CourseCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Course in Vibration and Fatigue in Large Structures

Online course of 300 hours in vibration and fatigue in large structures. 6 modules covering structural dynamics, pedestrian and traffic-induced vibration, vibration control and fatigue of steel, concrete and cables to EN 1993-1-9 and EN 1991-2, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate

Course in Vibration and Fatigue in Large Structures — studying from Ireland

Ireland's civil engineering sector is driven by public infrastructure investment in roads, water, housing and public transport, alongside rail projects such as Dublin's light rail and commuter rail upgrades. Transport Infrastructure Ireland sets standards for national roads, while Irish Rail and Iarnród Éireann operate and develop the rail network. Smart city initiatives in Dublin and other urban areas create demand for engineers working on sensors, data platforms and integrated mobility systems. Typical employers include contractors, consultancies, local authorities and public agencies, with Engineers Ireland providing professional recognition.

Fees for Ireland: €743 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
  • Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann)
  • Engineers Ireland
  • Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI)

Typical roles

  • Civil Engineer
  • Rail Systems Engineer
  • Transport Planning Engineer
  • Smart City Infrastructure Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Is a SEIUM qualification recognised for chartered civil or rail engineering status in Ireland?

Chartered engineer status in Ireland is administered by Engineers Ireland, which sets its own criteria for membership and registration. Rail is regulated in part by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail-related bodies, while building and infrastructure standards involve other authorities. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is for those bodies and employers to decide.

Do Irish civil, rail and smart-city employers consider private online engineering study?

Irish infrastructure, consultancy and local authority employers usually weigh chartered status, project experience and relevant degrees heavily. A private online qualification may be considered as supporting evidence of skills, but its value is at each employer's discretion. We cannot promise any outcome, so discuss it with prospective employers.

Can I study alongside a site or office job, and is employer funding common?

The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Plan for 1,900 hours on a master's, 800 on a postgraduate diploma or 300 on a specialist course. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many Irish employers have continuing professional development budgets, so ask yours.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Characterise the dynamic response of large structures.

02

Assess pedestrian- and traffic-induced vibration.

03

Design vibration control systems.

04

Calculate the fatigue of steel details.

05

Assess fatigue in concrete and cables.

06

Estimate the remaining life of existing structures.

07

Carry out a complete vibration and fatigue study.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Structural dynamics engineers
  • Fatigue specialists
  • Steel bridge designers
  • Monitoring engineers
  • Vibration control consultants
  • Steel structure inspectors
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to move into road infrastructure
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 1993-1-9 (Eurocode 3 – fatigue of steel structures)
  • EN 1991-2 (Eurocode 1 – traffic loads on bridges)
  • EN 1990 Annex A2 (basis of design – application to bridges)
  • ISO 10137 (serviceability of buildings and walkways against vibration)
  • EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2 – design of concrete structures)
  • Sétra Footbridges 2006 (guidance on vibration of footbridges)
  • ARTeMIS Modal
  • Ansys Mechanical
  • SAP2000
  • MATLAB
  • nCode DesignLife
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Natural frequencies and mode shapes
  2. 1.2Structural damping
  3. 1.3Response to harmonic excitation
  4. 1.4Response to random excitation
  5. 1.5Power spectral density
  6. 1.6Traffic-induced excitation
  7. 1.7Wind-induced excitation
  8. 1.8Pedestrian-induced excitation
  9. 1.9Railway resonance
  10. 1.10Practical: modal analysis of a footbridge
  1. 2.1Pedestrian comfort
  2. 2.2Lateral synchronisation
  3. 2.3Lessons from the Millennium Bridge
  4. 2.4Acceleration criteria
  5. 2.5Vibration in high-speed railway bridges
  6. 2.6Vehicle–structure interaction
  7. 2.7Traffic-induced vibration in buildings
  8. 2.8Field measurement of vibration
  9. 2.9Mitigation through design
  10. 2.10Lab: vibration measurement on a footbridge
  1. 3.1Tuned mass dampers
  2. 3.2Viscous dampers
  3. 3.3Liquid dampers
  4. 3.4Active and semi-active control
  5. 3.5Design of a TMD
  6. 3.6Optimal placement of devices
  7. 3.7Verification testing
  8. 3.8Damper maintenance
  9. 3.9Real cases
  10. 3.10Practical: sizing a TMD
  1. 4.1Fatigue mechanisms
  2. 4.2S-N curves
  3. 4.3Detail categories
  4. 4.4Rainflow cycle counting
  5. 4.5Palmgren-Miner rule
  6. 4.6Fatigue in welded joints
  7. 4.7Orthotropic decks
  8. 4.8Fracture mechanics
  9. 4.9Inspection of fatigue cracks
  10. 4.10Lab: cumulative damage calculation
  1. 5.1Fatigue of concrete
  2. 5.2Fatigue of reinforcing steel
  3. 5.3Fatigue of prestressing steel
  4. 5.4Fatigue of stay cables and hangers
  5. 5.5Wind-induced fatigue in cables
  6. 5.6Remaining-life assessment
  7. 5.7Fatigue monitoring
  8. 5.8Strengthening of details
  9. 5.9Applicable standards
  10. 5.10Case study: remaining life of a railway bridge
  1. 6.1Selected structure
  2. 6.2Dynamic characterisation
  3. 6.3Vibration analysis
  4. 6.4Comfort verification
  5. 6.5Vibration control design
  6. 6.6Fatigue analysis
  7. 6.7Monitoring plan
  8. 6.8Conclusions
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so it fits around your work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ARTeMIS Modal, Ansys Mechanical, SAP2000, MATLAB and nCode DesignLife, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for vibration measurement on footbridges, fatigue analysis of welded joints and verification of tuned mass dampers. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: EN 1993-1-9, EN 1991-2, EN 1990 Annex A2, ISO 10137, EN 1992-1-1, Sétra Footbridges 2006.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 1993-1-9, EN 1991-2 and EN 1990 Annex A2 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:ARTeMIS Modal, Ansys Mechanical, SAP2000, MATLAB, nCode DesignLife, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A complete vibration and fatigue study of a selected structure, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Footbridge modal analysis
Identify the natural frequencies and mode shapes of a footbridge and measure its vibration.
Tuned mass damper sizing
Design and size a TMD to control the vibration of the structure.
Cumulative fatigue damage
Calculate cumulative fatigue damage in steel details using rainflow counting and Palmgren-Miner.
Remaining-life assessment
Estimate the remaining fatigue life of an existing railway bridge.
Final project
A complete vibration and fatigue study of a selected structure, with monitoring plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Structural dynamics engineerFatigue specialistSteel bridge designerMonitoring engineerVibration control consultantSteel structure inspector
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification is required.
  • Internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with ARTeMIS Modal, Ansys Mechanical, SAP2000, MATLAB, nCode DesignLife, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

No prior qualification is required; you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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