Civil engineering concerns designing, calculating and maintaining different structures which shape and connect the world as we know it. For this reason, civil engineers take different factors into account such as the construction material, loads to be supported, climate, etc.
Building structures has a great economic impact on a country, since they have a direct effect on land development by creating transport networks and other fundamental infrastructures for both urban and rural development.
At our school we have two research groups which work on different aspects of structures. The Mechanics of Solids group (SOLIDMECH) researches traditional sectors and enabling technologies, such as the development of new materials, techniques and construction processes which foster efficiency and savings in the sector. Also, the group for Modelling and Energy and Structural Analysis in Building and Civil Works (MA-EE) researches areas such as the efficiency of resources and raw materials applied to traditional priority sectors (construction) and the environment and energy in research on challenges posed by society.
Some examples of engineering projects in this field are:
- Elevated motorway Cebu-Cordova (Philippines)
- Ferrovial bridges and viaducts
- Bridge over the Strait of Messina (Italy)