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

2007-05-07

The Chairman
Higher Degrees Committee
University of kwaZulu-Natal
King George V Avenue
Glenwood
Durban
kwaZulu-Natal
 

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

Comparing the attached journal paper (the Paper) entitled :
Finite Elements based on Shear and Normal Deformation Theory for The Analysis of Laminated Composite Plates
 
by V.E. Verijenko, S. Adali and V.G. Piskunov (received 3 I October 1993),
to the thesis entitled :
Development of higher-order theories for the analysis of laminated composite structures under static and thermal loading
 
submitted by S. Shaik in November 2002,
I find as follows :


Paper - Thesis

1.      Pg 791 Col. 2 Para. 3 of Paper almost identical to Pg 26, Para. 3 of Thesis.

2.      Pg 797 Table 2. of Paper identical to Table 2.1 Pg 31 of Thesis.

3.      Pg 792 Formulae (15) are almost identical to Page 27 Formulae (2.69) of Thesis.

3.      Pg 804 References Item 1. of Paper identical to Pg 194 Bibliography Item [22] of Thesis.

4.      Pg 804 References Item 2. of Paper identical to Pg 196 Bibliography Item [49] of Thesis.

5.      Pg 804 References Item 3. of Paper identical to Pg 198 Bibliography Item [68] of Thesis.

6.      Pg 804 References Item 7. of Paper identical to Pg 194 Bibliography Item [25] of Thesis.

7.      Pg 804 References Item 10. of Paper identical to Pg 197 Bibliography Item [57] of Thesis.

8.      Pg 804 References Item 11. of Paper identical to Pg 200 Bibliography Item [88] of Thesis.

9.      Pg 804 References Item 15. of Paper identical to Pg 197 Bibliography Item [56] of Thesis.

10.     Pg 804 References Item 17. of Paper identical to Pg 201 Bibliography Item [98] of Thesis.

11.     Pg 804 References Item 18. of Paper identical to Pg 193 Bibliography Item [13] of Thesis.


Conclusions

1.      Some relevant portions of the Paper have been simply copied into the Thesis.

2.      This finding is congruent with my initial written opinion dated 28 March 2007 that :
"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."
3.      It is clear that the Thesis includes some material previously drafted by other authors, in this case V.E. Verijenko, S. Adali and V.G. Piskunov.

4.      It can be concluded that this is not the own unaided work of the PhD candidate as attested in his declaration on Page ii of the Thesis.

5.      This Paper is probably a successor to or derivative of one or more of the following journal papers in the Bibliography of the thesis :
[88], [89], [90], [91], [92].
which should be compared with the Thesis.



Richard Young 
PrEng, MSc(Eng), PhD