Civil Engineering

This course provides a physical understanding of phenomena and concepts in advanced water flows and introduces calculation methods to analyze a number of important hydraulic problems. The course deals mainly with free-surface flows with an emphasis on open-channel hydraulics.

The Individual Research Training Senior (IRT Senior) Course is an advanced course of the Individual Research Training B (IRT B) course in the Tohoku University Junior Year Program in English (JYPE) in the spring semester. Though short-term international exchange students are not degree candidates at Tohoku University, a similar experience is offered by special arrangement. Students are required to submit: an abstract concerning the results of their IRT Senior project, a paper (A4, 20-30 pages) on their research at the end of the exchange term, and an oral presentation on the results of their IRT Senior project near the end of the　term.

The course focuses on the performance of structural systems in relation to seismic forces. It encompasses basic concepts of seismology, seismic threat, and characterization of earthquakes and analyzes the seismic response of structures on elastic and inelastic performance. This course presents the scopes and limitations of the seismic design codes as well as the foundations for performance-based seismic analysis and design.

Rail transportation requires infrastructure, vehicles, motive power and energy to move goods and people. Each of these factors interact to affect the efficiency, energy requirements and economics of railroad operation. This course covers the principles of railroad transportation efficiency; economics, energy, and engineering. Topics include: Introduction to railroad infrastructure; rolling stocks; signal systems, and operations. The course is designed to establish the basic understanding and skills for conducting railway research and industrial projects. 

The course provides understanding and knowledge about the behavior of advanced timber structures, tools for modeling and design, and the ability to weigh the pros and cons of different structural systems. The course includes the following parts: timber structures multi-story buildings and structures with a long span; instability of members (lateral torsional buckling of beams); straight and curved members; holes and notches in beams; cross-laminated timber; bracing of structures; design of details; connections for timber structures including dowel-type joints and glued joints; learning from failures; frames, arches, and cable structures; and the ability to independently approach, solve, and present one's work. 

The course provides an introduction to transportation engineering, including the functions and design of various transportation facilities. Topics include logistics management, transportation issues, linear programming, rail transportation, rail operation and management, road transportation, pavement design, traffic flow characteristics and facilities, and the air transportation system.