concrete theory and applications, steel structures and composite structures theory and applications, spatial structures and high-rise structures, engineering structural seismic resistance, and disaster prevention. It boasts a strong faculty and research capabilities. It has undertaken a large number of longitudinal research projects funded by the National 863 Program, the National Natural Science Foundation key projects, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Education, the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology, the Anhui Provincial Department of Construction, the Anhui Provincial Department of Education, and international cooperation projects. It has been responsible for the research of key topics in many major and key engineering projects in Anhui Province and other provinces and cities, receiving more than 30 provincial and ministerial-level awards for scientific and technological progress and national patents. It has also edited and participated in the compilation of 20 national, industry, and local standards or specifications.

Key research areas include:

Concrete structures and prestressed structures.

Steel structures and composite structures.

Engineering structural seismic resistance and disaster prevention.

Engineering construction management and construction.

1.1.3 Municipal engineering

The Municipal Engineering discipline at Hefei University of Technology obtained the authority to award doctoral degrees in 2011. In recent years, the Municipal Engineering discipline has rapidly developed and possesses excellent research conditions. It has a well-structured and high-level faculty team, including discipline leaders and core members who have been engaged in research in the field of Municipal Engineering for a long time. The discipline has gradually developed its own distinct characteristics, achieved significant research results, and provides a favorable environment and conditions for graduate student training.

Key research areas include:

Theoretical and technological aspects of wastewater treatment and resource utilization.

Ensuring the water quality safety of urban drinking water.

Urban and mining water resource system engineering.

Reduction, resource utilization, and energy utilization of solid waste.

1.1.4 Heating, gas supply, ventilation and air conditioning engineering

This discipline is based on the foundations of thermodynamics, heat transfer and mass transfer, fluid mechanics, and building environmental science. It conducts in-depth research in areas such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems and equipment, energy conservation in buildings and the use of clean urban energy, the efficient utilization of low-temperature thermal energy in rocks and soil, simulation of heat and mass transfer in ground-source heat pump systems, indoor air quality, the microenvironment around buildings, and the safe use of new energy.

In addition to traditional research directions, the discipline actively conducts research on indoor air quality and the microenvironment around buildings. Indoor air quality is a critical factor affecting indoor health and comfort, and research is conducted on the diffusion, distribution, and optimization analysis of indoor air pollutants and inhalable particles under different indoor environments and ventilation conditions. The microenvironment around buildings studies the physical properties of heat transfer, air flow, and pollutant diffusion in outdoor spaces. Research is conducted on the local-scale study of buildings and the microenvironment around them, including the external thermal environment of buildings, the process of pollutant propagation, and the analysis of pedestrian-level wind environments.

This discipline also addresses the significant demand for the development and utilization of new energy sources (including hydrogen energy, nuclear energy, solar energy, wind energy, biomass energy, etc.) in China and worldwide. It conducts research on the safe use of new energy, including the theoretical and advanced technical research on leakage, fire, explosion, and other safety-related issues during the extraction, production, storage, transportation, and utilization of new energy under different environmental conditions.

This discipline was granted the authority to award doctoral degrees in 2011 and currently has 4 doctoral advisors.

Key research areas include:

Theoretical research on the efficient utilization of thermal energy in rocks and soil.

Energy conservation and clean energy utilization in buildings.

Indoor air quality and the microenvironment around buildings.

Safe utilization of new energy.

1.1.5 Disaster Prevention and Protection Engineering

Disaster Prevention and Protection Engineering is an interdisciplinary field within Civil Engineering that plays a positive role in implementing sustainable development strategies in China. This discipline primarily researches disaster patterns, destructive effects, and damage consequences of various major disasters. It develops and perfects theories, methods, and technologies related to disaster prevention and protection in engineering structures and decision-making for urban disaster prevention and reduction. The discipline of Disaster Prevention and Protection Engineering at Hefei University of Technology was established and developed to meet the needs of national economic and defense construction. Currently, Disaster Prevention and Protection Engineering is a secondary discipline under the Civil Engineering primary discipline, and it was granted the authority to award doctoral degrees in 2011. The discipline includes research in earthquake disaster prediction and seismic engineering, wind disaster prediction and anti-wind engineering, fire disaster prediction and fire protection engineering, explosion protection engineering, geological disaster prevention and control, structural durability and monitoring, and more.

The research in this discipline relies on the Provincial Key Laboratory of Civil Engineering Structures and Materials in Anhui Province. In recent years, the discipline has achieved fruitful research results in talent cultivation, teaching reform, international cooperation and exchange, scientific research, and social services. It currently has nearly 10 doctoral students and has established cooperative relationships with many universities and institutions in Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan, and other countries. Regular academic exchanges, joint research activities, and projects are carried out with partner institutions. The discipline has hosted several international academic conferences and events. It has undertaken numerous longitudinal research projects funded by the National 863 Program, the National Natural Science Foundation of China, key projects of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Education, the Department of Science and Technology of Anhui Province, the Department of Construction of Anhui Province, the Department of Education of Anhui Province, and international cooperation projects. It has also completed critical research tasks for major and key engineering projects in Anhui Province and other provinces and cities, resulting in more than 30 provincial and ministerial-level awards for scientific and technological progress and national patents. The discipline has played a significant role in enhancing the resilience of urban infrastructure and ensuring the safety of the public during disasters.

Key research areas include:

Seismic resistance and seismic isolation of engineering structures.

Wind resistance, fire resistance, and explosion resistance of engineering structures.

Vibration control of engineering structures.

Durability, monitoring, identification, and strengthening of engineering structures.1.1.6 Bridge and tunnel engineering

Bridge and tunnel engineering is an important sub-discipline in the first-level discipline of civil engineering, and has a very important position in the construction of transportation. In the construction of highways, railroads and urban transportation, in order to cross rivers, deep valleys and straits or through mountains and underwater all need to build a variety of bridges and tunnels and other structural structures. Bridge and tunnel engineering is a collection of scientific research, design, construction and engineering management as one of the engineering disciplines with a strong practical, mainly involved in construction, transportation, water conservancy, mining, railways and airports engineering and other infrastructure construction fields. With the development of modern science and technology, China has made great progress in the field of bridge and tunnel engineering, and in some aspects ranked among the world's forefront.

Our Bridge and Tunnel Engineering program was awarded the second level doctoral degree authorization in 2011, and the current research directions are as follows:

1. Theory of structural design of large-span bridges;

2. Bridge structural stability and vibration;

3. Bridge structural monitoring and control;

4. Tunnel engineering design theory and new engineering technology.

1.1.7 Water resources engineering and structures

Insufficient water resources, tense urban water supply, energy shortage, ecological environment deterioration and other problems have become major issues that need to be solved urgently in the world at present, and the prevention and treatment of floods and the full development and utilization of water resources have become hot spots for research. Through engineering construction, the distribution of natural water in space and time can be controlled or adjusted to prevent or reduce droughts and floods and floods, rationally develop and utilize water resources, and provide a good environment and material conditions for social development. The discipline has the following characteristics:

1. Highly systematic and comprehensive. The large-scale water resources development project itself has multiple objectives, involves a variety of architectural structures, and forms an organic whole with the watershed and regional water conservancy projects, and is closely related to various social and economic sectors.

2. Close relationship with the environment. Comprehensive development of water resources must give full consideration to the rational application of rivers, lakes and the natural features of the nearby areas, geological state, while taking into account the ecological environment, the stability of the reservoir area slopes and the regional climate.

3. Complex working conditions. Various hydraulic structures are constructed and operated under complex meteorological, hydrological, geological and other natural conditions, and are subject to complex loads, making the working conditions more complex than those of other buildings.

4. The project is generally characterized by large scale, complex technology, long construction period, high investment, significant benefits and heavy responsibility for engineering safety.

Our water resources engineering in the structure of the College with 2011 to obtain the second level of doctoral degree authorization, now the main research interests are as follows:

1. Water conservancy geotechnical engineering;

2. Hydraulic building structures;

3. Water resources and water environment engineering.

1.1.8 Sustainable building engineering

Sustainable building engineering is an emerging discipline that involves the intersection of several disciplines. It is guided by the concept of sustainable development, and researches the related aspects of building design, building technology, building materials, building construction, building economy, building energy saving, building construction and ecological environment, etc., which are related to sustainable development, focusing on human-centered and sustainable development, and researches the sustainability of buildings at multiple levels and from multiple perspectives, such as theories, designs, technologies and engineering.

Our sustainable building engineering program was awarded the second level doctoral degree authorization in 2011, and now the main research directions are as follows:

1. Sustainable building design and its theory;

2. Green building materials and structures;

3. Building energy efficiency and utilization of renewable materials.

1.2 Mechanics

Founded in the 1950s, the discipline of mechanics in Hefei University of Technology has been developing and fruitful through the efforts and accumulation of several generations.In 2000, it was granted the right to grant doctoral degree in engineering mechanics, and in 2018, it was approved as the first-level doctoral program of mechanics. At present, the first-level doctoral degree authorization point of mechanics includes four secondary disciplines: engineering mechanics; solid mechanics; fluid mechanics; general mechanics and fundamentals of mechanics.

1.2.1 Solid Mechanics

This discipline studies the mechanical problems raised in engineering, establishes mechanical models for engineering structure analysis and numerical analysis methods in engineering science, combines mechanics with engineering, and is oriented to the main battlefield of national economic construction. Solid Mechanics specializes in civil engineering as the background, from which it refines and solves engineering mechanics problems, serves in civil engineering teaching and scientific research, and cultivates high-level applied mechanics talents. The program mainly features engineering structure stability and vibration, intelligent structure calculation theory and method, engineering structure vibration control, engineering structure nonlinear static dynamic analysis and engineering structure anti-seismic research, and it has already possessed a high-quality, high-academic level, reasonably-structured academic team, and an engineering structure central laboratory with first-class test equipment in China.

This discipline point has completed and is carrying out research on a number of national natural science foundation and provincial and ministerial fund topics, and has won provincial and ministerial awards for many times, and some scientific research results have been indexed by SCI and EI, which have a certain influence in the domestic and international academic circles.

Primary Research Direction:

1. Theory and methods of smart material structure calculation;

2. Numerical analysis methods for engineering structures;

3. Structural fatigue fracture and damage studies.

1.2.2 Engineering mechanics

This discipline studies the mechanical problems raised in engineering, establishes mechanical models for engineering structure analysis and numerical analysis methods in engineering science, combines mechanics and engineering, and is oriented to the main battlefield of national economic construction. Engineering Mechanics specializes in civil engineering as the background, from which it refines and solves engineering mechanics problems, serves in civil engineering teaching and scientific research, and cultivates high-level applied mechanics talents. The program mainly features stability and vibration of engineering structures, intelligent structural calculation theory and methods, vibration control of engineering structures, nonlinear static dynamic analysis of engineering structures and seismic research of engineering structures, and it has already possessed a high-quality, high-academic level and reasonably-structured academic team, and a central laboratory of engineering structures with first-class test equipment in China.

This discipline point has completed and is carrying out research on a number of national natural science foundation and provincial and ministerial fund topics, and has won provincial and ministerial awards for many times, and some scientific research results have been indexed by SCI and EI, which have a certain influence in the domestic and international academic circles.

Primary Research Direction:

1. Theory and methods of smart material structure calculation;

2. Numerical analysis methods for engineering structures;

3. River dynamics;

4. Environmental fluid dynamics;

5. Structural fatigue fracture and damage studies.

1.2.3 Fluid mechanics

This discipline specializes in cultivating high-level talents in the theory and application of fluid mechanics, requiring a rigorous and realistic scientific attitude and style, as well as a solid and broad foundation in mathematics, mechanics, computer application and systematic and in-depth professional knowledge of fluid mechanics; this specialty mainly focuses on the research characteristics of the fluid mechanics problems in the safe use of energy, river dynamics, fluid heat and mass transfer problems, and it possesses a high-level academic The program has a high-level academic team and first-class scientific research platforms such as the International Joint Research Center for Hydrogen Safety in Anhui Province. The program aims to cultivate high-level creative talents with strong innovative spirit and ability, who are capable of skillfully applying modern basic theories and advanced numerical calculation methods and experimental technical means, and independently engaging in teaching and scientific research work in the discipline of fluid mechanics and related fields.

Primary Research Direction:

1. Experimental thermo-fluid dynamics;

2. Flow and heat transfer;

3. River dynamics;

4. Reactive hydrodynamics;

5. Study of hydrodynamic problems in energy applications.

1.2.4 General mechanics and fundamentals of mechanics

General Mechanics and Fundamentals of Mechanics is a branch of the mechanics discipline with dynamics, vibration and control as the main research content, containing a wealth of research content. The research scope of this specialty mainly involves the dynamics of complex systems, the theory and application of vibration and vibration control, the dynamics and control of space robotic systems, and the dynamics and control of large complex structures. It has already possessed an academic team with high quality, high academic level and reasonable structure, and a structural dynamics laboratory with first-class test equipment in China.

This discipline specializes in cultivating high-level talents in the basic theory and application of general mechanics and mechanics, who should have a solid and broad foundation in mathematics, mechanics and computer application as well as systematic and in-depth professional knowledge in general mechanics, and have the ability to independently engage in the teaching and scientific research work in this discipline and related fields, as well as to make creative achievements in science or special technology.

Primary Research Direction:

1. Theory and application of vibration and noise control, design and analysis of active and passive control of vibration and noise;

2. Intelligent Structures and Control, Intelligent Structures Vibration Active Control and Noise Suppression;

3. Complex Structural Dynamics and Control, Analysis, design, simulation, control and monitoring of complex structural dynamics;

4. Dynamics of multi-body systems, kinematics and dynamics of multi-rigid-body and hybrid rigid-flexible mechanical systems and analytical theories and methods for their control;

5. Nonlinear Dynamics and Control, Dynamics and Control of Large Civil Structures, Stochastic Dynamical Systems and Control.