Civil Engineering

This course gives a general introduction to water resources, how these are linked the hydrological processes, and how engineering plays a role in the management of water resources. It covers the hydrologic cycle of water as a whole and its specific components including: geophysical flows of water throughout the environment, dynamics of precipitation formations, transformations into runoff, reservoir and lake dynamics, stream flow discharge, surface runoff assessment, calculation of peak flows, the hydrograph theory, ground water flows, aquifers dynamics, concept of water quality and water treatment methods and units. The topics mentioned will be covered in both qualitative and quantitative aspects. Use will be made of essential concepts of energy, mass and momentum conservation. 

This course introduces students to the fundamental theory of the finite-element method (FEM) as a general tool for numerically solving differential equations for a wide range of engineering problems, with special focus on solid and structural mechanics. The course covers the following topics: approximation, weighted residuals and Rayleigh-Ritz methods; finite-element formulation for solids; continuum elements; structural elements; material non-linearity; geometric non-linearity; heat transfer problems and thermal stress analysis; and transient problems.

This course provides the knowledge and understanding about how cost and environmental issues affect the choice of design solutions and which measures need a longer-term perspective than others, in order to get back the investment costs or make the building sustainable. This course also provides the knowledge and understanding related to different types of actors’ interests (city-owned property owners, private property owners, property developers (build and sell), private homeowners, builders, and manufacturers). Also included are aspects of barriers and possibilities. The course presents methodology and tools for determining life cycle perspective issues like life-cycle costs and environmental certification. This can be used for evaluation, system design and to produce convincing arguments and facts for the client.

This course introduces students to the basic concepts of fluid mechanics. Starting with fluid properties and fluid statics, students’ progress to the conservation laws which allows them to analyze various fluid problems encountered in engineering practice. The second half of the course introduces students to basic fluid flow concepts. Students learn how to apply the prior concepts and laws to pipe flows, hydraulic machinery and pipe networks. At the end students should be able to estimate frictional losses for flows in pipelines, design pumping systems and apply the obtained knowledge to other engineering applications.

This course provides research training for exchange students. Students work on a research project under the guidance of assigned faculty members. Through a full-time commitment, students improve their research skills by participating in the different phases of research, including development of research plans, proposals, data analysis, and presentation of research results. A pass/no pass grade is assigned based a progress report, self-evaluation, midterm report, presentation, and final report.

This six-week summer course provides individual research training through the experience of belonging to a specific laboratory at Tohoku University. Students are assigned to a laboratory research group with Japanese and international students under the supervision of Tohoku University faculty. They participate in various group activities, including seminars, for the purpose of training in research methods and developing teamwork skills. The specific topic studied depends on the instructor in charge of the laboratory to which each student is assigned. The methods of assessment vary with the student's project and laboratory instructor. Students submit an abstract concerning the results of their individual research each semester and present the results near the end of this program.

This project focuses on exploring Berlin through analog hand drawing, and then using drawing and model making methods to design and construct a small building project. The course offers participants an in-depth knowledge of the design professional's important tool of hand drawing, a skill that equips them for their studies and later professional work. It begins with the basics of hand drawing to establish a foundation and then moves on to apply drawing to observe, analyze and design the environment. Students learn drawing forms such as perspective, isometry, section, pictogram, and others. The subject of analysis is the city of Berlin, the city fabric, micro urban situations, and the Design-Build project site. The Design-Build part of the project focuses on the realization of a small building project for a special community in Berlin. The students develop an idea from the design stage to the built project. An examination of the context and discussions with the clients and users form the basis for the final design. In a competitive design workshop, the best and most feasible solution(s) are selected and developed. In collaboration with the users and under the guidance of a craftsman, the design is built and inaugurated. The community is the client for this Design-Build project. They actively participate in guiding the project from the design phase to on-site construction. This project is carried out in an academic environment, engaging in interdisciplinary collaboration between students of various disciplines and the community. Through designing and building together, the students gain insights into the world that the people they are designing for are facing, with the goal of making students more sensitive to the social, cultural and ecological implications of their work. The challenge is to integrate "low-cost" and "high efficiency" requirements with considerations for sustainability, aesthetics, appropriateness, participation, and education. In order to profit from the high potential of these small-scale projects, the focus has to be the quality of the space that is created. This course primarily takes place off campus, with the drawing sessions happening throughout Berlin and the construction activities conducted on-site.

Pollution prevention solutions are attractive both to society in general and to industry but require knowledge in the fields of processes, products, and management in modern business organizations. The course explores solutions that use technical as well as managerial tools and methods. The course reviews the key aspects of process integrated environmental protection, including technical strategies to increase efficiency in water- energy- and material flows (exploring methods such as monitoring, maintenance, cleaner technology, process modification, on-site recycling, good housekeeping) and environmental management (including supply chain management and an introduction to current environmental management standards such as ISO 14000). Product related issues constitute a central part of the course looking into life cycle analysis, eco-design, and eco-labeling. The course also takes a wider perspective at industrial development and the engineer’s role and responsibility to work with industry to reduce environmental impacts. The course consists of lectures in combination with seminars, exercises, and a major assignment.

This course introduces the classical methods of analysis for statically indeterminate structures, especially structures comprising line elements, namely beam, truss, and frame structures. It firstly extends from earlier structural mechanics knowledge on deflection of beams to the general analysis of deflections in statically determinate structures, with an emphasis on the method of virtual work. This is followed by the analysis of indeterminate structures using the force method (flexibility method); analysis of indeterminate structures using the displacement method, including the slope-deflection method and moment distribution method. It then proceeds to the matrix stiffness method for structural analysis using the direct stiffness approach, and the general aspects of structural modelling and computer analysis. The course provides a comprehensive cover of the fundamental principles, analysis techniques and practical skills that are required in modern structural analysis applications.