2025 (Current Year) Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate major in Civil Engineering
Maintenance of Infrastructure
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Civil Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Mitsuyasu Iwanami
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Mon / 3-4 Thu
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CVE.F431
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2025
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Mar 19, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course, basic concepts of infrastructure maintenance are explained, and the knowledge on technologies associated with infrastructure maintenance is also explained such as inspection, performance evaluation, future prediction, repair and reinforcement, link with structures' design, etc. Furthermore, some recent examples of infrastructure maintenance are introduced for the purpose of understanding the practices of maintenance on site.
The maintenance is essential to use infrastructure which was constructed for ensuring our safe and comfortable lives and active economy. This course focuses on concrete structures and steel structures, which are main components of the infrastructure. The basic principles of inspection, performance evaluation, future prediction, and countermeasures are explained, and as many practical applications as possible to actual maintenance works are introduced. Through the latest best examples of infrastructure maintenance such as the applications of integrated technologies and asset management, students are required to find the problems related to infrastructure maintenance, and consider possible solutions by themselves.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand and explain the basic concepts of infrastructure maintenance.
2) Understand the principles of maintenance technologies such as inspection, performance evaluation, future prediction, and countermeasures, and explain their applications to actual practices.
3) Analyze the latest examples of maintenance in details, and apply the obtained knowledge to actual maintenance works.
Student learning outcomes
実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)
The practical problems in maintenance projects that the lecturer have experienced at the national research institute will be explained, and the lecturer will show that it is important to acquire the fundamental knowledge to solve the problems.
Keywords
Maintenance, infrastructure, inspection, performance evaluation, future prediction, repair and reinforcement, link with structures' design, asset management, example analysis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The topics listed in the course schedule are explained. As necessary, exercises are imposed to grasp students' understanding during the class. Students are required to prepare and review according to the course schedule.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Importance of infrastructure maintenance | State-of-the-art on Japanese infrastructure and social change in the future |
| Class 2 | Examples of deterioration of infrastructure | Types and characteristics of infrastructure |
| Class 3 | Purpose and concept of infrastructure maintenance | Methodology of infrastructure maintenance |
| Class 4 | Deterioration mechanism of concrete structures (chloride attack) | Diffusion of chloride ion in concrete |
| Class 5 | Deterioration mechanism of concrete structures (carbonation, frost damage, alkali-silica reaction, etc.) | Microstructure of concrete |
| Class 6 | Corrosion and its protection of steel structures | Steel corrosion based on electro-chemistry |
| Class 7 | Inspection technology (principle, visual observation) | Types and frequency of inspection |
| Class 8 | Inspection technology (nondestructive testing) | Elastic wave, electro-magnetic wave |
| Class 9 | Performance evaluation and future prediction | Required performance of structures |
| Class 10 | Repair and reinforcement of concrete structures | Re-deterioration |
| Class 11 | Repair and reinforcement of steel structures | Fatigue crack in steel |
| Class 12 | Asset management, Link with structures' design | Life cycle cost, Structures' design considering simplified maintenance |
| Class 13 | Analysis of latest examples | Common examples of maintenance |
| Class 14 | Final exam |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
As necessary, original hand-outs are distributed during classes.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
"Infrastructure Maintenance," by Japan Society of Civil Engineers, 2015 (in Japanese)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Exercises during the classes: 40%, Final exam: 60%
Related courses
- CVE.F432 ： Principles of Construction Management
Prerequisites
None required.