Postgraduate course in

Seismic Design and Retrofit of Buildings and Bridges

Train at the UPC with prestigious professionals who have coordinated international earthquake-proof projects.

Duration
9 months
Delivery
Online
Fee
€3,900

Programme
Training Content
Learning methodology
Teaching team
Career opportunities
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COVID-19 frequently asked questions to study at the UPC School

Programme

Information 2020-21 edition

The 2020-21 edition of the postgraduate course has already begun. Shortly we will publish updated information about the new edition of this programme.

Edition

7th Edition

Credits

20 ECTS (160 teaching hours)

Delivery

Online

Language of instruction

Spanish / English

Fee

€3,900

Payment of enrolment fee options

The enrolment fee can be paid:
- In a single payment to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
- In two instalments:

60% of the amount payable, to be paid within the deadline specified in the letter of admission to the programme.
Remaining 40% to be paid up to 60 days at the latest after the starting date of the programme.

Notes 0,7% campaign

Registration open until the beginning of the course or until end of vacancies.

Discounts, loans and financial aid

Next course

March 2022

Taught at

Online

Why this postgraduate course?

Nowadays, earthquake-resistant design of buildings and other constructions is gaining worldwide attention:

Increasing awareness of enormous damaging potential of earthquakes.
Globalized working environment, where any professional can be involved with constructions in seismic regions.
Newly developed design and analysis tools, such as PBD (Performance-Based Design), Pushover Analysis and IDA (Incremental Dynamic Analysis), among others. These approaches are becoming more complex, as computer codes do.
Recently-proposed innovative construction and protection technologies, such as Base Isolation and Energy Dissipators, among others.

This Program provides attendants with knowledge to perform any intervention (design, planning, analysis, construction, retrofit, strengthening, repair, modification, promotion, etc.) on buildings and bridges located in seismic areas. Formulations included in regulations are described, and application examples are developed using most spread software codes.

This activity is taught by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), is a prestigious technology-oriented teaching and research institution, ranked 23th (QS World University Ranking) in Civil and Structural Engineering. This activity is taught online, in an e-learning environment; activity is tailored to individual necessities and learning path is adjusted to time availability of each student. Attendants are able to interact each other, possibly interchanging their professional experiences. Described technologies and concepts stem from professional, lecturing and research activities of instructors.

Spanish and English versions of this activity are offered.

Each attendant will develop a Final Project.

Aims

The main objective of this Program is to familiarize the attendants with up-to-date knowledge on seismic design, analysis and retrofit of buildings and bridges. At the end of the Program, the attendants should be able to:

Carry out any intervention (design, analysis, construction, retrofit, etc.) on buildings and bridges situated in seismic regions.
Understand and apply correctly current major regulations and guidelines of America, Europe and other regions.
Use the most common software packages for efficient seismic analysis and design of buildings and bridges.
Promoting, managing and leading national and international projects dealing with seismic issues.
Developing new multi-purpose design, analysis and construction approaches and solutions.

Who is it for?

This Program is oriented to professionals (structural engineers, structural consultants and designers, construction managers, urban planners, architects, among others) involved with buildings and bridges located in seismic-prone regions.

This activity will entitle you to lead and coordinate large international groups of engineers and other professionals involved in promotion, design, retrofit or other interventions on singular constructions (tall buildings, long-span bridges and viaducts, subway and railway stations, large tanks, among others) with relevant seismic issues.

Training Content

List of subjects

6 ECTS 59h

Basis of Seismic Design

Dynamics of Structures.

Basic concepts. Displacement, velocity and acceleration. Frequency and period. Excitation (input) and response (output). Mass, damping and stiffness.
Signal analysis. Fourier spectrum.
Single-degree-of-freedom systems. Modeling criteria. Natural frequency and damping ratio. Harmonic input. Free and forced responses. Resonance.
Multi-degree-of-freedom systems. Lumped masses models. Modelling of symmetric and asymmetric buildings. Diaphragm effect. Modal analysis. Natural frequencies and modal shapes. Modal participation factors. Modal masse.

Earthquake Engineering & Seismology.

Earthquakes. Origin and propagation. Intensity. Magnitude. Return period.
Near-source and far-source registers. Impulsivity, directivity and directionality. Influence of the soil type.

Earthquake-Resistant Design.

Effects of seismic inputs on structures. Relative displacement, inter-story drift and absolute acceleration.
Design codes. Eurocode 8. American regulations.
Types of building structures: frames, walls, bracings, dual systems. Behavior of building structures under vertical loads and under horizontal forces.
Heuristic seismic design recommendations. Symmetry, uniformity, compactness, lightness, ductility, damping, simplicity, separation. Strong column-weak beam. Short columns.
Types of seismic analyses: static linear, static nonlinear, and dynamic nonlinear
Response spectra. Acceleration, velocity and displacement spectra. Influence of seismicity, damping, soil type, importance and ductility. Response reduction factor.
Multimodal analysis. Number of modes to be considered. Modal combination criteria: SRSS and CQC.
Static nonlinear analysis (push-over). Plastic hinges. Modelling criteria: distributed and concentrated plasticity.
Performance-based design. Performance points (target drifts: IO, LS, CP, DL, SD, NC). American and European (N2) formulations.
Dynamic nonlinear analysis. IDA curves.
Vertical seismic analysis.
Seismic analysis of non-structural components.
Pounding between adjacent buildings. Required gap.

6 ECTS 58h

Seismic Design and Retrofit of Buildings

Seismic Design of Concrete Buildings.

Types of concrete building structures. Frames, structural walls, dual systems. Primary and secondary members. Critical regions. Ductility classes. Response reduction factor.
Local ductility of critical regions.
Structural elements. Beams. Slabs. Columns. Joints. Walls. Coupled walls. Coupling beams. Failure models and modelling with strut-and-tie models.
Precast concrete structures.

Seismic Design of Steel Buildings.

Types of steel and composite building structures. Frames, concentric bracing, eccentric bracing, dual systems.
Critical regions. Ductility classes. Response reduction factor.
Structural elements. Beams. Slabs. Columns. Joints. Pre-qualified connections. Braces: diagonal, chevron.
Special Truss Moment Frames.
Outrigger walls.

Seismic Design of Timber Buildings.

Timber construction. Heavy timber, platform frame, cross-laminated timber.
Earthquake-resistant qualities of timber buildings. Ductility of the connections. Design criteria.
Example of seismic design of a timber building.

Seismic Design of Masonry Buildings.

Masonry construction. Unreinforced, confined and reinforced masonry.
Earthquake-resistant qualities of masonry buildings. Design criteria.
Example of seismic design of a masonry building.

Seismic Retrofit of Buildings.

Use of the Performance-Based Design.
Basic retrofit strategies. Global Structural Stiffening and Strengthening. Bracing. Strengthening of columns.
Removal or Lessening of Existing Irregularities. Re-symmetrization. Mass Reduction. Local Modification of Components.
Knowledge levels. Decisions for structural interventions.
FEMA, ATC and ASCE regulations. Eurocode 8 Part 3.

Seismic Design and Retrofit of Foundations.

Basic concepts of soil response to earthquakes.
Liquefaction. Risk of landslides.
Retaining walls. Mononobe-Okabe formulation.
Shallow and deep foundations. Tie-beams and foundation beams. Raft foundations
Effect of earthquakes on foundations.
Applications. Liquefaction potential. Seismic design of foundations. Soil-structure interaction.

2 ECTS 14h

Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges

Seismic Design and Retrofit of Bridges.

Pedestrian, road and railway bridges.
Types of bridges. Decks. Piles. Abutments. Cable-stayed bridges. Suspended bridges
Design criteria. AASHTO specifications. Eurocode 8 Part 2.
Long-span bridges: spatial variation of the input ground motion.

2 ECTS 13h

New Technologies for Seismic Protection

Base Isolation.

Concept of base isolation. Degree of isolation. Limitations. Design criteria. Regulations.
Types of isolators. Rubber bearings. RB, LRB, HDRB. Durability.
Friction devices; flat and curved surfaces. Other isolators. Supplemental damping.
Applications to buildings and bridges. Other applications. 3D isolation.
Observed seismic performance of isolated constructions.
Applications to seismic retrofit.
Design examples.

Energy Dissipators.

Energy dissipators. Design criteria. Efficiency. Regulations. Applications.
Types of dissipators. Hysteretic devices. Buckling-restrained braces. Steel walls. Friction devices. Viscous and viscoelastic devices. VD walls. Use of SMA. Other dissipators.
Applications to buildings and bridges. Other applications.
Applications to seismic retrofit.
Design examples.

Mass Dampers.

Tuned mass dampers. Design criteria. Efficiency. Regulations. Active and semi-active dampers.
Shock absorbers. Tuned liquid dampers. Tuned sloshing dampers and liquid column dampers.
Applications to tall buildings, communication towers and steel chimneys. Applications to building slabs and pedestrian and road bridges.

4 ECTS 16h

Final Thesis

The topic of the Thesis is proposed by each student and is approved by the director of the Program taking into account the feasibility and the practical interest of the proposal. Eligible themes are seismic designs or retrofits of actual building or bridges, or other relevant theoretical or applied studies. It is strongly recommended that the selected subject is closely related to the professional interests of the attendants.

In past edition, some Theses developed by students were: Seismic analysis of a 30 story RC building, Seismic design of a shopping and parking structure, Capacity design of representative multi-span bridges, Simplified racking frame analysis of metro stations, and Pushover analysis to estimate response reduction factor of RC elevated water tanks. Noticeably, some of these Theses consisted in developing general design and construction solutions that can be utilized in a wide set of situations.

Degree

Postgraduate diplomas issued by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Issued pursuant to art. 34.1 of Organic Law 4/2007 of 12 April, amending Organic Law 6/2001 of 21 December, concerning Universities. To obtain this degree it is necessary to have an official. Otherwise, the Fundació Politècnica de Catalunya will only award them a a certificate of completion. (Ver datos que constan en el certificado).

Learning methodology

The teaching methodology of the programme facilitates the student's learning and the achievement of the necessary competences.

Learning tools

Solving exercises

Solutions are worked on by practising routines, applying formulas and algorithms, and procedures are followed for transforming the available information and interpreting the results.

Problem-based learning (PBL)

An active learning methodology that enables the student to be involved from the beginning, and to acquire knowledge and skills by considering and resolving complex problems and situations.

Tutorship

Students are given technical support in the preparation of the final project, according to their specialisation and the subject matter of the project.

Advanced asynchronous communication

Systems that enable smooth and clear communication in any situation (video chats, forums, recorded lectures, etc.).

Synchronous Forums

Activities that allow open discussions about case studies, articles or questions about specific topic. These spaces for debate aim to share points of view and encourage the participation of students.

Streaming sessions

Synchronous online interactive open sessions will be planned. Professors attend these sessions and students pose questions and address their concerns. Synchronous sessions will be scheduled in calendar.

Assessment criteria

Level of participation

The student's active contribution to the various activities offered by the teaching team is assessed.

Solving exercises, questionnaires or exams

Individual tests aimed at assessing the degree of learning and the acquisition of competences.

Completion and presentation of the final project

Individual or group projects in which the contents taught in the programme are applied. The project can be based on real cases and include the identification of a problem, the design of the solution, its implementation or a business plan. The project will be presented and defended in public.

Work placements & employment service

Students can access job offers in their field of specialisation on the My_Tech_Space virtual campus. Applications made from this site will be treated confidentially. Hundreds of offers of the UPC School of Professional & Executive Development employment service appear annually. The offers range from formal contracts to work placement agreements.

Virtual campus

The students on this postgraduate course will have access to the My_ Tech_Space virtual campus - an effective platform for work and communication between the course's students, lecturers, directors and coordinators. My_Tech_Space provides the documentation for each training session before it starts, and enables students to work as a team, consult lecturers, check notes, etc.

Teaching team

Academic management

López Almansa, Francesc
View profile in futur.upc / View profile in Linkedin
Beng. MSc. PE. Doctor of Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Professor of the Department of Architecture Technology of the UPC. Professor of the Master Programs "Structural Engineering to Architecture", "Technology to Architecture" and "Terrain Engineering and Seismic Engineering" at the UPC. Permanent visiting professor at several Spanish universities (Girona, Granada, and Ramon Llull) and in Latin America. He has supervised 15 doctoral theses, most of them related to seismic engineering. Author of more than 200 research papers published in scientific journals and presented at national and international scientific conferences. He has participated in numerous research projects (national and international) financed with public and private funds, having been a promoter and coordinator in many of them. Experience in advanced structural consulting and technology transfer in the construction field. Extensive teaching experience in numerous topics related to structural analysis and design.

Academic coordination

Al Farah, Bashar

Beng. MSc. PE. PhD in earthquake engineering and structural dynamics from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. His research is on advanced numerical simulation of the dynamic structural behavior of buildings that are heavily damaged by earthquakes. Ten years of experience in analysis, design, construction, and supervision of civil engineering structures (high rise buildings, industrial facilities, residential and defense projects, etc.) located in seismic regions, mainly Arab and South American countries. Relevant experience on nonlinear seismic analysis for practical and scientific purposes. High expertise in structural analysis software: ABAQUS, ETABS, OpenSees, PLAXIS, PROKON, REVIT, RISA, ROBOT, SeismoSoft, SAFE, SAP, among others. Partner and developer at SESPID, specialized in developing engineering software for automated detailing and optimization. Wide teaching experience in teaching professional courses for civil engineers and architects. Presently working as a structural consultant in Barcelona.

Teaching staff

Al Farah, Bashar

Beng. MSc. PE. PhD in earthquake engineering and structural dynamics from the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. His research is on advanced numerical simulation of the dynamic structural behavior of buildings that are heavily damaged by earthquakes. Ten years of experience in analysis, design, construction, and supervision of civil engineering structures (high rise buildings, industrial facilities, residential and defense projects, etc.) located in seismic regions, mainly Arab and South American countries. Relevant experience on nonlinear seismic analysis for practical and scientific purposes. High expertise in structural analysis software: ABAQUS, ETABS, OpenSees, PLAXIS, PROKON, REVIT, RISA, ROBOT, SeismoSoft, SAFE, SAP, among others. Partner and developer at SESPID, specialized in developing engineering software for automated detailing and optimization. Wide teaching experience in teaching professional courses for civil engineers and architects. Presently working as a structural consultant in Barcelona.
Arnedo Pena, Alfredo

Beng. MSc. PE. PhD. Wide teaching experience in many subjects linked to Steel Structures. Professor of the Masters Programs "Structural Engineering in Architecture" and "Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics". Wide professional experience in earthquake-resistant design (INYPSA 1984-1999), especially in nuclear power plants. Professional experience in seismic design, protection against impact and explosions (SENER 2003-2012). Spanish delegate to the committee of Eurocode 3 Part 1.3. Spanish delegate to the CEN / TC 135 Committee on Execution. Spanish delegate on the ISO/TC98/SC3/WG9, working on the revision of the ISO 3010 "Seismic actions on structures". Author of books about steel structures. Participation in the European research project "Seismic design of light-gauge steel framed buildings".
Chacón Flores, Rolando
View profile in futur.upc / View profile in Linkedin
BEng. MSc. PE. PhD. Associate professor in the Technical University of Catalonia (UPC). Currently, teaching in the UPC Master Programs in Structural Construction Engineering and in Civil Engineering. Author of more than 60 publications in scientific journals and in international scientific conferences. Active researcher in national and international projects. Member of the Stability Technical Committee TC8 of the European Convention of Constructional Steelwork.
Ledesma Villalba, Alberto
View profile in futur.upc
BEng. MSc. PE. PhD. Full Professor of Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Thirty years of teaching and research experience on that field, including numerical models in Geomechanics, back-analysis, unsaturated soils, landslides and soil dynamics. Over 150 publications, most of them papers published in international peer reviewed journals. Geotechnical advisor of several companies and administrations, in Spain and other European and American countries, involving large excavations, urban tunnels and embankment dams. Active member of the International Committee of high-speed train tunnel crossing Barcelona next to World's Heritage buildings.
López Almansa, Francesc
View profile in futur.upc / View profile in Linkedin
Beng. MSc. PE. Doctor of Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). Professor of the Department of Architecture Technology of the UPC. Professor of the Master Programs "Structural Engineering to Architecture", "Technology to Architecture" and "Terrain Engineering and Seismic Engineering" at the UPC. Permanent visiting professor at several Spanish universities (Girona, Granada, and Ramon Llull) and in Latin America. He has supervised 15 doctoral theses, most of them related to seismic engineering. Author of more than 200 research papers published in scientific journals and presented at national and international scientific conferences. He has participated in numerous research projects (national and international) financed with public and private funds, having been a promoter and coordinator in many of them. Experience in advanced structural consulting and technology transfer in the construction field. Extensive teaching experience in numerous topics related to structural analysis and design.

Career opportunities

Construction or rehabilitation Project Manager in Seismic Zones.
Consultant for rehabilitation projects in seismic zones.
Coordinator of construction or rehabilitation projects in seismic zones.

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