Structures Emphasis

Graduate study and research in structural engineering, mechanics and materials has an emphasis on analyzing and solving engineering structural problems through a combination of experimental, numerical, and analytical models.

Current major areas of research are:

  • Earthquake Engineering and Structural Dynamics
  • New Structural Systems and Design Methodologies
  • Infrastructure Performance and Durability
  • Computational and Structural Mechanics
  • Data-Driven Computing in Solid Mechanics
  • Artificial Intelligence for Civil and Geo- Engineering

Our current research areas encompass both analytical and experimental components. The goal of the research is to develop a better understanding of structural behavior and improved design recommendations. Funding sources include national agencies such as the National Science Foundation, the National Cooperative Highway Research Program, and the American Institute of Steel Construction; state agencies such as the Minnesota Department of Transportation; and industry.

The University of Minnesota is home to the Multi-Axial Subassemblage Testing [MAST] system. The MAST Laboratory, the largest test system of its kind in the world, provides a powerful tool for investigating the effects of earthquakes, hurricanes, and other extreme events on structural components up to several stories tall.

Structures Faculty

Structures Admission