Courses

CIVE7340 Earthquake Engineering

 

Fundamental concepts in earthquake engineering are introduced in this course. Earthquake causes and effects and characterization of earthquake input are covered in the first half of the course. Geotechnical considerations and seismic hazard assessment are also briefly discussed. The second half of the course addresses structural response characteristics and evaluation of actions and deformations in structures subjected seismic loads. The objective is to familiarize the students with fundamental concepts in earthquake engineering as well as to teach some of the state-of-the-art tools for seismic structural analysis that are commonly used by the earthquake engineering community. This course is offered every three semesters.

 

Semesters taught: Fall 2011, download syllabus.

 

 

CIVE7397 Reliability and Safety of Structures

 

This course concerns a detailed review of structural reliability methods and their application to structural and civil engineering problems. First basic concepts in probability theory are covered. This is followed by topics on formulation of structural reliability, first-order and second-order reliability methods (FORM and SORM), system reliability analysis, structural reliability under model or statistical uncertainties, amongst others. Probabilistic models of the seismic actions and risk analysis of structures in earthquake zones are also discussed towards the end of the course. Numerical tools for component and system level reliability analysis are also introduced. This course is offered every three semesters.

 

Semesters taught: Spring 2012, download syllabus.

 

 

CIVE2331 Mechanics II: Dynamics

 

The primary goal of this course is to provide the students with a foundation in the theory and principles of Dynamics. The students are expected to build upon previously acquired skills in mathematics and physics to solve practical problems of Dynamics. The course objectives are:

  • Apply a general analysis approach to solving kinematics and kinetics problems.
  • Draw complete free body diagrams.
  • Kinematics: define and calculate the displacement, distance, velocity and acceleration for particles in rectilinear and curvilinear motion. Define and calculate the linear and angular velocities and accelerations for systems of 2D rigid bodies in translation, rotation about a fixed axis, and general planar motion.
  • Kinetics: calculate the mass moment of inertia (about the center of mass and about a point other than the center of mass). Solve 2D kinetics problems using force-acceleration, work-energy and impulse-momentum methods.

Semesters taught: Fall 2012, download syllabus.

 

 

CIVE6111 Graduate Seminars

 

A distinguished lecture series is organized. World renown leaders in their fields are invited to University of Houston to give a seminar on a relevant topic as well as to interact with UH Civil Engineering faculty and students. See the brochure (program) for more details.

 

Semesters taught: Fall 2012, download the program.