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CourseCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Course in Strengthening of Bridge Foundations

Online course of 300 hours in strengthening of bridge foundations, structured in 6 modules covering foundation types, scour, investigation and diagnosis, strengthening techniques and execution in riverbeds, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration300 hours · 3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify defects in bridge foundations.

02

Estimate scour at piers and abutments.

03

Diagnose the condition of existing foundations.

04

Select appropriate strengthening techniques.

05

Size micropiles and underpinning works.

06

Plan execution and control in riverbeds.

07

Design the strengthening of a bridge foundation.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Geotechnical engineers.
  • Underpinning specialists.
  • Bridge maintenance engineers.
  • Special foundations site managers.
  • Underwater inspection technicians.
  • River hydraulics consultants.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the special foundations sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 1997-1 (Eurocode 7: geotechnical design)
  • EN 14199 (execution of special geotechnical works: micropiles)
  • EN 12715 (execution of special geotechnical works: grouting)
  • EN 12716 (execution of special geotechnical works: jet grouting)
  • EN 1536 (execution of special geotechnical works: bored piles)
  • Guía de cimentaciones en obras de carretera (2009) (Spanish guide to foundations in road works)
  • HEC-18 (FHWA guidance on evaluating scour at bridges)
  • Plaxis 2D
  • GEO5
  • HEC-RAS
  • LPILE
  • GROUP
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Types of bridge foundations
  2. 1.2Spread footings and rafts
  3. 1.3Piles and pile caps
  4. 1.4Foundations in riverbeds
  5. 1.5Soil-structure interaction
  6. 1.6Allowable settlement
  7. 1.7Horizontal loads and moments
  8. 1.8Foundation defects
  9. 1.9Need for strengthening
  10. 1.10Case study: bridge with differential settlement
  1. 2.1Scour mechanisms
  2. 2.2General and local scour
  3. 2.3Estimation of scour depths
  4. 2.4Extreme floods
  5. 2.5Underwater inspection
  6. 2.6Climate change and river flows
  7. 2.7Vessel impact
  8. 2.8Deterioration of timber piles
  9. 2.9Corrosion of steel piles
  10. 2.10Practical exercise: calculation of local scour at a pier
  1. 3.1Supplementary geotechnical investigation
  2. 3.2Pile integrity tests
  3. 3.3Determination of pile length
  4. 3.4Bathymetry and sonar
  5. 3.5Settlement instrumentation
  6. 3.6Bearing capacity assessment
  7. 3.7Numerical models of the foundation
  8. 3.8Risk analysis
  9. 3.9Diagnosis report
  10. 3.10Lab: interpretation of integrity tests
  1. 4.1Micropiles
  2. 4.2Enlargement of pile caps
  3. 4.3Underpinning with new piles
  4. 4.4Consolidation grouting
  5. 4.5Jet grouting
  6. 4.6Riprap and scour protection
  7. 4.7Sheet piling and cofferdams
  8. 4.8Underpinning under traffic
  9. 4.9Load transfer
  10. 4.10Practical exercise: sizing strengthening micropiles
  1. 5.1Construction procedures in riverbeds
  2. 5.2Cofferdams and work in the dry
  3. 5.3Environmental management in rivers
  4. 5.4Jacking and load transfer
  5. 5.5Instrumentation during the works
  6. 5.6Load tests on micropiles
  7. 5.7Quality control of grouting
  8. 5.8Safety in river works
  9. 5.9Subsequent monitoring
  10. 5.10Case study: underpinning a pier after a flood
  1. 6.1Description of the bridge
  2. 6.2Foundation diagnosis
  3. 6.3Scour analysis
  4. 6.4Strengthening alternatives
  5. 6.5Design of the solution
  6. 6.6Construction process
  7. 6.7Control plan
  8. 6.8Budget
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online 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 the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Plaxis 2D, GEO5, HEC-RAS, LPILE and GROUP, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Cases are studied on real procedures such as pile integrity testing, local scour calculation and load tests on micropiles. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: EN 1997-1, EN 14199, EN 12715, EN 12716, EN 1536, Guía de cimentaciones en obras de carretera (2009), HEC-18.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 1997-1, EN 14199 and EN 12715 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Plaxis 2D, GEO5, HEC-RAS, LPILE and GROUP, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:the strengthening design for a bridge foundation, from diagnosis and scour analysis to the chosen solution, construction process and budget, 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.

Diagnose the foundation
Describe the bridge and diagnose the condition of its foundation.
Analyse scour
Estimate general and local scour at piers and abutments.
Compare strengthening alternatives
Evaluate micropiles, underpinning, grouting and scour protection options.
Design the solution
Size the chosen solution and define its construction process in the riverbed.
Final project
A complete foundation strengthening project with control plan and budget, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Geotechnical engineerUnderpinning specialistBridge maintenance engineerSpecial foundations site managerUnderwater inspection technicianRiver hydraulics consultant
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior 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.

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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 Plaxis 2D, GEO5, HEC-RAS, LPILE and GROUP, 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 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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