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Postgraduate DiplomaCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Diploma in Soil-Structure Interaction and Settlements

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in soil-structure interaction and settlements. 8 modules covering soil behaviour under load, settlement calculation, interaction models, shallow foundations and rafts, dynamic interaction, interaction in infrastructure, and damage and monitoring, applying EN 1997-1, EN 1998-5 and the Spanish Building Code DB SE-C with PLAXIS 3D, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the stress-strain behaviour of the ground under load.

02

Calculate immediate, consolidation and differential settlements.

03

Select the appropriate soil-structure interaction model.

04

Design shallow foundations and rafts taking interaction into account.

05

Assess the dynamic and seismic interaction of foundations.

06

Analyse interaction in linear infrastructure and bridges.

07

Diagnose settlement-related damage and propose solutions.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Geotechnical engineers who want to model soil-structure interaction rigorously.
  • Structural and foundation designers who need realistic settlement and stiffness inputs.
  • Railway engineers dealing with transitions, embankments and track settlements.
  • Building pathology experts who assess settlement-related damage.
  • Soil dynamics engineers working on seismic and vibration problems.
  • Geotechnical consultants advising on foundations and existing buildings.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the building sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • EN 1997-1 (Eurocode 7 — geotechnical design, general rules)
  • EN 1998-5 (Eurocode 8 — foundations, retaining structures and geotechnical aspects)
  • Código Técnico de la Edificación DB SE-C (Spanish Building Code — foundations)
  • EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2 — design of concrete structures)
  • ISO 17892-5 (incremental loading oedometer test)
  • ISO 22476-3 (standard penetration test)
  • NCSE-02 (Spanish seismic-resistant construction standard)
  • ISO 4866 (measurement and evaluation of vibration effects on structures)
  • PLAXIS 3D
  • Midas GTS NX
  • CSI SAP2000
  • GEO5
  • Rocscience Settle3
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Stress distribution in the ground
  2. 1.2Boussinesq elastic solutions
  3. 1.3Compressibility and the oedometer test
  4. 1.4Soil deformation moduli
  5. 1.5Small-strain stiffness
  6. 1.6Primary and secondary consolidation
  7. 1.7Behaviour of overconsolidated soils
  8. 1.8Field tests to estimate stiffness
  9. 1.9Design deformability parameters
  10. 1.10Workshop: deriving moduli from test results
  1. 2.1Immediate or elastic settlements
  2. 2.2Consolidation settlements
  3. 2.3Schmertmann method in sands
  4. 2.4Methods based on the SPT test
  5. 2.5Differential settlements between supports
  6. 2.6Allowable angular distortion
  7. 2.7Settlements allowable for the structure
  8. 2.8Settlement development over time
  9. 2.9Settlements in granular soils
  10. 2.10Practical: settlement calculation for a pad footing
  1. 3.1Winkler model
  2. 3.2Modulus of subgrade reaction and its estimation
  3. 3.3Pasternak model
  4. 3.4Elastic continuum
  5. 3.5Coupled finite element models
  6. 3.6Mohr-Coulomb and Hardening Soil models
  7. 3.7Interaction with slabs
  8. 3.8Interaction with frames
  9. 3.9Influence of structural stiffness
  10. 3.10Laboratory: slab on Winkler springs versus finite elements
  1. 4.1Isolated and strip footings
  2. 4.2Raft foundations
  3. 4.3Relative stiffness between raft and soil
  4. 4.4Structural design of rafts
  5. 4.5Piled rafts and load sharing
  6. 4.6Compensated foundations with basements
  7. 4.7Structural joints to accommodate settlements
  8. 4.8Foundation underpinning
  9. 4.9Settlements tolerable by the structure
  10. 4.10Case study: raft for a ten-storey building
  1. 5.1Kinematic and inertial interaction
  2. 5.2Foundation impedance functions
  3. 5.3Local seismic amplification
  4. 5.4Seismic analysis including interaction
  5. 5.5Liquefaction and its effects
  6. 5.6Machinery vibrations
  7. 5.7Railway traffic vibrations
  8. 5.8Dynamic ground models
  9. 5.9EN 1998-5 requirements
  10. 5.10Practical: impedance of a foundation
  1. 6.1Embankments adjacent to structures
  2. 6.2Bridge abutments
  3. 6.3Track-structure transitions
  4. 6.4Tunnels beneath buildings
  5. 6.5Excavations next to buildings
  6. 6.6Settlements on high-speed lines
  7. 6.7Jointless integral bridges
  8. 6.8Buried pipelines and differential settlements
  9. 6.9Walls and compacted fills
  10. 6.10Case study: transition at a railway abutment
  1. 7.1Settlement-induced damage
  2. 7.2Classification of damage in buildings
  3. 7.3Crack patterns
  4. 7.4Diagnosis of causes
  5. 7.5Settlement monitoring
  6. 7.6High-precision levelling
  7. 7.7Underpinning and stabilisation
  8. 7.8Compensation grouting
  9. 7.9Expert reports on damage
  10. 7.10Workshop: expert assessment of settlement damage
  1. 8.1Case description
  2. 8.2Geotechnical model of the case
  3. 8.3Selection of the interaction model
  4. 8.4Settlement calculation
  5. 8.5Coupled structural analysis
  6. 8.6Assessment of expected damage
  7. 8.7Proposed remedial measures
  8. 8.8Monitoring plan
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, making it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is PLAXIS 3D, Midas GTS NX, CSI SAP2000, GEO5 and Rocscience Settle3, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures for coupled modelling of rafts and ground, settlement calculation for shallow foundations, and expert assessments of damage caused by differential settlement. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: EN 1997-1, EN 1998-5, Código Técnico de la Edificación DB SE-C, EN 1992-1-1, ISO 17892-5, ISO 22476-3, NCSE-02, ISO 4866.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of EN 1997-1, EN 1998-5 and the Spanish Building Code DB SE-C applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:PLAXIS 3D, Midas GTS NX, CSI SAP2000, GEO5 and Rocscience Settle3, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete soil-structure interaction study, from geotechnical model and settlement calculation to coupled structural analysis, damage assessment and monitoring plan, 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.

Moduli from test data
Derive design deformation moduli from oedometer and field test results.
Footing settlement calculation
Calculate immediate, consolidation and differential settlements of a pad footing.
Winkler versus finite elements
Compare a slab on Winkler springs with a coupled finite element model.
Raft for a ten-storey building
Design a raft foundation accounting for raft-soil relative stiffness.
Final project
Deliver a complete soil-structure interaction study with damage assessment and monitoring plan, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Geotechnical engineerStructural and foundation designerRailway engineerBuilding pathology expertSoil dynamics engineerGeotechnical consultant
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • 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 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, Midas GTS NX, CSI SAP2000, GEO5 and Rocscience Settle3, 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.

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