Diploma in Design and Testing of Piles and Diaphragm Walls
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in pile and diaphragm wall design and testing, structured in 8 modules covering deep foundations, pile bearing capacity, settlements and lateral loads, structural design, execution and control, load testing and integrity testing under EN 1997-1, EN 1536 and EN 1538, 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
Select the appropriate type of deep foundation.
Calculate pile bearing capacity using different methods.
Estimate settlements and response to lateral loads.
Carry out the structural design of piles, pile caps and diaphragm walls.
Control the execution of piles and diaphragm walls.
Interpret static and dynamic load tests.
Assess the integrity of constructed elements.
Who it's for
- Foundation geotechnical engineers.
- Special foundations designers.
- Pile testing technicians.
- Piling site managers.
- Quality control engineers.
- Geotechnical consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to move into special foundations.
What you'll work with
- EN 1997-1 (Eurocode 7 — geotechnical design)
- EN 1536 (execution of special geotechnical works — bored piles)
- EN 1538 (execution of special geotechnical works — diaphragm walls)
- EN 12699 (execution of special geotechnical works — displacement piles)
- ISO 22477-1 (testing of geotechnical structures — static compression load testing of piles)
- ASTM D4945 (high-strain dynamic testing of deep foundations)
- ASTM D5882 (low-strain impact integrity testing of deep foundations)
- ASTM D6760 (integrity testing of concrete deep foundations by ultrasonic crosshole testing)
- PLAXIS 3D
- GEO5
- Ensoft LPILE
- CAPWAP
- Midas GTS NX
8 modules
1.1Criteria for choosing a deep foundation1.2Classification of pile types1.3Driven piles and bored piles1.4Displacement piles1.5Micropiles and their applications1.6Diaphragm walls as load-bearing foundations1.7Load transfer mechanisms1.8Negative skin friction on piles1.9Geotechnical investigation for piles1.10Workshop: choosing the pile type
2.1End-bearing resistance2.2Shaft resistance2.3SPT- and CPT-based methods2.4Analytical static methods2.5Dynamic driving formulae2.6Eurocode 7 partial factors2.7Pile groups2.8Group efficiency2.9Rock-socketed piles2.10Practical exercise: pile capacity from CPT
3.1Settlement of a single pile3.2Settlement of pile groups3.3t-z and q-z load transfer curves3.4Horizontal loads and p-y curves3.5Broms method for lateral loads3.6Piles under seismic loading3.7Pile-raft interaction3.8Piles in liquefiable ground3.9Effect of nearby excavations3.10Lab: p-y analysis of a pile
4.1Pile reinforcement4.2Buckling of slender piles4.3Pile cap design4.4Diaphragm walls in bending4.5Reinforcement of diaphragm wall panels4.6Joints between panels4.7Durability of buried concrete4.8Tremie concreting4.9Reinforcement detailing4.10Case study: reinforcement of a diaphragm wall panel
5.1Drilling with bentonite slurry5.2Drilling with temporary casing5.3Continuous flight auger (CFA) piles5.4Impact and vibratory driving5.5Pile concreting5.6Execution control5.7Typical execution defects5.8Execution tolerances5.9Execution logs and records5.10Practical exercise: analysis of CFA pile records
6.1Static load test6.2Bi-directional load test6.3High-strain dynamic test6.4Signal analysis with CAPWAP6.5Statnamic rapid load test6.6Lateral load tests6.7Fibre optic instrumentation6.8Interpreting load-settlement curves6.9Testing according to the ISO 22477 series6.10Lab: interpretation of a static load test
7.1Low-strain sonic integrity test7.2Cross-hole sonic logging7.3Thermal integrity profiling7.4Integrity of diaphragm wall panels7.5Coring and borehole camera inspection7.6Classification of anomalies7.7Repair of detected defects7.8Acceptance criteria7.9Integrity test reports7.10Case study: diagnosis of a sonic anomaly
8.1Description of the structure8.2Geotechnical model of the site8.3Selecting the solution8.4Bearing capacity calculation8.5Settlement estimation8.6Structural design of elements8.7Load testing plan8.8Foundation budget8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the 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 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 PLAXIS 3D, GEO5, Ensoft LPILE, CAPWAP and Midas GTS NX, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: static and dynamic pile load tests, sonic and cross-hole integrity tests and analysis of pile execution records. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: EN 1997-1, EN 1536, EN 1538, EN 12699, ISO 22477-1, ASTM D4945, ASTM D5882, ASTM D6760
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with PLAXIS 3D, GEO5, Ensoft LPILE, CAPWAP and Midas GTS NX, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the 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.
Related programmes
Diploma in PMO, Governance and Integrated Control
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in PMO, governance and integrated control. 8 modules covering project management offices, project and programme governance, management methodologies and standards,…
Diploma in Wind Fatigue and Dynamic Response
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in wind fatigue and dynamic response. 8 modules covering structural dynamics, dynamic wind actions, dynamic response analysis, fatigue of materials…
Diploma in Risk Analysis and Monte Carlo in Planning
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in risk analysis and Monte Carlo simulation in planning. 8 modules covering uncertainty in planning, project risk management, statistics for…
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships