This course deals with structural components in nuclear power plant systems, their functional purposes, operating conditions, and mechanical-structural design requirements. It combines mechanics techniques with models of material behavior to determine adequacy of component design. Considerations include mechanical loading, brittle fracture, in-elastic behavior, elevated temperatures, neutron irradiation, and seismic effects.

This class was also offered in Course 13 (Department of Ocean Engineering) as 13.14J. In 2005, ocean engineering subjects became part of Course 2 (Department of Mechanical Engineering), and the 13.14J designation was dropped in lieu of 2.084J.