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

2007-05-14

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 entitled :
Thermoelastic analysis of laminated composite plates and shells based on high-order theory
 
by authors Victor E. Verijenko, Theodore R. Tauchert, Sarp Adali, Murray L. Scott and Chippy Shaikh
 
Proceedings of ASME Aerospace Division, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 1997, USA, Vol. 55, pp 191-196

 
to the paper :
Higher-Order Theory of Laminated Composites under Thermal and Static Loading
 
by authors C. Shaikh, V.E. Verijenko, P.Y. Tabakov and S. Adali
 
Second South African Conference on Applied Mechanics (SACAM '98), Cape Town, 2, 13 to 15 January1998, Pp 913-924
 
and 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 :
 
Analysis

1.      The two journal papers are very similar in content and claim(s).

2.      The second journal paper is dated January 1998 while the first journal paper is dated 1997.

3.      Shaik is cited as the fifth author of the first journal paper and the first author of the second journal paper.

4.      The authors of the second journal paper do not cite the first journal paper.

5.      The author of the Thesis does not cite the first journal paper.

6.      V.E. (Victor) Verijenko was at the relevant times a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Natal and one of the candidate's PhD supervisors.

7.      S. (Sarp) Adali was at the relevant times a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Natal and one of the candidate's PhD supervisors.


Conclusions

1.      It is clear that the Thesis includes material developed by other authors, in this case V.E. Verijenko, T.R. Tauchet, S. Adali, P.Y. Tabakov and M.L. Scott.

2.      If the author of the Thesis tries to rely on the citation of him being first author of a journal paper and therefore that uncited and unacknowledged inclusion of its contents in the Thesis is justified, such position is unfounded as much of the included material and claims had been developed previously.

3.      Chapter 4 of the Thesis is the culmination of the development of the higher-order theory relevant to both mechanical and thermal stresses and the basis for the main claim of the Thesis, i.e. the simultaneous treatment of both mechanical and thermal stresses; this is essentially the same claim as that of the first journal paper.

4.      Two of the authors of the Paper are the Thesis author's own supervisors who would or should have known that this work was simply regurgitated for the Thesis.

5.      Beyond any reasonable doubt 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.

6.      These conclusions are more than sufficient evidence to initiate a full formal enquiry into the award of the PhD degree, including the conduct of both the candidate and his two supervisors.


Richard Young 
PrEng, MSc(Eng), PhD