Structural Engineering

Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management

Structural Engineering Analysis & Design

Civil

Civil/Structural engineers design and maintain buildings, bridges, and other structures constructed from various materials (concrete, steel, timber, masonry, and reinforced plastics). They use modern analytical techniques (e.g., finite elements) to predict behavior of new structures and to analyze failures in existing structures. Structural analysis and design are grounded in fundamental principles of solid mechanics, which form an essential component of a structural engineer's education. Structural engineering faculty at UW conduct research in a broad range of areas, including bridge rating, computer-aided design, light-framed buildings, manufactured homes, heavy timber frames, bridge deterioration, bridge joint behavior and design, heat straightening of damaged bridge steel girders, and wind effects on low-rise structures and vehicles. The structural laboratories include facilities to test full-sized structures with MTS testing equipment to simulate dynamic as well as static loads.

 

Architectural

The structural design option prepares the Architectural Engineer to analyze, design and detail the structural components of building systems. The curriculum builds upon a strong engineering science background of statics, soil and material mechanics and structural analysis to develop competency in steel, timber and concrete design. It also provides many of the concepts that architects use to make a building aesthetically pleasing and functional.

 

 

Structures Research Laboratory

The newly built High Bay Research Facility contains a state-of-the-art Structures Research Laboratory. Cutting-edge research activities, previously impossible due to building constraints, are made realistic. UW has much more capacity than it had previously, and the flexibility of the facility allows this research to come up to speed quickly. The high-bay wing of the building features ceiling heights of 28 feet. Trucks can be driven into the facility, and it’s also outfitted with a 20-ton bridge crane.  One of the lab’s main researchers is Associate Professor Jennifer Eisenhauer Tanner, whose research focuses on experimental testing and implementation, including studies of durability of concrete and masonry, non-destructive testing and shear-wall testing.  It’s a much larger facility so the department is able to do more experiments. The old structures lab will also remain in use, expanding the university’s capacity overall. Architectural engineering classes will also use the facility.

Dr. Jennifer Tanner, walking, observes students building walls out of concrete masonry units in the High Bay Research Facility