SEAM (Structural Engineering, Analysis & Modelling) is a strongly evolving research group, developing internationally competitive research in computational solid and structural mechanics. SEAM has its origins in the Structural Engineering group and was established following a fundamental review in 1999. To provide sustainable structural engineering solutions through fundamental scientific and applied research.

Research in Structural Engineering has been revitalised since 1996 with the implementation of an ambitious and challenging strategy, leading to a diverse range of achievements, including: 

• JREI and Royal Society awards 
• Publication prizes 
• European outreach activities (e.g. links with the Universities of Lyon, Cagliari, Milano Politecnico)
• Over 90 refereed papers
• 6 PhDs.

The Department of Civil Engineering at Newcastle University has been awarded a Grade 5 resaerch rating in the last UK national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2001). The award of this high rating reflects the international excellence of the research programmes offered within the department. SEAM contributes siginificantly to this research excellence.

SEAM plans projected new developments in structural engineering research in three inter-related areas:

1. Pneumatic structures

• Numerical development of new shell membrane technologies
• Pneumatic and prestressed structural components

2. Optimum tension structures in relation to sports stadia

• Non-linear mechanics
• Risk, reliability and optimisation
• Novel materials application

3. Structural optimisation for large deflection structures

• Self-designing structures
• Evolutionary material translation
• Structural reliability combining stochastic (earthquake) loading and probablistic analyses