PhD Thesis in Department of Mechanical Engineering at UKZN : S. Shaikh 961129282

 

2007-04-17

The Chairman
Higher Degrees Committee
University of kwaZulu-Natal
Durban
kwaZulu-Natal

Some time ago I reviewed a doctoral thesis in respect of a degree awarded by the University of Natal. For this purpose I had purchased an official copy from the Library at the University of kwaZulu-Natal derived from its microfiche copy.

Author  : Shaik, Shamin

Tile    : Development of higher-order theories for the analysis of laminated composite structures under static and thermal loading

Details: Durban, 2002.  xiii, 202 leaves.  Thesis (Ph.D.-Mechanical Engineering)-University of Natal, 2002
            03/02629     MAIN LIBRARY           T 624.1776 SHA


At the time I became aware that some pages were missing from the copy of the thesis purchased by me. I have recently requested that these missing pages be supplied to me, but have been advised by! the Library's librarian that they have searched for the thesis and found two original copies. However, Pages 49 to 51 are also missing from these two copies. I find this somewhat curious. There is a reasonable probability that the other copies would have this same defect and this would mean that the copies reviewed by the examiners would also have this same defect. If this is the case and this has not been recorded in the examiners' reports, then this would be problematic.

However, on a second thorough reading of the thesis I am of the opinion that this is not the own unaided work of the candidate as attested in the declaration.

Either there has been extensive plagiarism of another person's or persons' work, or closer than acceptable collaboration with one or more experts in the field of strength of materials. This other person or persons are almost surely academics steeped deeply in the science of strength of materials as well as advanced higher-order mathematics, especially three-dimensional vector calculus and finite element analysis.

At least three and probably four different writing styles seem to be in evidence throughout the thesis. English UK and English USA spelling alternates through the chapters, as do styles of grammatical and mathematical expression. These probably arise through the contributions of three or more authors, plus the candidate.

The number of spelling and typographical errors (some 100 in number) is shocking and unacceptable for a PhD thesis. Normally, anything more than a small handful of such errors would require correction and re-submission.

While lengthy derivations of formulae are provided, indeed often to the detraction of the overall flow and understandability of the thesis, two aspects seem noteworthy, firstly there seems to be no explanation for the choice of numerical parameters in the examples provided and secondly, no explanation of how the numerical solutions were actually determined.

Having only a Bibliography listing all the referenced works as well as all other material of general interest to the subject matter and not separate References, listing only the referenced works, is a flawed style that lends itself to plagiarism. I find this completely unacceptable.

In general, although the subject matter is very advanced and if it were genuine, then definitely of doctoral (indeed post-doctoral) standard, the overall style and layout makes the aim, research methodology and contribution difficult to understand and to assess. The overall thesis appears to be more like a concatenation of two or three journal papers authored over a period of time by a group of professional academic researchers in the field of strength of materials and then given to the candidate to wordprocess (and not very well besides) into a self-standing thesis.

Recommendation

An independent review panel should be established to review the authenticity of this doctoral thesis as the candidate's own unaided work.

Regarding the possibility of plagiarism or collaboration, correlation should be made with the marked references in the Bibliography, in particular the journal papers by Verijenko, Adali, Tabakov and Piskunov. Interviews with these persons should be conducted by the review panel. Other academics and post-graduate students in the relevant specialist research group within the Department of Mechanical Engineering should be interviewed to ascertain their views as well as any relevant facts.

Finally, an oral examination of the candidate should be undertaken wherein it should be established whether the candidate has a true personal grasp of all the subject matter presented as his own unaided work, especially the development of the higher-order theory and the advanced mathematics.

This is an advance notification to you as Chairman of the Higher Degrees Committee. I believe that taking this matter further is a matter initially for the Higher Degrees Committee and Ethics Committee. I do not wish my identity or review to be divulged to anyone else at this stage. I have therefore designated this communication with you as Confidential and Without Prejudice. Depending on if and how the matter is taken forward, I would be prepared to assist in any reasonable manner. I have BSc(Eng) from the University of Natal, an MSc(Eng) from the University of Cape Town and PhD in Engineering from the University of Witwatersrand. However, I am an electronics engineer and not qualified in the general field of mechanical engineering or the specific fields of strength of materials and finite element analysis. My own interest in this matter is purely one of academic integrity and standards.


R.M. Young 
PrEng, MSc(Eng), PhD