Graduate Level

Advanced Topics in Reinforced Concrete Design 

Course No:  CEE 792

Course Objectives:  The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with behavior of reinforced concrete elements and structures with an emphasis on the displacement-based design.  The course builds on student’s knowledge of basic reinforced concrete design as well as structural analysis to introduce advanced analysis and design topics related to seismic and non-seismic loads.  Emerging topics such as advanced materials for concrete structures, new design and construction concepts, and current research analysis tools are also reviewed. 

Textbook:  Moehle, J. (2014). “Seismic Design of Reinforced Concrete Buildings,” McGraw-Hill Professional, 784 pages.

Finite Element Analysis 

Course No:  EM 741

Course Objectives:  The main objective of this course is to familiarize students with basic concepts of finite element (FE) methods.  FE analysis provides numerical solutions for complex engineering problems.  The course builds on student’s knowledge of basic strength of materials, structural analysis, matrix algebra, and numerical solutions to introduce stress analyses of linear structures.  This course will provide sufficient information for students to understand the core principals and mechanism of FE software such as ANSYS, ABAQUS, and SAP2000, and will prepare them to develop their own FE packages. 

Textbook:  Logan, D.L. (2017). “A First Course in the Finite Element Method”, 6th Edition, Cengage Learning, 992 page.

Structural Dynamics 

Course No:  CEE 759

Course Objectives:  The main objective of this course is to present the theory of structural dynamics and to use the theories for the seismic analysis of buildings and bridges.  The course builds on student’s knowledge of structural analysis.  The focus will be on linear structures.  However, nonlinear systems will be briefly reviewed.  

Textbook:  Chopra, A.K. (2023). “Dynamics of Structures,” Pearson.

Technical Elective

Matrix Analysis of Structures 

Course No:  CEE 443/543

Course Objectives:  This course includes general-purpose structural analysis methodologies using matrix formulations.  Comprehensive coverage of matrix formulation for arbitrary elements and structures is provided.  An introduction to nonlinear analysis of structures is also included.  Students completing this course will be able to develop computer programs for linear analysis of truss- and frame-structures and will understand the principals incorporated in commercial software.  Computer programs in MATLAB will be provided as reference and SAP2000 will be introduced for the validation of assignments and programs.   

Textbook:  McGuire, W., Gallagher, R.H., and Ziemian, R.D. (2000). “Matrix Structural Analysis”, 2th Edition.

Undergraduate

Structural Theory 

Course No:  CEE 353

Course Objectives:  This course presents structural theories for modeling and analysis of trusses, beams, columns, and frames.  The emphasis will be on classical methods for analysis of structures mainly suitable for hand calculations.  Students completing this course will be able to (1) understand load transfer mechanism for trusses, beams, and frames, (2) determine degree of indeterminacy and comment on the stability of structures, (3) determine support reactions, (4) determine internal forces (axial, shear, and moment) and develop force/moment diagrams, and (5) calculate displacements and develop deformed shapes of structures.  Furthermore, the concept of influence lines to analysis structures under moving loads (e.g. a truck on a bridge) will be presented.  If time permits, a computer program, SAP2000, will be introduced for the validation of some of the assignments to further prepare the students for real-world practice. 

Textbook:  Hibbeler, R.C. (2023). “Structural Analysis”, 11th Edition, Pearson Prentice Hall.

Capstone Design I & II

Course No:  CEE 465