Course in Aeroelastic Behaviour of Bridges
Online course of 300 hours in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges, with 6 modules covering deck section aerodynamics, dynamics of flexible bridges, aeroelastic phenomena, wind tunnel testing, CFD simulation and mitigation, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course in Aeroelastic Behaviour of Bridges — studying from the United States
Civil and transportation engineering is a large and visible sector in the United States, supported by federal infrastructure investment and active state and municipal programs. Major firms such as AECOM, Jacobs and Kiewit work on highways, bridges, rail and water systems nationwide. Rail engineering, centered on corridors in the Northeast, Midwest and California, is expanding with passenger and freight modernization. Smart city initiatives in cities like Pittsburgh, Boston and Austin integrate sensors, data platforms and digital twins into infrastructure planning and operations.
Fees for the United States: US$720 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US professional bodies and licences apply to civil and rail engineering?
In the US, civil engineers can obtain the Professional Engineer (PE) licence from state boards, which is often required for public infrastructure sign-off. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the main professional body. Rail is overseen federally by the Federal Railroad Administration. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees or PE-equivalent credentials, so employers and licensing boards decide any recognition.
Do US civil, rail and smart-city employers value private online engineering qualifications?
US public agencies and engineering firms typically require ABET-accredited degrees, PE licensure for certain roles, and relevant project experience. A private online qualification can support specialist knowledge in areas such as smart infrastructure, but it is not a standard requirement for licensed roles. Its usefulness depends on the employer's policies and on your practical background.
Can a US professional study this part-time while working, and what does the commitment look like?
Yes, the programmes are online, taught in English, and do not require a student visa. The time commitment is about 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 hours for a specialist course, so planning is important. Each student has an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers sponsor training, so check with yours.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Analyse the aerodynamic behaviour of different deck sections.
Obtain the aerodynamic coefficients and flutter derivatives of a section.
Assess vortex shedding, galloping, buffeting and flutter phenomena.
Determine the dynamic properties of flexible bridges using numerical models.
Design sectional and aeroelastic wind tunnel test campaigns.
Simulate fluid-structure interaction with CFD tools.
Propose aerodynamic mitigation and damping solutions.
Who it's for
- Bridge aerodynamics engineers who want to specialise in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges.
- Long-span bridge designers who want to specialise in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges.
- Structural dynamics specialists who want to specialise in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges.
- Aeroelastic testing technicians who want to specialise in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges.
- Structural monitoring engineers who want to specialise in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges.
- Vibration mitigation consultants who want to specialise in aeroelastic behaviour of bridges.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into road infrastructure.
What you'll work with
- EN 1991-1-4 (wind actions, Annexes E and F)
- EN 1990 Annex A2 (application to bridges)
- IAP-11 (actions on road bridges)
- EN 1993-2 (steel bridges)
- EN 1991-2 (traffic loads on bridges)
- PTI DC45.1 (recommendations for stay cables)
- ISO 4354 (wind actions on structures)
- ANSYS Fluent
- OpenFOAM
- MIDAS Civil
- LUSAS Bridge
- MATLAB
6 modules
1.1Flow around bluff bodies1.2Drag, lift and moment coefficients1.3Reynolds and Strouhal numbers1.4Vortex shedding on decks1.5Atmospheric boundary layer and wind profiles1.6Turbulence intensity and the von Kármán spectrum1.7Basic wind velocity according to EN 1991-1-41.8Influence of box-girder shape and deflectors1.9Quasi-static loads on piers and cables1.10Workshop: aerodynamic coefficients of a trapezoidal box girder
2.1Natural vertical bending and torsional modes2.2Torsion-to-bending frequency ratio2.3Structural damping and its estimation2.4Equivalent deck mass and inertia2.5Finite element models of suspension bridges2.6Geometric non-linearity in cables2.7Deck-stay interaction in cable-stayed bridges2.8Lightweight footbridges and dynamic sensitivity2.9Operational modal identification2.10Practical: finite element modal analysis of a cable-stayed bridge
3.1Vortex-induced vibrations3.2Transverse galloping and the Den Hartog criterion3.3Torsional divergence3.4Classical flutter and torsional flutter3.5Scanlan flutter derivatives3.6Buffeting due to incident turbulence3.7Rain-wind-induced vibrations of stay cables3.8Wake galloping in grouped cables3.9Lessons from the Tacoma Narrows collapse3.10Case study: diagnosing oscillations in a footbridge
4.1Similarity laws and aeroelastic scaling4.2Rigid and elastic sectional models4.3Full aeroelastic models4.4Force measurement with balances4.5Experimental identification of flutter derivatives4.6Generating turbulence in the tunnel4.7Topographic boundary layer tests4.8Experimental uncertainty and repeatability4.9Comparison with full-scale measurements4.10Laboratory: interpreting a sectional test
5.1CFD applied to bridge sections5.2RANS, LES and DES turbulence models5.3Multimodal flutter analysis5.4Buffeting response in the frequency domain5.5Response simulation in the time domain5.6Tuned mass dampers5.7Viscous dampers on stay cables5.8Fairings, deflectors and slots in the deck5.9Monitoring with anemometers and accelerometers5.10Practical: sizing a TMD for a footbridge
6.1Selecting the bridge and the site6.2Characterising the design wind6.3Dynamic model of the deck6.4Assessing vortex shedding6.5Calculating the critical flutter speed6.6Buffeting response and limit states6.7Proposing mitigation measures6.8In-service monitoring plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
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 the intake, so it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, MIDAS Civil, LUSAS Bridge and MATLAB, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for wind tunnel testing with sectional models, full aeroelastic model tests and vibration monitoring of cable-stayed bridges. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 1991-1-4, EN 1990 Annex A2, IAP-11, EN 1993-2, EN 1991-2, PTI DC45.1, ISO 4354.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No previous qualification is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running 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.
Frequently asked questions
The course 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 will work with ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, MIDAS Civil, LUSAS Bridge and MATLAB. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and your tutor indicates the free alternative where 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 previous qualification is required. You need an internet connection, a computer capable of running 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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