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Designing for Sustainability and Climate Change: Two Challenges Facing Civil Engineers

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A flood with vast infrastructure damage: one of the problems civil engineers must face.

Civil engineers, often known as the people’s engineers, leave their mark everywhere. The sidewalks we run on, the roads we drive on, the buildings we work in, the clean water we swim in. These structures and assets have all been made possible by various types of civil engineers. In general, civil engineers focus on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure systems, such as roads, bridges, dams, water supply systems, and buildings

In short, civil engineering is a broad discipline encompassing various sub-fields. These include structural engineering, transportation engineering, environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, water resources engineering, and more. Because of these connected sub-fields, civil engineers often take a holistic approach to their projects. That is, they must consider factors, such as safety, sustainability, and efficiency when designing, constructing, and maintaining infrastructure systems.

Whatever their specialty, it is clear that civil engineers face both challenges and opportunities in the 21st century. Two of these challenges are designing for sustainability and resilience, especially in the face of climate change.

Designing For Sustainability and Reduced Environmental Impact

Along with contending with aging infrastructure, civil engineers are increasingly required to design and construct projects that minimize environmental impact, reduce carbon footprints, and implement sustainable materials and practices.

What is Sustainability?

The UN World Commission on Environment and Development defines sustainable development as “that which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” For the EPA, pursuing sustainability means creating and maintaining the conditions “under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony.” Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. That is, it is a commitment and a set of practices, a better way forward that balances the environment, human health, equity, and the economy.

Sustainable practices are based on the principle that materials and resources are finite. That is, we should use resources mindfully and conservatively to preserve them for future generations.

Civil Engineers Help to Construct a Pillar of Sustainable Design

Implementing sustainable practices is especially relevant for large (and often intrusive) commercial buildings that expend both a lot of space and energy.

One stellar example of sustainable design and construction is the Bullitt Center in Seattle, WA, which opened on April 22, 2013. Designing and constructing “the greenest commercial building in the world” required a vast, multidisciplinary team of architects and plumbers, as well as mechanical, electrical, and civil engineers.

Side view of the Net-zero Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington
The Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington Photo by Joe Mabel under https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

The Bullitt Center is a Net-Zero-Energy certified. Annually, it generates as much energy as it consumes.

How is this rating possible?

Through design (high-performance windows, super-insulated walls, and advanced HVAC systems) and a huge roof-top photovoltaic array, it achieves its energy efficiency.

Engineers also constructed include 26 geothermal wells extending 400 feet (120 m) into the ground. At this depth, the temperature is a constant 55 °F (13 °C). These wells help in temperature regulation: keeping the building warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

The building is also Net-Zero-Water. Composting toilets and low-flow fixtures drastically reduce water consumption. The collection and treatment of rain (a 52,000-gallon tank, to be exact) provides drinking water. And gray water recycling is used for irritation and non-potable uses.

And its indoor environment is just as sustainable and healthy as its impact on the planet. The building is constructed from local non-toxic, low-environmental impact materials, such as timber sourced from sustainably managed forests. Natural ventilation and ample daylighting also add to the healthy workspace. There is even a green roof for managing storm water and reducing heat island effect.

Sustainability at Michigan Tech

In short, the Bullitt Center, made possible by civil engineers and other experts, is a model of sustainable design and construction. It demonstrates the possibility of creating buildings that are environmentally responsible, economically viable, and aesthetically pleasing.

Michigan Tech, too, has made strides in sustainability.

MTU has a long history of engaging in research on sustainability. For instance, most recently, David Shonnard (Chemical Engineering) and Dr. Steve Techtmann (Biological Sciences) have led multidisciplinary teams to attack the problem of plastic waste. One of their solutions is converting plastics to protein powder.

Michigan Tech’s Sustainability Demonstration House allows students to become involved in a sustainable living experiment.The Michigan Tech Alternative Energy Enterprise team transformed the former house into a net-zero home. And the new H-STEM complex was also designed in accordance with LE-ED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) principles.

The university has also recognized the need to transition to more environmentally-friendly construction through using renewable and recyclable materials, such as mass timber. Dr. Mark Rudnicki, for instance, leads a CLT (cross-laminated-timber) project that makes use of local and abundant hardwood species.

Creating Resilient Infrastructure That Withstands Hazardous Events and Climate Change

Civil engineers must design for not only sustainability, but also resilience. That is, they must create infrastructure that can withstand the myriad effects of climate change, such as rising sea levels, increased flooding, extreme weather events, and changing temperature patterns.

Heat-Resistant and Energy-Efficient Buildings

Some of the innovations of the Bullit Center also work for smaller, non-commercial buildings. Civil engineers can help by designing buildings–big or small–to be energy-efficient by installing cool roofs and using advanced insulation, natural ventilation, and renewable energy sources. These changes can help structures withstand the high temperatures that often come with climate change.

Improved Stormwater Management Systems

Contending with stormwater, so that it doesn’t damage other structures, has become increasingly challenging due to climate change. Civil engineers can help, though, by designing and creating green infrastructure. For instance, green roofs (such as in the Bullitt Center), permeable pavement such as porous asphalt, and rain gardens can all reduce runoff and therefore improve storm water management. Green roofs and bioswales, in fact, are a central component of New York City’s Green Infrastructure Plan.

Flood-Resistant Infrastructure

Flood-resistant infrastructure, though mentioned last here, is probably at the top of the list. To contend with floods, civil engineers must rethink how they design roads, bridges, and transit systems. One solution is building all of these at higher elevations. This height can prevent flooding when there are rising sea levels, storm surges, or intense flood events like that of June 17, 2018.

For those who missed the 2018 Father’s Day Flood, it was terrifying. In under nine hours, at least seven inches of rain fell. A landslide tore through the Ripley neighborhood, throwing down boulders that wiped out peoples’ houses. The rain flooded multiple homes, decimated yards, created 60 sinkholes, and washed out over 150 roads. And all this damage happened in an area that was not categorized as a flood plain.

The torrential rain also destroyed the Swedetown Gorge, the highlight of the Maasto-Hiihto trail system in Hancock, MI. The pounding water transformed its gentle stream into a raging river that uprooted trees and tossed boulders. Bridges collapsed, their wooden structures and concrete slabs jutting unnaturally and precariously out of the river. The trail on which people hike, ski, and bike suddenly became unnavigable, its infrastructure decimated.

“We could not help but be humbled by seeing a two-year-old new bridge with concrete abutments, a bridge that was 16 feet long and 12 feet wide and fabricated from heavy steel girders, being washed down stream 200 feet.”

John Diebel

Swedetown Gorge: A Case Study

When the FEMA money finally came through and engineers got to work planning and rebuilding those bridges, there were certainly challenges. Problems to solve that involved negotiating with nature and recognizing that climate change could bring another extreme flood event.

Adapting Bridge Structure

To prepare for another flood, civil engineers repositioned the bridges and designed them a little differently this time. They were higher and stronger to agree with the science. That is, bridges had to meet the current design criteria enforced by Michigan’s Environment, Great Lakes, Energy team. These criteria are based on stream and watershed flow calculations maintained by the agency.

For instance, along with elevating the bridges, engineers included wing walls in the design of the new concrete bridge abutments. These walls improve the bridges’ ability to survive intense flooding. Side railings, included as a safety feature, also created aesthetic appeal.

And engineers kept sustainability in mind by saving both resources and money. They reused the original 2016 middle bridge, which got its second life further downstream.

The beginning of the first bridge.

The beginning of constructing the middle bridge in the MH trail system.

Middle bridge construction in the Swedetown Gorge

Concrete foundation of the boardwalk.

Stress-testing the boardwalk.

Replacing Bridges With a More Resilient Boardwalk

Unfortunately, two of the gorge’s original bridges were built on silty soil, rare for that area. When an old earthen dam (originally used for potato field irrigation) collapsed and pushed a large sediment load towards Portage Lake, it left significant silt deposits at the mouth of Swedetown Creek. The force of the water in the Father’s Day Flood pushed even more silt into the creek while changing and widening the channel.

According to John Diebel, “We were reluctant to follow the original trail route and rebuild the bridge structures similar to the original structures. . . . Given the more erodible nature of the soil in that silty area, we had doubts about that erodible bump surviving another ten to twenty years.” There was also the problem of steep upper terrain to deal with. And the issue of building on a wetland.

The solution was a somewhat risky one requiring a significant trail reroute that avoided the silty soil. In the end, “we decided to take our chances with the wetland” (Diebel) and construct a 550-feet long, 12-foot wide walkway: a structure that is not only beautiful, but also sustainable. Boardwalks, which are used extensively on the North County Trail in the Ottawa National Forest, have little impact on the natural drainage of wetlands. Galvanized steel (swamp) pans with brackets accommodating 4×4 posts helped support the structure.

After the construction came the testing. Using ATVs loaded with fill material, MJO (the project contractor) pre-stressed the boardwalk. Then, after they noted the reaction of the structure to the stress, they deployed a few more swamp pans to reinforce the side beams. In the end, the boardwalk passed the test, maybe with flying colors. That is, it turned out that the sandy soil provided far more support than expected.

Preparing Engineers at Michigan Tech

This blog just touched on a few examples of  the upcoming challenges of designing for sustainability, climate change, extreme weather events, and more. Michigan Tech can help engineers prepare for these and other challenges.

The university has long had a commitment to sustainability in both research and practice. MTU also has several programs that address sustainability topics, such as the online certificate in engineering sustainability and resilience (CEGE). In addition, the CFRES offers both a bachelor’s degree in sustainable bioproducts and one in environmental science and sustainability.

For structural engineering, the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering offers a certificate in bridge design as well as others for specific areas. There is also a customizable Online MS in Civil Engineering in which you can focus on either structural engineering or water resources engineering.

Whatever your interest, these programs can help you think, design, and create to solve the problems of both today and tomorrow.

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MAHLE and MTU: Moving Forward Together

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Leaders from MAHLE and Michigan Tech gather at the signing ceremony.
Leaders from MAHLE and Michigan Technological University gather at the signing ceremony.

MAHLE is excited to partner with Michigan Tech on the Corporate Education Fellowship. This partnership not only allows employees to steer their professional development and open new pathways for internal career mobility, but also allows MAHLE to proactively support the development of our employees to meet the evolving demand for new skills and competencies.

This fellowship, when coupled with MAHLE’s Educational Reimbursement, provides employees with the ability to access affordable education through Michigan Tech’s online programs, offering flexibility to learn at their own pace, while balancing their personal life and work. We look forward to a successful partnership that will help to further prepare MAHLE and our employees as our industry transforms toward a decarbonized future.

President of MAHLE Peter Lynch

On Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, Michigan Technological University signed a Corporate Education Partnership Agreement with MAHLE Industries Inc. MAHLE is a leading international development partner and supplier to the automotive industry.

The partnership agreement was signed at MAHLE’s North American headquarters in Farmington Hills, Michigan. President Richard Koubek and David Lawrence (vice president for Global Campus and continuing education) were present for Michigan Tech. Peter Lynch (president of MAHLE) and Tiffiney Woznak, (director of Talent Management, MAHLE North America) represented MAHLE. Other leaders from both organizations also attended.

Richard Koubek and Peter Lynch sign the fellowship agreement.
President Koubek and MAHLE President Peter Lynch sign the fellowship agreement.
Jacque Smith, director of Graduate Enrollment Services; and Peter Lynch chat.
Jacque Smith, director of Graduate Enrollment Services, and Peter Lynch, president of MAHLE chat.

Growing With Their Organizations

The Corporate Education Fellowship supports MAHLE employees in their pursuit of graduate education through Michigan Tech’s Global Campus. Eligible employees will receive fellowships to enroll in one of Michigan Tech’s online graduate certificates or master’s degree programs.

A hard copy of the MAHLE Corporate Education Fellowship Agreement that people sign.
The signing documents for the corporate fellowship agreement.

With this fellowship, employees can acquire industry-needed skills, follow areas of professional interest, and meet the diverse challenges of the ever-evolving automotive industry.

And they can achieve these benefits while studying online through Global Campus. As many of us understand, earning a credential while staying on the job is very convenient for working professionals.

These fellowships are available for up to four years. Recipients must meet the eligibility requirements of both the fellowship program and the scholastic standards of Michigan Tech’s Graduate School.

This program is part of the connected missions of Global Campus: building relationships between academia and industry, making quality online education more accessible to a diverse population of adult learners, and helping professionals advance and grow with their workplaces.

So far, several MAHLE associates have expressed a deep interest in this program.

Tiffiney Woznak stands in front of a picture of American NASCAR legend Richard Petty and the car Petty’s Garage helped design for MAHLE. Using MAHLE components, Petty’s Garage builds supercharged high-horsepower engines for one-of-a-kind-vehicles.

Tiffiney Woznak shows President Koubek the MAHLE car that Petty helped design.
Tiffiney Woznak (head of Talent Management for MAHLE North America) talks to President Koubek.

Partnering With MAHLE

If you haven’t heard of MAHLE, it is a global powerhouse. It has approximately 72,000 employees working in more than 30 countries. The company also boasts 152 production locations and 12 major research and development centers. As a global leader in technology, MAHLE has been proudly shaping the future of mobility and transforming the automotive industry for more than 100 years. It is known for being a leading international development partner and supplier to the automotive industry with customers in both passenger car and commercial vehicle sectors.

And you’ve probably been in the presence of a MAHLE part or two, as well. That is, this company’s components reside in about 50% of all the passenger and commercial vehicles on the road.

MAHLE’s portfolio is also wide. The company is also involved with industrial applications, as well as both small and large engine components. One of the company’s newest technological ventures is investing in e-bikes and smart bike accessories. E-bikes tend to be remarkably heavy, but MAHLE is changing the game with its ultra-light drive systems.

Collaborating With Companies Making a Difference

MAHLE has a rich past, but like Michigan Tech, it also has ambitious future-changing initiatives.

That is, one of the company’s main and ambitious goals is working towards climate-neutral mobility. To that end, it is focusing “on the strategic areas of electrification and thermal management as well as further technology fields to reduce CO2 emissions, such as fuel cells or highly efficient combustion engines that also run on hydrogen or synthetic fuels” (MAHLE). The company is also striving to improve “the triad of sustainable drives”: the electric motor, the fuel cell, and the non-fossil-fuel-powered intelligent internal combustion engine.

In other words, MAHLE, is both a presence in the vehicular industries and a crucial driver in the global move towards electrification and environmental sustainability. Its leadership in both of these areas make it a natural fit for Michigan Tech.

That is, MTU has a long history of working with the automotive industry and collaborating with other future-forward companies. For instance, in Nov. 2022, MTU signed a fellowship agreement with Nexteer Automotive. Nexteer is respected for delivering high-quality, next-level electric power and steer-by-wire systems, steering columns, driveline systems, and driver-assistance systems. And in August, ITC, a company committed to solving next-generation electricity infrastructure challenges, also partnered with MTU.

Pursuing Advanced Education: An Ongoing Journey

President Koubek confirmed the need for employees to earn advanced degres. From his experience, he knows well that all employees and leaders must continuously improve their skills to not only help their organizations succeed, but also meet upcoming technological challenges. He stressed that education, rather than an endpoint, is an ongoing process.

“I think we’re at a point in time where change is happening so fast . . . . It’s almost an expectation in the world now, especially in the technological fields, that you’re continuing your advanced education, that you’re never really done, and that there is always room to grow.”

Richard Koubek

Michigan Tech looks forward to working with MAHLE and to helping grow its success.

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Mass Timber Buildings: The Next Structural Engineering Challenge

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Interior of an open-office setting in a mass timber building.
Interior of the T3 building in Minneapolis: https://structurecraft.com/projects/t3-minneapolis

Structural engineers play a major role in the visual quality of our built environment, yet they seldom get public recognition for it. . . . Engineers create framing systems that give such buildings their shape and permit the manipulation of spaces and functions. Architects sometimes do nothing more creative than gussy up the exterior with a particular kind of curtain wall.

Paul Gapp, architect, 1980

These words above were spoken by Paul Gapp, an architect himself, in fact. He was critiquing how several articles on skyscrapers, from the early 20th century onwards, often celebrated the ingenuity of architects. In doing so, their authors forgot about those structural engineers behind the scenes, those whose designs made those monumental structures both possible and safe. In other words, he wanted to remind readers that skyscrapers began FIRST as structural engineering challenges and then, finally, achievements.

A little closer to the ground than skyscrapers is another challenge faced by structural engineers: designing, planning, and building for sustainability.

Facing the Next Challenge: Sustainable Construction

To put it simply, sustainable construction involves using materials, resources, and construction methods that minimize the negative environmental impact of a building throughout its entire life cycle. This practice includes using renewable materials, energy-efficient design, and greener construction methods. It also involves the recycling or reuse of materials at the end of the building’s life.

But sustainable construction is no trendy, flash-in-the-pan idea. According to Deloitte and Touche’s report on the 2023 Engineering and Construction outlook, customers/clients are increasingly becoming more sustainability conscious. Therefore, they are demanding that developers lower their carbon footprints in new construction projects. The 2021 World Green Building Trends report had similar findings. In the survey, 1/3 of the US companies said that they were focused on green building whereas 46% admitted that they would soon make it a priority.

In short, the Deloitte and Touche report summarized these objectives of the construction industry:

  • Encouraging the sustainable use of resources and new materials
  • Promoting sustainable design, development, and construction practices
  • Decreasing energy consumption
  • Reducing waste generation and encouraging responsible disposal of waste
  • Sourcing low-carbon energy

Moving From Concrete and Steel to More Modest Engineered Wood

Why does the construction industry need to step up to the plate when it comes to implementing sustainability practices?

Because nearly 50% of all carbon emissions come from our built environment. And, often, in densely populated areas, these buildings are steel and concrete. These materials, because of their high carbon density, account for 13% of all global greenhouse gas emissions. So transitioning to other more sustainable building materials and methods makes environmental sense.

As awareness of the benefits of sustainable construction grows, more architects and engineers are searching for environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional construction materials. And one of the alternatives to concrete and steel is mass timber.

Mass timber, otherwise known as engineered wood, is made by creating large sections of wood, of various sizes and functions, from smaller timber panels. These timber panels are glued, nailed, or dowelled together, creating large durable slabs. These slabs can then bear significant weights and loads.

But building with mass timber is hardly new. That is, this type of construction goes back as far as the 19th century with the use of Gluman. Glulam, short for glue-laminated timber, is a structurally engineered wood product. It consists of pieces of wood bonded together in a layer-cake style. You can find highly customizable Glulam in the beams and columns of some commercial and residential buildings.

Choosing the Best Type of Mass Timber Product

Structural engineers, architects, and designers must collaborate to analyze and choose the right engineered wood material for the job. Here are the major choices:

  • Laminated veneer lumber (LVL), similar to Glulam, consists of vertical layers glued together with composites. LVL, generally made from softwoods, is more aesthetically pleasing but also less durable. You can find it in beams, trusses, and rafters.
  • Nail-laminated timber (NLT) consists of individual laminations mechanically fastened with nails or screws. The strength of this product lies in the numerous screws and nails holding the laminations together. You might recognize NLT in the flooring, decking, roofing, and walls of modern buildings. NLT’s exposed aesthetic appeal also makes it suitable for open-concept office and mixed-use buildings.
  • Dowel-laminated timber (DLT), is similar to NLT, except wooden dowels hold the laminations together. This all-wood mass timber product (no nails or metal fasteners) can be be easily constructed and modified on site. This source contains a much richer description of DLT.
  • Cross-laminated timber (CLT) is one the strongest of all mass-timber products. It has been popular in Austria and Germany for over three decades. CLT consists of panels of solid lumber boards (usually spruce, pine, or fir) stacked and glued together at alternating right angles (90°). Machines then cut these to the desired shape and size. You can find strong CLT in tall mass timber buildings.
  • Structural composite timber (SCL) consists of wood strands, veneers, or flakes bonded together with adhesives. While offering great strength and stability, SCL requires specialized installation. This mass timber product appears in rafters, beams, joists, studs, and columns.

Making a Difference, One Wood Module at a Time

Along with their durability, buildings created from mass timber materials are more sustainable and climate-friendly in several ways. They have the following advantages:

  • Reduced climate impact: According to the Journal of Building Engineering, mass-timber construction may reduce the global warming impact of buildings up to 26.5%
  • Less waste due to prefabrication: If building plans are very specific, factories can produce only those slabs required for projects.
  • Reduced transportation costs: Builders can also make some mass timber products on site from available materials, reducing shipping costs.
  • Increased efficiency: Because of the reduced waste, contractors and engineers can erect mass timber buildings up to 25% faster than similar concrete buildings.

In fact, mass timber is often worked into biophilic design. This type of architecture and urban design incorporates elements of nature, such as atriums, green roofs, natural light, into the built environment. The main goal of biophilic design is creating a more sustainable, healthier, and enjoyable living space. Mass timber structures, then, naturally fit this design approach.

By some estimates, the near-term use of CLT and other emerging wood technologies in buildings 7-15 stories could have the same emissions control effect as taking more than 2 million cars off the road for one year.

Ensuring the Safety of Mass Timber Buildings

Just as they did with those skyscrapers, structural engineers must ensure that these mass timber buildings are safe, durable, sustainable, and structurally sound. They must help to design these buildings so they withstand the forces of wind and gravity, as well as any seismic events.

In short, structural engineers work with architects throughout the entire process of creating a mass timber building. That is, they advise contractors, designers, and architects on all aspects of mass timber construction. Structural engineers design the components of a mass timber building, such as the columns, beams, and walls. They also evaluate the various materials used in construction, such as CLT panels, glulam beams, and LVL, to ascertain their suitability for the project’s components. Overall, they ensure that the design is structurally sound and meets all building codes.

And based on the building’s size, weight, use, and load-bearing abilities, they might also advise on whether the construction should be hybrid (made of wood and another component), a free-standing tall wood structure, or an infill or overbuild. (Infills are mass timber buildings that fill in a space whereas overbuilds, as they sound, are created on top of existing structures.)

Getting Past Negative Perceptions of Timber Construction

Despite the arguments for its durability, sustainability, and aesthetics; as well as its reduced climate impact, mass timber still has a way to go to meet wider public acceptance.

Why? Fire. Thanks to some historic fires in this country and others, many perceive wood buildings as less durable and more unsafe than those made from other materials. As a result, building codes and regulations still lag behind. For instance, the International Building Code just approved 18-story timber buildings in 2021.

The good news: Mass timber buildings are highly fire-resistant, due to the fire-retardant properties of the wood used in their construction. Fire-rated gypsum wallboard and other materials enhance mass timber’s fire resistance.

In fact, in one fire-resistance test, a piece of 5-ply laminated timber lasted for 3 hours and 6 minutes at 1800 degrees Fahrenheit. To put this test in perspective, here is a fact. Type 1 Buildings, often considered the “cadillac of construction” must consist of non-combustible materials with 2-3 hours of fire resistance. However, fire-resistant does not mean fire-resistive, so there are obviously still improvements to be made to engineered wood.

Building Beauty with Engineered Wood

The acceptance of mass timber construction is growing, even in a place that has traditionally resisted timber construction: New York. The city that never sleeps welcomed its first engineered wood condo at 670 Union Street.

Other recent examples demonstrate how mass timber construction is becoming more common. For instance, take the T3 office building in Minneapolis, the Framework mixed-use building in Portland, and the John W. Olver Design Building at University Massachusetts Amherst.

T3, is a 7-story, 220,000 square foot office building completed by company Structurecraft in 2016. It took less than 3 months (only 9.5 weeks) to install. The construction team used prefabricated (NLT) solid wood panels, which reduced construction time significantly. The building also boasts an LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating of GOLD (60-79 points or the second-highest rating). Since then, Structurecraft has erected additional T3 buildings.

Outside of the original T3 mass-timber building in Minneapolis.
The original T3 in Minneapolis, constructed of NLT (nail-laminated timber) https://structurecraft.com/projects/t3-minneapolis

Studying Timber Building Design at MTU

Michigan Tech has long had a commitment to sustainability in both research and practice. The university also has several programs that tackle upcoming sustainability challenges, such as the online certificate in engineering sustainability and resilience. Also, the Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering offers five graduate structural engineering certificates. One of them is a 9-credit Timber Building Design certificate, which has long been a “historical strength” of the department.

All students earning their structural engineering certificate in timber building design will take the same core courses: Structural Timber Design and Advanced Structural Timber Design. These courses provide a strong foundation as they progress through the program.

They will then choose one of the following courses to tailor their educational journey to their career goals: Finite Element Analysis, Structural Dynamics, and Probabilistic Analysis and Reliability.

Overall, students will learn several valuable skills in this certificate, which will prepare them for a future in mass timber design and construction:

  • Investigating how timber buildings are different from buildings constructed from other common civil structural materials
  • Analyzing dimension lumber and mass timber; and axially and flexurally loaded members, shear, bearing, and combined loading on members
  • Studying connection design, shear walls and diaphragms, arches and tapered beams, modeling, and loading
  • Designing timber structures, with an emphasis on timber buildings
  • Examining the potential of wood as an alternative to steel and concrete for environmental sustainability

It is clear that mass timber buildings are here to stay as they help to set a more sustainable standard for construction. We look forward to seeing the innovative, environmental, and safe buildings that this (and the next) generation of brilliant structural engineers plan, design, and create.

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