Graduate courses

CIVENG 290 – Materials science and characterization of cement and concrete

Fall semester, odd years

This course covers cement production, chemistry, and hydration, focusing on both traditional (Type I/II) and modern low-carbon (Type IL, Type IT) formulations. Students will explore hydration products (atomistic structure and their role in porosity evolution), apply thermodynamic models to predict phase assemblage, shrinkage and heat release. The second half reviews key cement characterization techniques, their principles, and data analysis methods. Hands-on lab sessions provide experience with these techniques, while the course concludes with an overview of non-destructive testing methods essential for quality control in construction engineering.

CIVENG 241 – Concrete technology

Fall semester, even years

The course covers formulation and design of concrete mixtures for different applications and structural/construction demands, characterization for laboratory and field assessment and quality control, and approaches to reduce carbon footprint without compromising the serviceability of the material. The course includes lab sessions to formulate and characterize concrete in fresh and hardened state, and a semester project aligned with the American Concrete Institute competition.