Module overview
Every building, bridge, and piece of infrastructure relies on structures that can safely carry loads without failure. Learn how civil engineers understand, analyse, and check the behaviour of structural elements such as beams, columns, trusses and frames.
Structural analysis is a core skill in civil engineering and underpins the design of safe, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure. By understanding how forces move through structures and how collapse can occur, engineers can design solutions that are both resilient and sustainable. By the end of the module, you will be able to break down real engineering problems, calculate how structures deform and carry load, and judge whether a structure is safe. You will develop strong problem-solving skills, gain experience with industry-standard structural analysis software, and learn how to interpret results critically.
The fundamentals of structural analysis are essential to civil engineers in a wide range of fields, and will be used frequently later in the course. This module builds on the introduction to mechanics, structures and materials, as well as civil engineering fundamentals covered in the first year, and provides a foundation for later study in structural design and analysis.