Are you interested in designing and maintaining critical infrastructure like bridges, high-rise buildings, roads, rail tracks and tunnels? Or in creating solutions to ensure that structures can withstand time and environmental stress?
In this track, you'll learn to design safe, smart and sustainable structures by mastering calculations to predict deflections, assess stability risks, and ensure structural strength. Additionally you’ll create and evaluate physical and digital models of structures, materials, and loads, combining these models in hand calculations and computer simulations, in some cases supported by experimental lab work or field tests. Equipped with this knowledge, you’ll become a leader in creating resilient and sustainable structures, ensuring safety and longevity in the built environment.
Key features
➨ Gain expertise in structural mechanics, dynamics, and design, with an emphasis on sustainability and innovative materials. ➨ Apply theoretical knowledge to practical real-life situations through lab experiments, field visits, and design projects. ➨ Deepen expertise in specific areas like applied mechanics, dynamics, steel and concrete structures, building engineering, bio-based materials and transportation infrastructures. ➨ Integrate sustainability and ethical considerations into engineering practices, addressing climate change and resource depletion
Structural Engineering (CIEM 5000) is the base module for the track. It continues the learning line on modelling, data monitoring, sensing, and uncertainty and risk analysis from the Faculty Base Module. It emphasizes modelling structures, understanding mechanical properties, and applying experimental results. It includes two units: 1) Sustainable Construction Members and Systems focuses on sustainable design and materials like steel, timber, and concrete, 2) Mechanics of Slender Structures deals with the fundamental behaviour and design of one- and two-dimensional slender structures. You will gain skills in designing, analysing, and optimizing various structural systems while integrating principles in sustainability and circularity. The module takes place over Q2 and Q3.
A-Module
Upon starting Q3, you choose an A-Module which matches your interests and learning goals. The A-Module allows you to deepen your expertise and skills within a specific field of structural engineering. Within this track, three possibilities are available.
This module offers advanced knowledge in civil engineering mechanics and dynamics, balancing theory with practical applications. You will learn to analyse structural stability under static and dynamic loads, use computational techniques, and handle vibration measurements. The module covers finite element analysis, vibration analysis, and designing measurement setups.
This module focuses on optimizing structural designs using conventional and innovative materials for environmental sustainability. It includes two units: Prefabricated and Composite Structures, and Design with Innovative Materials. You will learn to design and analyse structural members, integrating materials like steel, timber, and concrete, while emphasizing circularity and innovative construction techniques.
In this module you’ll learn to design engineering structures from scratch, exploring multiple variants and materials to create detailed functional and technical designs. It includes keynote lectures from industry, skill-related workshops, and a group project based on a realistic client brief, emphasizing ethical considerations, structural design and teamwork.
B-Module
In Q4, you choose one B-Module to follow, allowing you during one full quarter to delve deeper into one specific aspect of your interest. Some of the B-Modules will help you to further deepen your fundamental understanding, others to hone your structural design skills or material knowledge. We offer 6 quite distinct modules to choose from:
This module offers in-depth expertise in analysing the mechanical response of structures using analytical and computational techniques. It covers advanced modelling, finite element analysis, and constitutive modelling. You will gain skills to become applied mechanics specialists and contribute to solution of complex problems.
Learn about the analysis and design of structures under dynamic loads such as earthquakes, wind, waves, and moving vehicles. You’ll model and interpret these loads, analyse structural responses, and design for stability and sustainability, using both analytical and computational methods.
This module tackles challenges in concrete structures by covering advanced modelling, concrete science, numerical modelling, special load conditions, and bridge design. It equips you to design, analyse, and maintain concrete structures using state-of-the-art methods and practical applications.
This module consists of three units focusing on steel and composite structures, covering strength, durability, heavy-duty, and lightweight structures. You’ll design, model, analyse, and assess structural members and joints, participate in lab experiments, and address ethical considerations in construction. Emphasis is placed on practical applications, real-world structures, and sustainability.
Explore building engineering as an interdisciplinary design process. It comprises three units: architecture, building physics and façades, building structures and foundations, and advanced spatial structures. Students engage in a group design project, and learn about contemporary architectural styles, building physics, construction methods, and innovative structural designs.
Investigate modern tools for designing, assessing, predicting performance, and optimizing transportation infrastructures, including roads, railways, bridges, and tunnels. You will analyse dynamic interactions, long-term behaviour, aging, and use of innovative materials. Practical skills in software and non-destructive testing will be developed through real-life case studies and industry collaboration.
I wanted to specialise in the area of structural mechanics. This programme offered courses on the technical subjects I was interested in, such as timber structures and dynamics. I also realized that as a TU Delft student, I’d be at the forefront of technical development.
Students who choose the track Structural Engineering have a multitude of opportunities for their master’s thesis. Prep for the master thesis starts in Q6 after completing the electives and cross-over courses of the general programme. Below are just a few highlighted projects of previous students.
Student Experiences
Our students are actively shaping their futures through research and dynamic projects. Check out their firsthand accounts, compelling stories, and inspiring films showcasing their experiences as a student.
