Units
Introductory Structural Engineering
Unit code: UDB211
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
Structural engineering analysis examining structural principles, structural action, load paths and equilibrium. Structural characteristics are examined through first principles including tension, compression, bending and shear forces. Quantitative, qualitative techniques and approximate methods are used as well as the use of computer software in structural analysis.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Offered in these courses
- UD40
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
A Construction Manager must have the ability to analyse engineering components and systems and have a sound understanding of how a building achieves structural stability through load paths. Furthermore, Construction Managers are required to interpret engineering designs and convert the designer's intent and components specified into a completed building. A further demand is to provide temporary structures that require analysis to ensure economy and safety. This unit introduces all these concepts and extends the materials information introduced in UDB111 Engineering Construction Materials
Aims
The unit is an introduction to the basic characteristics of structural engineering applicable to building projects, which are examined through first principles. Quantitative and qualitative techniques, as well as approximate methods and specialist software, are used as a basis for learning structural analysis.
Objectives
By the completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate the following discipline specific capabilities at beginning level:
- Understand how structural systems developed historically;
- Demonstrate how structural components interact, including structural design principles and characteristics for various construction forms;
- Understand the basic principles of structures such as stability, equilibrium, load paths, shear force, bending moment, centroid, bending and shear stresses
- Analyse simple structures for example truss, steel beam and timber beam including different load types, identification of load paths and also observe computer software application in structural design.
Content
This unit covers the following: structural design components, structural principles and characteristics for various construction forms and materials and the physical behaviour of various structural members. A group study includes examination into the actions of tension, compression, bending and shear. Further, important concepts such as stability, equilibrium, and load paths are developed. You are introduced to domestic structural design (truss, steel beam and timber beam) through the use of the various Australian Standard publications. Whilst the unit involves a certain level of quantitative techniques, the emphasis in this early unit is on qualitative techniques and approximate methods and more complex quantitative skills are developed in associated proceeding and succeeding units. The unit will observe computer software application to undertake structural analysis.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
This unit makes use of a range of teaching techniques including lectures (normally 2 hours/week) and tutorials (normally 2 hours/week). Whilst studying in this unit, you will be referred to the relevant Australian Standards relating to all relevant structural principals.
Assessment
The assessment for this unit follows the assessment policy stated in section 5.1.1
The assessment will comprise formative assessment (to help you find out how your work is progressing) and summative assessment (to grade your work against expected outcomes).Sample quizzes and sample exam questions are available during the semester and students can discuss them with their lecturer/tutors.
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Task
Description:
Problem Solving Task/Portfolio
Topics include tension & compression; reactions, trusses, stresses; moments; stability, method of joints and sections; load paths, beams; beam bending, bending moments, shear forces, shear force and bending moment diagrams in beams; centroid and 2nd moment of area, stresses in beams; beam deflections.
Relates to objectives:
2. Demonstrate how structural components interact, including structural design principles and characteristics for various construction forms;
3. Understand the basic principles of structures such as stability, equilibrium, load paths, shear force, bending moment, centroid, bending and shear stresses.
4. Analyse simple structures for example truss, steel beam and timber beam including different load types, identification of load paths and also observe computer software application in structural design.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 9
Assessment name:
Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description:
Presentation
You will prepare a build-and-show project demonstrating the structural actions and reactions involved in a structural failure scenario of a building indicating the background history leading to the failure and including a simple model to demonstrate in your presentation what were the significant elements of the failure.
Relates to objectives:
1. Understand how structural systems developed historically;
2. Demonstrate how structural components interact, including structural design principles and characteristics for various construction forms;
3. Understand the basic principles of structures such as stability, equilibrium, load paths, shear force, bending moment, centroid, bending and shear stresses.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Group
Due date:
Week 12
Assessment name:
Examination (Theory)
Description:
To ensure that you have sufficient opportunity to demonstrate the widest range possible of your knowledge, understanding and skill development, the examination is comprised of a mixture of problem style questions and tutorial questions.
Relates to objectives:
2. Demonstrate how structural components interact, including structural design principles and characteristics for various construction forms;
3. Understand the basic principles of structures such as stability, equilibrium, load paths, shear force, bending moment, centroid, bending and shear stresses.
4. Analyse simple structures for example truss, steel beam and timber beam including different load types, identification of load paths and also observe computer software application in structural design.
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
central exam period
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Reference text (not required to be bought):
Wyatt, K.J. and Hough, R. Principles of Structure (4th edition) UNSW Press (available in the library and from QUT bookshop)
Additional references and readings will be published on the UDB211 Blackboard website and you will be expected to utilise QUT Library Databases at
Risk assessment statement
You will undertake lectures and/or tutorials in the traditional classrooms and lecture theatres. As such, there is no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with these components of the unit, however, you may be required to construct models for your presentation and if there are any health and safety issues you will be advised in your class to do undertake the necessary training.
All students at QUT must successfully complete an online General Health and Safety Competency Test which is located at
If you are required to construct models within QUT laboratories and or workshops, please note:
· A risk management plan will be made available. Please adhere to your obligations for workplace health and safety.
· An induction of any machines should be undertaken prior to using them.
· If you use QUT laboratories you must clean all surfaces and machines after you use them and all materials disposed of appropriately and the machines left in a tidy and clean manner. This is not the technician's responsibility; it is the user's responsibility.
· Whilst all machines at QUT are guarded, students must still comply with footwear requirements, and wear all personal protective equipment appropriate to the risk management plan.
· Refer to the UDB211 website for further details
Additional Costs
You may be requested to build models as part of an assessment and as such there may be additional costs associated with this unit.
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: 19-Oct-2012
