Units
Engineering Construction Materials
Unit code: UDB111
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
The choice of material and the reliance on the material being “fit for purpose” is essential to the success of the building project. This unit provides you with an introduction to building materials. We will cover the structural and non structural materials used in the construction process and focus on the basic properties, construction applications, behaviour, strength, durability, suitability, and limitations.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Offered in these courses
- UD40
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2012
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Construction Managers and Quantity Surveyors need the knowledge of construction engineering materials in order to systematically select materials and successfully construct the desired components. This unit is an introduction to a wide range of modern construction engineering materials with an emphasis on the relationships between processing, microstructure, and properties, and the role of materials science in construction.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to provide you with an introduction to materials, covering the most common types of construction engineering materials (timber, building boards, fibre composites, concrete, masonry, metals, ceramics, glass and granular materials). The unit also focuses on the microstructure and the mechanical properties of engineering materials, and how these can be modified through material processing. The major part of the unit is about materials science, which involves a variety of topics: from atomic structure of elements and how atoms bond together, through details of crystal structure and how defects in structure can change materials properties, to measurement and analysis of mechanical properties.
Objectives
On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials
2. apply theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials to different contexts
3. interpret and analyse data and information related to mechanical properties of materials
4. solve simple numerical problems related to mechanical and other properties of materials
demonstrate your theoretical and practical understanding of risk management and workplace health and safety.
Content
This unit covers the following: A study of the major structural materials used in construction - foundations (soil and rock), timber (pests, fungi), masonry, steel and concrete. This study aims to develop a thorough understanding of the basic properties, construction applications, behaviour, strength, durability, suitability, and limitations of each. The bias is towards those characteristics that affect the constructor rather than the needs of the designer. Particular emphasis is given to the problems that arise through storage on site and installation processes focusing on the identification and causes of building defects and recommendations for potential remedies. This unit also examines the non-structural or ¿architectural¿ type materials commonly used in construction. The typical ¿architectural¿ materials to be studied include non-ferrous metals such as aluminium and brass, adhesives, sealants water proofing materials, plastics including PVC and other pipe products, coatings including paints and renders, board products including fibre cement and plaster boards, glass and ceramics, and pavement products including bitumen and asphalt. This unit includes an examination of: Material manufacture; Physical properties; Special properties including acoustic and thermal properties; Issues such as cleaning, maintenance, corrosion protection, fire tests and fire hazard properties, deterioration and ageing; Sustainable development; Material recycling.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit is largely studied through lectures, application of theory though computer lab worksheets and a studio project (normally approx 3.5 hours/week).
The technical content of the unit will be taught using the following teaching tools:
- Formal lecture sessions will cover the theory and illustrate some practical applications of the material studied. Lecture slides and some additional readings will be made available on-line using the Blackboard website.
- Computer labs will assist your learning progress during the semester. This work will help you with in the semester quiz and final exam within this unit.
- Examples of materials will provide identification of basic construction materials.
- The project will enable you to apply theory to a material.
Assessment
The unit follow QUT's Assessment Policy which can be located is at MOPP c/5.1.As this is a first year unit, you will receive feedback on at least 20% of your assessment by the end of the week 6. The principles of criterion referenced assessment are implemented in this unit, in which the criteria for certain assessment items will be clearly linked to the objectives of the unit. Criteria and standards will be provided to you at the time the assessment item is released, and you will be given the opportunity to understand them. To obtain a pass in this unit, you must achieve a minimum aggregate of grade 4 for the weighted combination of assessment items. Each assessment item will be graded according to the appropriate Criteria as detailed on the Criteria Reference Assessment (CRA) sheet that will be made available to you before the assessment task.
Assessment name:
Mid-Semester Exam
Description:
Multiple choice questions.
Relates to objectives:
1. demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials
2. apply theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials to different contexts
3. interpret and analyse data and information related to mechanical properties of materials
4. solve simple numerical problems related to mechanical and other properties of materials
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 6
Assessment name:
Project (applied)
Description:
Material Testing Experiment and Report Writing.
You and your team (of 3) will work on a project to determine Young's Modulus and Yield stress of an engineering material.
Relates to objectives:
1. demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials
2. apply theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials to different contexts
3. interpret and analyse data and information related to mechanical properties of materials
4. solve simple numerical problems related to mechanical and other properties of materials
5. demonstrate your theoretical and practical understanding of risk management and workplace health and safety.
Weight:
30%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Week 9
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Task
Description:
Computer Lab worksheets.
You will be applying your learning through a variety of scenarios involving construction materials, issues and questions in the Computer Lab time. FIVE (5) Computer Lab worksheets will be collected randomly.
Relates to objectives:
1. demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials
2. apply theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials to different contexts
3. interpret and analyse data and information related to mechanical properties of materials
4. solve simple numerical problems related to mechanical and other properties of materials
Weight:
10%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 2-13
Assessment name:
Examination (written)
Description:
Final Exam
A combination of multiple choice and short answer questions.
Relates to objectives:
1. demonstrate theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials
2. apply theoretical and practical knowledge of engineering materials to different contexts
3. interpret and analyse data and information related to mechanical properties of materials
4. solve simple numerical problems related to mechanical and other properties of materials
5. demonstrate your theoretical and practical understanding of risk management and workplace health and safety
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End of semester
Academic Honesty
Academic honesty means that you are expected to exhibit honesty and act responsibly when undertaking assessment. Any action or practice on your part which would defeat the purposes of assessment is regarded as academic dishonesty. The penalties for academic dishonesty are provided in the Student Rules. For more information you should consult the QUT Library resources for avoiding plagiarism.
Resource materials
You are required to use the following:
1. The UDB111 Blackboard website at http://blackboard.qut.edu.au/
Prescribed Text
Allen, Edward, Iano, Joseph (2009) Fundamentals of Building Construction, Materials and Methods, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New Jersey.
Link to "Construction Materials : Their Nature and Behaviour"
You can access the book using this link:
References
2. QUT Library Databases
eBooks
Books
Risk assessment statement
You will undertake lectures in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. All students at QUT must successfully complete an online General Health and Safety Competency Test.
A risk management plan is available on the UDB111 blackboard website. Please know your obligations for workplace health and safety in UDB111.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 21-Feb-2012
