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.
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
Identify defects in bridge foundations.
Estimate scour at piers and abutments.
Diagnose the condition of existing foundations.
Select appropriate strengthening techniques.
Size micropiles and underpinning works.
Plan execution and control in riverbeds.
Design the strengthening of a bridge foundation.
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.
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
6 modules
1.1Types of bridge foundations1.2Spread footings and rafts1.3Piles and pile caps1.4Foundations in riverbeds1.5Soil-structure interaction1.6Allowable settlement1.7Horizontal loads and moments1.8Foundation defects1.9Need for strengthening1.10Case study: bridge with differential settlement
2.1Scour mechanisms2.2General and local scour2.3Estimation of scour depths2.4Extreme floods2.5Underwater inspection2.6Climate change and river flows2.7Vessel impact2.8Deterioration of timber piles2.9Corrosion of steel piles2.10Practical exercise: calculation of local scour at a pier
3.1Supplementary geotechnical investigation3.2Pile integrity tests3.3Determination of pile length3.4Bathymetry and sonar3.5Settlement instrumentation3.6Bearing capacity assessment3.7Numerical models of the foundation3.8Risk analysis3.9Diagnosis report3.10Lab: interpretation of integrity tests
4.1Micropiles4.2Enlargement of pile caps4.3Underpinning with new piles4.4Consolidation grouting4.5Jet grouting4.6Riprap and scour protection4.7Sheet piling and cofferdams4.8Underpinning under traffic4.9Load transfer4.10Practical exercise: sizing strengthening micropiles
5.1Construction procedures in riverbeds5.2Cofferdams and work in the dry5.3Environmental management in rivers5.4Jacking and load transfer5.5Instrumentation during the works5.6Load tests on micropiles5.7Quality control of grouting5.8Safety in river works5.9Subsequent monitoring5.10Case study: underpinning a pier after a flood
6.1Description of the bridge6.2Foundation diagnosis6.3Scour analysis6.4Strengthening alternatives6.5Design of the solution6.6Construction process6.7Control plan6.8Budget6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
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.
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 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.
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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