Full-time study

4 years

prof. Ing. Miloslav Novotný, CSc.

Chairman :
prof. Ing. Jan Pěnčík, Ph.D.
Vice-chairman :
prof. Ing. Milan Ostrý, Ph.D.
Councillor internal :
doc. Ing. Aleš Rubina, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Jitka Mohelníková, Ph.D.
prof. Ing. Miroslav Bajer, CSc.
prof. Ing. Miloslav Novotný, CSc.
prof. Ing. Karel Šuhajda, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. Miloš Zich, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. arch. Juraj Dulenčín, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. David Bečkovský, Ph.D.
Ing. et Ing. Václav Venkrbec, Ph.D.
Councillor external :
prof. Ing. Karel Tuza, CSc.
Ing. Martin Deutsch, Ph.D.
doc. Ing. arch. Milan Palko, Ph.D.
Ing. Petr Sedlák, Ph.D.

The aim of the doctoral study program Building Constructions is to provide outstanding graduates of the master's program with specialized university education and scientific training in selected current areas of the field. The study is focused on complex scientific preparation, methodology of independent scientific work and on the development of knowledge in the field of the theory of building constructions. and construction, measuring and diagnostic methods, modeling of physical processes and tasks of building physics. The scientific preparation in this study program is based on mastering the initial theoretical disciplines of the natural science base and theoretical and scientific disciplines of the relevant focus.
Part of the study is also the involvement of students in the preparation and solution of national and international scientific research projects, presentation of results at national and international scientific and professional conferences and their publication in professional and scientific foreign and domestic journals. During his / her studies, the student gains new theoretical knowledge, his / her own experience from the preparation, implementation and evaluation of experiments and necessary practical knowledge also thanks to close cooperation with construction practice and also through foreign internships at cooperating foreign universities or research workplaces.
In the final phase of the study, the student synthesizes all theoretical knowledge gained as well as the results of his / her own creative work and elaborates his / her doctoral dissertation, which emphasizes the exactness and formulation of concrete benefits for further development of the studied field.

Graduate of the PhD study program Building Construction is a versatile theoretically and professionally equipped expert who has mastered the issue of specialization at a high level of his knowledge and is capable of independent creative work. He is ready to work professionally and to hold independent higher positions in the field of research and development of new technologies in the sector of building construction of buildings, but also in designing companies, resp. in state administration. He obtained comprehensive theoretical and professional training for independent solution of technical problems and creative scientific work. Based on the acquired knowledge, experience, skills and knowledge, it is ready for scientific and creative activities, both independently and in teams at national and international level. Thanks to the current trends in the field of building construction and close cooperation with foreign universities, the graduate of the doctoral study program fulfills the prerequisites for further professional career and professional academic growth, even abroad.
During his / her studies the graduate practically acquires and acquires pedagogical abilities, which he / she can use in pedagogical-scientific activities at educational institutions dealing with the problems of building construction in the Czech Republic and thanks to acquired language knowledge also abroad.

Substantial development of theoretical and experimental abilities allows graduates of the PhD study program Building Constructions independent creative activity related mainly to building construction including related specializations especially in the field of building technical equipment (HVAC, heating, air conditioning), advanced special building technologies, building physics building acoustics and daylighting of buildings), special building remediation, fire safety of buildings and environmentally advanced buildings.
The graduate is capable of independent creative activity especially in the field of research and development - he / she is professionally equipped and able to solve complex problems independently, eg when optimizing the selection of suitable materials or their compositions taking into account social needs, operational requirements, risks, economic impacts and environmental impacts.
The application of graduates of the Building Constructions program is in wide areas of the building industry consisting eg in the design of special elements and constructions of Building constructions including verification of their functionality and reliability using both experimental procedures and numerical models.
Graduates are well placed to work in the academic sphere and in other institutions dealing with science, research, development and innovation. Its knowledge of foreign languages ​​in the area of ​​its expertise is a prerequisite for eventual work abroad. After fulfilling the length of practice and legal conditions, he can be authorized by ČKAIT as a civil engineer in the field of Building Construction, Environmental Engineering or Energy Auditing.
According to internal statistics, the long-term employability of graduates of the existing PhD study program Building Constructions in Practice is practically 100%, not only after graduation, but also at early graduation. The graduates appreciate in practice the ability to solve complex professional problems independently and the ability to communicate at least in English.
After graduation, many graduates of DSP Civil Engineering are employed at the faculty and subsequently develop their creative abilities, reduce the average age of the faculty teachers and subsequently habilitate, eventually complete the appointment procedure and thus guarantee the development and future of the faculty.

Fulfillment of the subjects of the individual study plan, successful completion of the state doctoral examination, foreign experience, relevant creative activity and successful defense of the dissertation.

The rules and conditions for the creation of study plans of study programs carried out at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the BUT define:
Rules of BUT study programs (www.vutbr.cz/uredni-deska/vnitrni-predpisy-a-dokumenty), which according to Article 1, paragraph 1, point:
c) defines the processes of creation, approval and changes of study program proposals before their submission for accreditation to the National Accreditation Office for Higher Education,
d) lays down the formal requirements for study programs and courses,
e) defines the obligations of study program and subject guarantors,
f) defines the standards of study programs at BUT,
g) defines the principles of quality assurance of study programs.
Study and Examination Regulations of the Brno University of Technology (www.vutbr.cz/uredni-deska/international-details-and-documents)
Details of the conditions for study at the Faculty of Civil Engineering of the BUT are governed by the Dean's Directive )
The PhD student studies according to an individual study plan, which is elaborated by the supervisor in cooperation with the PhD student. The individual study plan is binding for the doctoral student. It specifies all duties set in accordance with the BUT Study and Examination Regulations that a doctoral student must fulfill in order to successfully complete his / her studies.
During the first three semesters, the doctoral student consists of compulsory, compulsorily elective or at the same time, it is intensively engaged in its own study and analysis of knowledge in the field determined by the topic of the dissertation and continuous publication of the knowledge and results obtained in this way. In the following semesters, the doctoral student focuses more on research and development related to the topic of the dissertation, on the publication of the results of his / her creative work and on his / her own dissertation. By the end of the fifth semester, the doctoral student has passed the state doctoral examination. The doctoral student is also involved in pedagogical activities, which is a part of his scientific preparation.
The individual study plan includes scientific outputs in individual years:
- regular publishing activity (Juniorstav and similar),
- participation in scientific conferences at home and abroad,
- for defense of DZP it is necessary to publish - min. 2x Scopus or 1x WOS with impact factor.

At the Faculty of Civil Engineering, BUT, barrier-free access to all teaching rooms is currently provided. However, students must be physically fit to be qualified as a civil engineer. In practically oriented laboratory teaching, they must be able to operate measuring instruments and similar laboratory equipment independently without endangering themselves or their surroundings.
BUT provides support to students with specific needs, for details see Guideline 11/2017 (www.vutbr.cz/uredni-deska/international-documents-and-documents/-d141841/uplne-zneni-smernice-c-11- 2017-p147550).
In order to promote equal access to higher education, BUT incorporates the Alfons Advisory Center, part of the BUT Institute of Lifelong Learning, to provide guidance and support services to applicants and students with specific educational needs. Specific educational needs include learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, chronic somatic illness, autistic spectrum disorders, impaired communication skills and mental illness (alfons.vutbr.cz/o-nas).
Students are provided with information concerning the accessibility of study programs with respect to the specific needs of the applicant, information about the architectural accessibility of individual faculties and university parts, about accommodation at the BUT dormitory, about the possibilities of adapting the admission procedure and adapting the study itself. Other services of the Center for Students with Special Educational Needs also include interpreting and rewriting services, or assistance services - guiding, spatial orientation, in order to enable these students to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the same way as other students. This is done through the so-called adaptation of study, ie by appropriate adjustment of the study regime, which cannot be understood as a simplification of the content of study or relief of study obligations.

The PhD study program Building Construction is a follow-up to the follow-up master study program Civil Engineering, especially the study fields Building Construction and Construction Realization, respectively. as well as other fields of study and nursing master's degree programs. After the accreditation of the follow-up master's degree programs in Civil Engineering - Building Constructions and Civil Engineering - Realization of constructions for these programs.

2. round (applications submitted from 16.10.2026 to 11.12.2026)

1. Advanced Constitutive Material Model of Wood Considering Anisotropy and Cylindrical Orthotropy for Selected Timber Species and Assessment of Numerical Simplification Options

   Natural wood is a highly anisotropic, heterogeneous, and porous composite material. The local and global orientation of growth rings, combined with the chosen material model, significantly influences the behavior of wooden elements incorporated into structural systems. These factors directly determine the accuracy of predictions regarding the load-bearing capacity and mechanical behavior of structural elements and details under load, particularly in the case of solid timber. Consequently, this dissertation focuses on the in-depth theoretical, numerical, and experimental development of constitutive relationships for wood across various species.

   In engineering analyses using the finite element method (FEM), a simplification to rectangular (Cartesian) orthotropy is frequently employed in practice. However, in actual load-bearing elements, the internal arrangement of symmetry planes is dictated by the anatomical structure of the tree trunk (i.e., cylindrical L-T-R orthotropy with curved growth rings). The aim of this work is to systematically investigate the limits and magnitudes of deviations arising from the application of simplified Cartesian models and to establish the boundaries of their applicability across different wood species and loading conditions.

   The methodological approach combines an extensive experimental program with advanced numerical modeling using the finite element method. The laboratory phase will involve conducting physical-mechanical tests on selected softwood and hardwood species, focusing on multiaxial stress states, the determination of elastic and material constants, and detailed mapping of growth ring curvature. The measured data will be used to formulate, calibrate, and validate a constitutive material model—accounting for anisotropy and cylindrical orthotropy—implemented within finite element analysis (FEA) software. The outcome will be a comprehensive methodology and a computational tool capable of precisely defining the applicability limits of simplified Cartesian models and accurately simulating the mechanical response of solid timber elements up to their ultimate load-bearing capacity, thereby enabling safer and more cost-optimized designs.

   Supervisor: Pěnčík Jan, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Analysis and prediction of contamination in clean operating room areas

   786This thesis investigates the principles of microbial and aerosol contamination within the operating room environment during operation. It builds upon the existing internal FOKOS project at the Department of Building Services (TZB). Experimentally obtained data will serve as the basis for a parametric analysis, incorporating machine learning algorithms to interpret the relationships between variables. This will enable the creation of a predictive model for the operating room environment and cleanliness, accounting for specific design configurations and operational practices. The work will employ both theoretical and experimental approaches. The objective is to identify key technical and operational factors influencing air quality, thereby enabling the optimization of existing operating rooms and the design of new ones to achieve superior environmental quality and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.ction model.

   Supervisor: Rubina Aleš, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Integrity and Multiphysics Performance of Multi-Storey Modular Timber Buildings

   Modular timber construction represents a key direction in modern sustainable building (Design for Manufacture and Assembly – DfMA). However, prefabricated volumetric timber modules (utilizing CLT panels or lightweight timber frame systems) differ significantly from traditional timber skeleton or wall-based structures.

   Assembling buildings from individual volumetric modules creates a specific structural discontinuity. The global stiffness and stability of the entire load-bearing system are significantly influenced by the behavior of connections—both intra-modular (within individual units) and, crucially, inter-modular (shear and tension connections between adjacent and vertically stacked modules).

   Current knowledge faces limitations regarding the reliable modeling of non-linear slip in inter-modular connections, vibration propagation, acoustic properties, and response to specific loading conditions (such as wind loads). Furthermore, it is necessary to address the interplay between structural safety, fire resistance, and material degradation caused by moisture fluctuations at connection points.

   The topic of integral structural integrity and the multi-physics behavior of multi-story modular timber buildings encompasses the following critical issues that require resolution:

   1. Inter-modular connections and load transfer (horizontal and vertical) – Connections between modules exhibit non-linear stiffness, plasticization, and hysteretic behavior under cyclic loading. A common issue is local crushing of the timber at locations where compressive forces concentrate at module corners.
   2. Progressive collapse resistance – The removal of a single load-bearing module (e.g., due to an explosion or impact) causes a significant redistribution of internal forces. Modular timber structures lack a comprehensive design methodology for creating reliable tie beams across the modular grid.
   3. Dynamic response and spatial stiffness (wind-induced vibration and seismicity) – The low density of timber, combined with cumulative slip at inter-story connections, leads to increased susceptibility to low-frequency vibrations. Standard simplified modeling methods—such as frame or shear-wall models—fail to accurately capture the structure's actual damping characteristics.
   4. Multiphysics degradation & fire safety of connections – Connections are often concealed within the gaps between modules. In the event of a fire, steel connection components are subjected to high temperatures; their behavior is influenced by the combined effects of timber degradation (charring) and the loss of steel stiffness.

   Supervisor: Pěnčík Jan, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

4. Material Modeling of Cement Composites for 3D Structural Printing Accounting for Anisotropy and Inter-layer Adhesion

   3D concrete printing (3DCP) technology represents a key direction in the digitalization and automation of the construction industry. However, the absence of traditional formwork and the layered deposition of the fresh mixture introduce specific challenges regarding the mechanical behavior of the resulting elements. These structures exhibit markedly anisotropic properties, and the interface between printed layers (the structural joint) becomes a critical factor for their reliability.

   The aim of this dissertation is to develop, calibrate, and validate an advanced constitutive (material) model for various types of concrete and cement composites used in 3DCP. This model must accurately describe their complex mechanical response within a finite element method (FEM) numerical modeling environment.

   The formulation of the new material model will be based on established concepts: the SBETA model (describing nonlinear concrete behavior, including tensile cracking and compressive failure) and the Willam-Warnke model (a three- or five-parameter failure surface for general multiaxial stress states). These traditional models will be modified and extended to account for:

   • Directional dependency (orthotropy/anisotropy) in tension, compression, and shear, resulting from the orientation of printed beads and the direction of loading relative to the planar geometry of the layers.
   • The time-dependent evolution of mixture properties during the early stages of setting and hardening (linked to phenomena such as thixotropy and buildability).

   A distinct and crucial part of the work will focus on investigating interlayer bond strength. Based on the identified interface properties—influenced, for example, by the time interval between layer depositions (gap time), mixture rheology, and environmental conditions—a suitable contact model (such as the Cohesive Zone Model – CZM or zero-thickness interface elements) will be formulated. This model will describe shear and tensile failure at the layer interface, including the degradation of cohesion.

   Supervisor: Pěnčík Jan, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

5. Study of Physical Processes in Structures of Mechanically Loaded Walk and Drive-On Light-Guiding System

   The thesis focuses on studying of physical processes on-going in mechanically loaded light-guiding structures intended for pedestrian and vehicular applications. The research concentrates on the interaction between mechanical loading, material and structural configuration, optical properties, and environmental influences, and on how these affect the functionality, safety, and service life of these systems.

   The work will include numerical modelling, laboratory experiments, and verification of prototype structures. The findings will be used to formulate general design principles and to optimize a new generation of mechanically resistant light-guiding systems with direct potential for transfer into industrial practice.

   Supervisor: Vajkay František, doc. Ing., Ph.D.

1. round (applications submitted from 01.04.2026 to 31.07.2026)

1. Optimization of PCM-Based Thermal Storage System

   The thesis is focused on modeling and simulation of buildings storing heat and cold in heat accumulators using phase change melting and solidification substances - PCM. The aim is to bridge the mismatch between conventional and alternative energy supply with the building's energy consumption curve. Attention will also be paid to systems and methods for optimum energy storage accumulation in the building. Multicriteria optimization methods will also be used.

   Supervisor: Šikula Ondřej, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

2. Optimization of Thermally Activated Building Structures

   PhD thesis is focused on the optimization of Thermo Active Building Structures (TABS) used for heating and cooling buildings. Assumes the use of simulation methods, laboratory experiment and measurement INSITU. The aim is to provide recommendations for optimal design and control of TABS. The simulations can use the softwares CalA, TRNSYS, ANSYS Fluent. Multicriteria optimization methods will also be used.

   Supervisor: Šikula Ondřej, prof. Ing., Ph.D.

3. Simulation of air flow and heat and pollutants distribution in buildings

   Topic of doctoral thesis focuses on the application and verification of theoretical research methods airflow in buildings and external aerodynamics of buildings with the current transfer of heat and polutants. The simulations can use the software ANSYS Fluent, CFX, or OpenFOAM. Multicriteria optimization methods will also be used.

   Supervisor: Šikula Ondřej, prof. Ing., Ph.D.