CIEN E3126: Computer-Aided Structural Design
Master the tools of modern structural design with hands-on training in industry-standard software like SAP2000, Revit, and AutoCAD.
Course Overview
This course introduces you to industry-standard computer simulation tools used in structural design, including SAP2000, Revit, and AutoCAD. Emphasis is placed on developing analytical models that accurately reflect the real-world behavior of structures. You’ll learn how to compare and verify software-generated results against traditional hand-calculation methods to reinforce your understanding. Assignments are designed to integrate relevant code requirements, specifically the AISC for steel design and ACI 318 for concrete design. By the end of this course, you will be able to apply both software proficiency and engineering standards in practical design scenarios.
To undertake this course, you must first complete CIEN E3125 Structural Design.
Course Instructor
Tom Panayotidi
Lecturer in the Discipline of Structural Engineering and Mechanics
Tom T. Panayotidi is a registered professional engineer in the states of New York and New Jersey, with over 30 years of practical experience in the design of structures and foundations for static and dynamic (machinery/seismic) conditions. As a Principal Engineer for Burns and Roe, Inc. and for Power Engineers, Inc., he has been involved in the design of several USACE (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) and DOE (U.S. Department of Energy) projects and numerous power generating stations across the United States, Central America and Asia. As a Principal Structural Engineer for General Electric-Hitachi (GEH), he has been actively involved in the structural design of the new generation nuclear power plant BWRX-300 SMR (Small Modular Reactor), using advanced computational techniques that incorporate the post-elastic behavior of building materials under cyclic-seismic loads and large temperature gradients.
Panayotidi received his BS degree in Mechanical Engineering (1981), MS (1983) and Doctor of Engineering Science (1986) degrees in Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics from Columbia University. He is currently a Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering and Engineering Mechanics. Before joining Columbia University in 2013, he has taught several mechanics based design courses as an adjunct professor at local universities, including Structural Dynamics, Design of Foundations, Advanced Steel Design, Advanced Concrete Design, Design of Prestressed Concrete, Theory of Plates and Shells, and others.