Civil Engineering Research
Materials, Structures and Geosystems
Civil engineering research at Duke focuses on structures and mechanics inquiry organized around three broad themes.
Areas of research:
Computational Mechanics: research is advancing efficient and precise algorithms to enable rigorous solutions to heretofore intractable problems involving contact, friction, visco-elastic hyper-elasticity, and fluid-structure-soil interaction.
Geomechanical Modeling and Characterization: research is focused on the development of mathematical models incorporating interactions among the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of soils and rocks, and on noninvasive techniques for interrogating and characterizing sub-surface properties.
Dynamics and Control: research is focused on solving problems related to nonlinear dynamic behavior of structural systems, in the measurement, modeling, and control of these systems, and in reliability of systems subjected to the extreme loads imparted by hurricanes and earthquakes.
Opportunities for Study
Doctoral and Master of Science study in civil engineering is highly interdisciplinary, drawing on a broad slate of faculty in the Pratt School of Engineering. Students have considerable flexibility in crafting a graduate program that suits individual interests. The civil engineering study track is:
The department also offers a program of study towards the Masters of Engineering (M.Eng) in Civil Engineering. This 30-credit degree program includes course work towards departmental requirements, an area of specialization, business and management fundamentals, and an internship or applied research experience. There are currently three areas of specialization offered within this degree program:
- Computational Engineering
- Systems Engineering and Optimization
Undergraduates interested in civil engineering have opportunities to study and conduct research in the Civil Engineering major, particularly the Structures and Mechanics study track.