In the Department of Structural Engineering, research areas include the following 6 academic fields:

Academic fields:

(1) Steel Structures

(2) Concrete Structures

(3) Earthquake Engineering

(4) Life Cycle Design and Maintenance of Structures

(5) Construction in Civil Engineering

(6) Computer Simulation in Civil Engineering

where (1)~(4), usually referred to as traditional structural engineering, are national academic disciplines.

(1) Steel Structures

Steel structures are one of the most important forms of modern civil engineering. Driven by the fact the steel production in China ranks first in the world lately, steel structures become more widely used. This academic field focuses on the following 5 subjects:

a) Analysis and computer-aided design of steel frame structures;

b) Analysis and design theory of fire-resistance of steel structures;

c) Lightweight steel structures;

d) Behaviour and details of connections in steel tube structures;

e) High-rise, tower and mast structures.

(2) Concrete Structures

Concrete structures are one of the most important forms in civil engineering. This academic field focuses on the following 4 subjects:

a) Non-linear analysis and theory of concrete structures;

b) Behaviour of high-performance concrete structures;

c) Behaviour and design theory of prestressed concrete structures;

d) Behaviour and design theory of recycled concrete structures.

(3) Earthquake Engineering

Earthquakes happen frequently in China. Many major cities are located near the earthquake zone. For example, we suffered huge casualties and property losses in Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. Therefore, earthquake resistance for engineering structures is one of the most significant research fields in civil engineering. The research field focuses on the following 4 subjects:

a) Seismic analysis and design of steel-concrete hybrid structures for high-rise buildings;

b) Seismic behaviour of high-rise building structures beyond code specification;

c) Experimental theory and technique for structural modelling against earthquakes;

d) Seismic analysis method of steel structures considering cumulative damage and cracking effect.

(4) Life Cycle Design and Maintenance of Structures

Life cycle design and maintenance of structures is one of the most significant research directions in the world nowadays. To seize this historic mission and challenge, we investigate and study this new research direction. The academic field focuses on the following 6 subjects:

a) Behaviour of concrete structures during construction phase;

b) Behavioural deterioration analysis of concrete structures under environmental actions;

c) Analysis of structural damage and collapse;

d) Durability design method of structures;

e) Reliability evaluation and life-cycle prediction of existing structures;

f) Strengthening and retrofitting of existing structures.

(5) Construction in Civil Engineering

Directly related to the quality and safety of people, construction is one of the most important subjects in civil engineering. The academic field focuses on the following 5 research areas:

a) Dynamic behaviour of form work and framing for the construction of super high-rise buildings;

b) Mechanical behaviour of underground continuous wall for super deep caving;

c) Structural analysis of construction platform for deep water area;

d) Construction technology of foundation for dams in large hydraulic projects;

e) Construction and inspection technology for steel structures.

(6) Computer Simulation in Civil Engineering

Cable and membrane structures are new structural forms that are rapidly developed, and they are promising from the aesthetic and economic points of view. The field of computer simulation in civil engineering discipline focuses on the following two research directions:

a) Membrane structures: analytical theory, design software, inspection principle and apparatus;

b) Cable structures for buildings: analytical method, design theory and computer-aided software.