Introduction

Concrete structures are of paramount importance in the context of Civil Engineering infrastructures. The ability that this type of structure has in optimizing two structural materials – concrete and steel –  (i.e.,  their mechanical properties complement each other), allied to the high durability in the long-term, are competitive factors when compared to other solutions. Typically, with a design lifetime that ranges usually from 50 to 100 years, we, as a society, will be facing during the current XXI century the end of the lifetime of several of them. Consequently, this means that the assessment, in addition to the design and construction, will become a required skill in future generations of structural engineers. In other words, the paradigm of the study of concrete structures is being pushed to incorporate the society’s requirements, i.e. updating the knowledge on their effective lifetime by utilizing better simulations on the effective behaviour of such critical structures.

In this context, and according to the Eurocode 2 – Design of concrete structures, this course aims to offer the fundamental knowledge devoted to (i) the design and (ii) assessment requirements of concrete structures, by considering the entire lifetime. Based on a clear and comprehensive approach, this course is planned in a set of modules with an independent focus but altogether builds the required holistic view of the subject in the presented context.

Objectives

In this context, the course objectives can be organized as follows (bottom-up):

• To introduce the fundamentals of designing reinforced concrete structures,
• To introduce the regulatory aspects related to the structural materials, i.e. concrete and steel,
• To review concepts related to calculation approaches with various levels of detail,
• To distinguish between operational and safety requirements,
• To perform hand calculations towards validation of results from dedicated software packages,
• To understand the criticality of detailing structural solutions targeting the structure’s lifetime.

Limited places.

With a bottom-up approach, the course is set into six main modules, starting from the basic concepts to the desired understanding of the design & assessment of such structures:

Module 1 – Fundamentals in the design of concrete structures, mainly:

• – Variables involved in the problem,
• – Partial safety factors,
• – Concept of both Serviceability and Ultimate limit states.

Module 2 – Properties of the structural materials, mainly:

• – Concrete,
• – Steel,
• – Durability requirements for both.

Module 3 – Structural analysis at various levels of detail in the material behaviour:

• – Elementary – linear elastic,
• – Enhanced I – linear elastic with redistribution factors,
• – Enhanced II – plastic,
• – Advanced – non-linear.

Module 4 – Focussing on the users’ comfort – the Serviceability Limit States, mainly:

• – Controlling cracking in the concrete,
• – Controlling deformations,
• – Controlling vibrations.

5 – Focussing on the users’ safety – the Ultimate Limit States, mainly:

• – Due to bending failure of the structural materials,
• – Due to shear failure of the structural materials,
• – Due to torsional failure of the structural materials.

Module 6 – Detailing structural solutions paying attention to the durability and focussing on:

• – Foundations,
• – Piers/columns & walls,
• – Beams & slabs.

The learning method used along the course is based on online resources, available by the virtual Campus, with a clear and straightforward approach. For this, the planned six modules (described above), will be based on comprehensive documentation covering theory, practical applications as well as practical exercises to be solved by the students. Hence, the course will be materialized by:

• – Lecture notes and complementary documentation with the theory,
• – Recorded lectures explaining the content on the lecture notes,
• – Exercises to apply and consolidate the theory,
• – Live classes, through videoconferences (webinars), for clarification on the exercises,

Tutorial support throughout the course period by email to enhance students’ progress.

Helder Sousa

Dr Helder Sousa is an expert, with 17 years of international experience and strong exposure to the industry sector, on the assessment of prestressed concrete bridges supported by Structural Health Monitoring systems and Visiting Professor at the University of Surrey, UK, where he teaches in the fields of Prestressed Concrete Bridges and Asset Management.

With core expertise in structures of Civil Engineering (Ph.D., 2012, https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/handle/10216/68424), his scientific knowledge spans from (before Ph.D. conclusion) advanced Finite Element Analysis of full-scale prestressed concrete bridge to (after the Ph.D. conclusion) Bayesian statistics and Value of Information theory, mainly single and sequential updating methods, passing through wide experience in tacking big-data streams collected by monitoring systems installed on full-scale bridges. Altogether makes Dr Sousa holding a holistic and singular profile with a comprehensive view and perception of the various levels of science, i.e. fundamental research and applied research.

With 46 conference papers, 15 scientific journal papers, 2 book chapters, more than 35 oral presentations in several countries of Europe and beyond, as well as 4 short-scientific missions at top leading R&D Institutes in Europe (ETH Zurich in Switzerland, TNO R&D institute in the Netherlands, CEREMA in France and COWI in Denmark), makes Dr Sousa has one of the recognized researchers in his research field.

Awarded with several research grants and consultancy funding, highlighting his Individual Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship (2015-17, http://www.lostprecon.eu/) and his recent role as the leader of the Innovation Committee of the European COST Action TU1402 – Quantifying the Value of Structural Health Monitoring, as a legal representative of the BRISA Group (2014-19, https://www.cost-tu1402.eu/Action/Innovation-Committee). Currently, he is Guest Editor in the top-ranked scientific journal Structure & Infrastructure Engineering and (co-)leads two special sessions in the next European Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring (Italy, 2022) and in the 13^th ASCE Specialty Conference on Probabilistic Mechanics and Reliability (Baltimore, 2022). His enrolment in scientific committees at the European level, mainly on the fib – International Federation for Structural Concrete (https://www.fib-international.org/commissions/com2-analysis-design.html), and wide experience in acting as a reviewer for national and international science councils is also a clear demonstration of his leadership and independence skills.

In the context of this course, the following publications in international top-scientific journals in the field of Civil & Structural Engineering might be of relevance to interested people:

• – Canestro, E., Strauss, A., & Sousa, H. (2021). Multiscale modelling of the long-term performance of prestressed concrete structures – Case studies on T-Girder beams. Engineering Structures, 231, 111761. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2020.111761
• – Sousa, H. (2020) “Advanced FE modelling supported by monitoring towards management of large civil infrastructures – The case study of Lezíria Bridge.” Structural Concrete, the official journal of the fib. https://doi.org/10.1002/suco.201900382 (citations: 3)
• – Sellin, J. P., Sousa, H., Barthélémy, J. F., Torrenti, J. M. (2019). Novel semi-analytical model to calculate shear forces due to viscoelastic interactions. Engineering Structures, 183, 999-1013. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2018.12.015 (citations: 1)
• – Sousa, H., Bento, J., Figueiras, J. (2014). “Assessment and Management of Concrete Bridges Supported by Monitoring Data-Based Finite-Element Modeling.” Journal of Bridge Engineering 19(6): 05014002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)BE.1943-5592.0000604 (citations: 27)
• – Sousa, H., Sousa, C., Neves, A., Bento, J., Figueiras, J. (2013). Long-term monitoring and assessment of a precast continuous viaduct. Structure and Infrastructure Engineering, 9(8), 777-793. https://doi.org/10.1080/15732479.2011.614260 (citations: 12)
• – Sousa, H., Bento, J., Figueiras, J. (2013). Construction assessment and long-term prediction of prestressed concrete bridges based on monitoring data. Engineering Structures, 52, 26-37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engstruct.2013.02.003 (citations: 44)

All of our courses are offered 100% online, through our intuitive Virtual Campus. Topics are taught through:

• – Videos
• – Interactive multimedia content
• – Live classes
• – Texts
• – Case studies
• – Evaluation exercises
• – Additional documentation

The content is updated in each new course edition, so that knowledge is acquired around the latest news and state-of-the-art geotechnical engineering technology.

One of the most interesting aspects of our courses is the use of live videoconferences, in which teachers and students interact in a continuous exchange of knowledge and problem solving. In addition to this, students can make use of the platform’s forum, a meeting point where they can interact with teachers and other students.

A tutoring system will also be established by email, which will resolve any possible doubts about the course, and which will serve as a point of connection for students with specific questions on each module.

Students can also download the course documentation, including texts, videos and exercises.

The course Concrete Structures – Design & assessment according to the Eurocode 2 is a comprehensive course and structured on a bottom-up approach, meaning that no special knowledge is required in the subject. Hence, this course might be of interest to (but not limited to, of course):

• – Graduated engineers with an interest in getting into the subject towards a postgraduate course in structural engineering,
• – Postgraduate engineers with an interest to review concepts and improving skills related to design vs. assessment of concrete structures.

At the end of the course, and as accreditation of knowledge acquired and of the technical and practical training, students who correctly complete the corresponding evaluation tests of the geotechnical engineering course will obtain an academic certificate issued by Ingeoexpert. This digital certificate is protected by Blockchain technology, making it unique and tamper-proof, thus enabling companies to verify its authenticity.

It can also be downloaded by students, forwarded by email and shared on social networks, as well as embedded on any website. You can see an example here.

The field of concrete structures is of paramount importance in the context of Civil Engineering infrastructures. Indeed, it is envisaged that in the XXI century, issues related to their maintenance will become critical as their design lifetime will be reached. Taking into account the comprehensive approach of this course, the following job prospects are envisaged, mainly:

• Expert in design and construction offices,
• Consultant for bridge owners, insurance companies, and professional associations, among others.