University Putra Malaysia
University
Putra Malaysia
Faculty of Engineering
Department of Civil
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi
www.fhejazi.com
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Why We Do Research
University
Putra Malaysia
1. Discover new knowledge
2. Develop new Products
3. Find new relationships
4. Answer important questions
5. Fulfill a vision
6. Find useful results (improve products)
7. Solve meaningful problems
8. Improve Human Life and Life Quality
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
You have to competitive with others
University
Putra Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Getting Started
University
Putra Malaysia
Choose a topic based on your experience. (Be Careful on topic)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Getting Started
University
Putra Malaysia
Ask yourself some questions:
What do I know about the topic?
What would I like to learn?
What will others learn from your work?
How this topic will contribute to the
knowledge?
How this topic will enhance
human life and life quality?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Choose the topic and area
University
Putra Malaysia
Review of the literature
Problem Statement and Finding the gaps
Justification
Define objectives
Research
Steps
Identify methodology
Collect data/Modeling
Analysis/Experimental Test
Verification and validation
Plot results
Discussion on results
Writing the paper and project report
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Creativity
• Autonomy
• Flexibility and Openness
• Formulate Research Objectives
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Autonomy
University
Putra Malaysia
• Know what you don’t know
• Know what to ask
• Know when to ask
• Know where is the boundary
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Flexibility and Openness
University
Putra Malaysia
Flexibility:
maintain context, be ready to change context
Openness:
new ideas may come from boundary between areas
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Making Choices
Type/Area of research
Supervisor
Research Problem
Approach
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Type of research
University
Putra Malaysia
i- Fundamental Research
Development of Basic and Fundamental issues
ii - Applied Research:
Study about application or
applicability of one or more
techniques in problem domain
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
RESEARCH CATEGORY
University
Putra Malaysia
RESEARCH
Fundamentals
Theoretical
Conceptual
Mathematical
Experimental only for Proving
Applications
Experimentation
Survey/CaseStudy/Inte
rview
Data Analysis
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
RESEARCH PROCESS
FUNDAMENTALS
CURRENT
ISSUE/PROBLEM
ASK NEW
QUESTION
IDENTIFY IMPORTANT
FACTORS
RETHINK NEW
THEORY
PROVIDE NEW CONCEPT
MODELLING & SIMULATION/
Experimental Testing
FORMALIZED IN
MATHEMATICAL FORM
PROVE FOR
CORRECTNESS
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
RESEARCH PROCESS
APPLICATIONS
CURRENT
ISSUE/PROBLEM
ASK NEW QUESTION
IDENTIFY IMPORTANT
FACTORS
PROVIDE
CONCEP/HYPOTHESIS
RETHINK THE
THEORY
COLLECT DATA
ANALYSIS
TEST
CONCEPT/HYPOTHESIS
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Type of Research
Basic
I
II
III
IV
tech
E x p e r im e n t a l
AD-
T h e o r e t ic a l
Applied
University
Putra Malaysia
E a r ly P r o d u c t
D e v e lo p m e n t
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Level of research
University
Putra Malaysia
Global location
MIT
OXFORD
Swansea
IITS India
UPM
Engineering Faculty
Civil Department
ECV Course
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Type of research
University
Putra Malaysia
Facilities
(a)- Human Resources
(b)- Tools (Library, computational facility,…….)
Use the best tool to solve the problem
Use available resources
Seminars
Books / Journals
Colleagues
Internet
Library
Laboratories
Software
Equipment
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Process of Research
University
Putra Malaysia
• Select Area/Topic
(2)
• Literature Review
(3)
• Identify The Problem/Challenges
(4)
• Define Objective (Goal)
(5)
• Define Hypothesis
(6)
• Establish Methodology
(7)
• Simulation/Testing
(8)
• Data Analysis/Interpretation
(9)
• Validation and Verification
(10)
• Conclusion
(11)
• Report/Publication/Patent Filing
Supervisor
(1)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Supervisor
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Supervisor
University
Putra Malaysia
Human factor makes the difference.
Three Levels of supervisor:
1. Senior scientist type
2. Collaborator type
Time
3. Hands-off type
Experience
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Supervisor:
University
Putra Malaysia
positive and negative aspects
Senior Scientist Type:
Experience
and Knows the
state of the art
Experience
and Obsolete
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Supervisor:
University
Putra Malaysia
positive and negative aspects
Collaborator type:
a lot of time, little experience
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Supervisor:
University
Putra Malaysia
positive and negative aspects
Hands-off type:
not much time, sufficient experience
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Generalize and specialize
University
Putra Malaysia
• A generalist knows nothing about everything
• A specialist knows everything about nothing
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar (19101995)
Nobel Prize, 1983
A new topic every seven years
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Supervisor:
University
Putra Malaysia
positive and negative aspects
The bottom line is research quality.
The indicators are:
• How much one publishes
• Where one publishes
• How much one is cited
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Choosing an Supervisor:
University
Putra Malaysia
• Accomplishments in teaching and research
• Great interest for advising students
• Experience in directing graduate students
• Management and organization of his or her research group
• Reputation for setting high standards
• Compatible personality
• Ability to serve as a mentor
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Choosing a scientific problem
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Identifying a scientific problem
University
Putra Malaysia
• Is the problem is compatible with your interest
• Is the problem solvable (in time)
• Is it worth doing
• Is it manageable in size
• What is its potential to make original
contributions (literature)
• Will the research prepare you in an area of
demand or promise for the future
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Identifying a scientific problem
University
Putra Malaysia
The Biggest Question
Choose the research problem that you can solve:
• in 1 or 1.5 years
in 2 months
• With your own work and with help of supervisor
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Divides the principal problem
into subproblems
Dividing it into more manageable subareas:
1. Whole is composed of the sum of its parts.
2. To proceed logically, should closely inspect the principal problem,
soon cause the appropriate, necessary subproblems to float
naturally.
3. Many researchers take neither the time nor the trouble to isolate the
lesser problems, their research projects become cumbersome and
unwieldy.
4. It is expedient to reduce the main problem to a series of logical
subproblems.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Divides the principal problem
into subproblems
University
Putra Malaysia
Example: Getting to another town 50km away
Main problem: How do I get there?
Subproblems:
1.
What is the direct route?
2.
How far do I travel on highway?
3.
Which exit number should I take?
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
SELECT A GOOD WORKING TITLE
University
Putra Malaysia
• The title should state the focus of the inquiry
• It should show the boundaries of the topic
• Incorporate the main purpose
• It can be clever and catchy, memorable
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Research Objectives
University
Putra Malaysia
Difficulty:
1. There is a problem and
you don’t see it
2. There is a problem, you see it
but you don’t know how to
solve it
3. There is a problem, you see it
and you know how to solve it
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Set Goals
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Have a plan of attack
University
Putra Malaysia
• Follow your blueprint
• Be flexible enough to deviate from your blueprint
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Example of Methodology Flowchart
3D RC Framed
Buildings
University
Idealization (choice of element)
Putra Malaysia
Beam, Columns Element
Damper Element
Obj. 1
i
j
Physical Modeling
Mathematical formulation
Constitutive Model
Physical Modeling
Mathematical formulation
Constitutive Model
Damping Matrix
Nonlinear Operation
Stiffness Matrix
Mass Matrix
Damping Matrix
Obj. 5
Finite Element Technique
Obj. 2
2Dimension
3Dimension
linear
Nonlinear
Static Load
Dynamic Load
Beam Column Element
Damper Element
Obj. 4
Obj. 3
Finite Element Code
Application in
Real RC
Buildings
Optimization by
Genetic Algorithm
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Maintain a Research Notebook
University
Putra Malaysia
(Writer’s Notebook & Process Log)
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/g-hoppr.htm
NOTICE: Pre-numbered quadrille paper notebook.
Dated & topic header by time.
Panel F, Relay #70 of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator at Harvard.
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-h/g-hoppr.htm
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Hard work and
Achievability
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Hard Work!
University
Putra Malaysia
• Hard work will never will fail
• Work is worship
• Genius is 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration
Thomas Edison
1847-1931
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Time Wasters
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Achievability and Payoff
Likely Payoff
University
Putra Malaysia
Difficulty
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Don’t be afraid to fail
• “I have not failed. I have merely found tens ways
that did not work.”
• Admit your mistakes (so you can learn from
them)
• There is nothing wrong in failing or “if it does not
kill us, it makes us stronger”
• Failures is a good experience to learn from.
• Failures is an INTEGRAL part of the ultimate
success
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Afraid of Failure
University
Putra Malaysia
Researchers, Scientists and technologists were
never afraid of failure during their missions.
Failures contain within themselves the seeds of
further learning which can be the level of success.
Dr. Abdul Kalam
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Faith and doubt
University
Putra Malaysia
• Believe that your ideas will eventually work
• Healthy skepticism – don’t take someone else’s word
for it, convince yourself
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Communicate
University
Putra Malaysia
• Read and write
• Speak
• Discuss with your supporter people
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Progress is cumulative
University
Putra Malaysia
• Build on others’ work
• Allow others to build on your work
Isaac Newton
1642 – 1727
John Donne
1572-1631
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
Independence / cooperation
University
Putra Malaysia
• Researchers need to be able to work independently
• Researchers need to be able to work as part of a
team
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Keep the balance
You can not be always extremely productive
Set your times
With your professional growth, ensure the growth in your
personal life, and vice versa
Concentrating only on work at the expense of the other spheres
of your personal life will only make it a never-ending and everescalating struggle
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
PLAGIARISM
University
Putra Malaysia
• Using the ideas, words or data of others as if it is your own
• Don’t do it!!!
• It is lying, cheating, stealing and conduct unbecoming an
officer
• Grounds for dismissal—has happened
• Check with instructor if unsure
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com
University
Putra Malaysia
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Farzad Hejazi , Department of Civil Engineering - UPM - www.fhejazi.com