Structural

Overview

The structural engineering program offers opportunities for graduate study and research in many subject areas related to the analysis and design of civil structures. Emphasis areas of the program include bridge engineering, building engineering, structural health monitoring, structural mechanics, structural dynamics, computational structural analysis and structural engineering materials.

Degrees Offered

• Master’s of Civil Engineering
• Master’s of Applied Science
• PhD in Civil Engineering

Courses

Course Requirements, Thesis Track

Thesis track Master of Civil Engineering and Master of Applied Sciences in the field of Structural Engineering degrees require three core courses in two different topic areas (as detailed below), a minimum of five electives taken from a variety of fields, six thesis credits and the completion of a thesis.  Students enrolled in the thesis track are also required to enroll in the CIEG865: Seminar (Structures) each semester. Electives should be selected based on approval from your advisor.

Core Courses

Topic 1 (6 credits required, 2 courses from the following list):

• CIEG 601 – Introduction to Finite Element Method
• CIEG 611 – Structural Dynamics Design 
• CIEG 612 – Advanced Mechanics of Materials 

Topic 2 (3 credits required, 1 course from the following list):

• CIEG 602 – Advanced Steel Design
• CIEG 604 – Prestressed Concrete Design 

Possible Electives

Additional courses in Groups 1 and 2 above

• CIEG 605 – Intermediate Topics in Finite Element Analysis 
• CIEG 608 – Highway Bridge Engineering
• CIEG 610 – Experimental Mechanics of Composite Materials
• CIEG 617 – Railroad Safety and Derailment Engineering
• CIEG 618 – Introduction to Railroad Engineering* 
• CIEG 619 – Concrete Materials
• CIEG 621 – Foundation Engineering
• CIEG 641 – Risk Analysis
• CIEG 642 – Advanced Data Analysis
• CIEG 662 – Transportation Sustainability
• CIEG 675 – MATLAB for Engineering Analysis
• CIEG 801 – Advanced Topics in Finite Element Analysis (inactive)
• CIEG 811 – Advanced Structural Dynamics Design 
• MEEG 610 – Intermediate Solid Mechanics
• MEEG 616 – Composite Material Structures
• MEEG 617 – Composite Materials
• MEEG 621 – Linear Systems
• MEEG 690 – Intermediate Engineering Math 
• MEEG 816 – Advanced Continuum Mechanics 

Course Requirements, Non-Thesis Track

The Master of Civil Engineering (non-thesis) degree in the field of Structural Engineering requires six core courses, one materials elective, and a minimum of three additional electives, totaling a minimum of 30 credit hours of course work.  The three additional electives shall be selected based on the student’s interests and career goals with prior approval from the student’s advisor using the Graduate Student Advisement Form.  Electives shall be 600 or 800 level and may come from civil or other engineering disciplines or from outside of the College.  

Required Courses 

18 credit hours:

• CIEG 601 – Introduction to Finite Element Method
• CIEG 602 – Advanced Steel Design
• CIEG 604 – Prestressed Concrete Design
• CIEG 608 – Highway Bridge Engineering 
• CIEG 611 – Structural Dynamics Design
• CIEG 612 – Advanced Mechanics of Materials

Materials Elective, one required from the following list, 3 credit hours:

• CIEG 619 – Concrete Materials
• MEEG 613 – Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology
• MEEG 617 – Composite Materials
• MEEG 813 – Fracture of Complex Material Systems
• MSEG 606 – Corrosion and Protection
• MSEG 608 – Structure and Properties of Materials I

3 Electives (9 credit hours): 

Any University of Delaware 600 or 800 level course approved by advisor

Faculty

Michael Chajes – Bridge testing, evaluation, and rehabilitation; applications of advanced composite materials; structural analysis and design

Rachel Davidson – natural disaster risk analysis; civil infrastructure systems; engineers for a sustainable world

Jack Gillespie – Composite materials, mechanics and design, experimental mechanics, fracture mechanics, fabrication, infrastructure applications of composites

Monique Head – Bridge and earthquake engineering; performance-based design of concrete structures; structural applications of composite materials

Jennifer McConnell – Bridge engineering, behavior and analysis of steel structures, corrosion and long-term performance; aging infrastructure; infrastructure sustainability

Paramita Mondal – Construction materials, processing-property-performance relationship, design of innovative and sustainable construction materials, multi-scale characterization, nanotechnology and microstructural characterization to improve properties and performance of concrete and other cementitious materials

Harry “Tripp” Shenton – structural health monitoring and condition assessment of the civil infrastructure; innovative systems and materials for low-rise construction

Jovan Tatar – Advanced materials for sustainable and resilient structures, repair and retrofitting methods, reinforced and prestressed concrete, bridge engineering, durability of building materials, materials characterization

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