Structural Engineering & Geomechanics
The Structural Engineering and Geomechanics Program and the affiliated Design Construction Integration Program offer research opportunities and courses in a broad range of areas related to structural analysis and design, geomechanics, risk management and construction of civil engineering facilities.
Areas of research emphasis include performance-based engineering, computational mechanics, design construction integration, earthquake engineering, reliability and risk analysis for hazard mitigation, sensoring and health monitoring, and engineering informatics. The programs offer three graduate degrees — a professionally oriented master's degree and more research-oriented engineer and doctoral degrees. With the opportunity to balance strong engineering fundamentals with modern computational methods and advanced technologies, academic programs can be designed to meet the needs of students wishing to launch careers as professional engineers, researchers and engineering educators, or to work in related disciplines.
Much of the research and professional activities of the programs are operated through the John A. Blume Earthquake Engineering Center. Founded in 1976 as a focal point for earthquake engineering research, the center houses laboratories, hosts students and visiting scholars, and supports outreach activities. Complementary educational and research opportunities are available through the closely associated Center for Integrated Facility Engineering, the Project Based Learning Laboratory and the National Program for Dam Performance. Situated in close proximity on the Stanford campus and energized by the dynamic environs of the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, these centers and programs provide an exciting synergy of innovative projects and activities. Apart from their role in focusing activities, these centers also facilitate interdisciplinary research and education with faculty in other departments at Stanford.
With a long tradition of excellence in research, education and service to the profession, Stanford’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering has been an incubator for innovative developments that foster its position at the forefront of the profession. Advancements in probabilistic hazard and risk analysis, nonlinear dynamic analysis and earthquake loss assessment pioneered by Stanford faculty and students have had major impacts on professional practice. Equally important are the successful careers of the many Stanford graduates whose leadership, dedication and ideas are making positive contributions to society.
