Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

In conjunction with the units UDN500: Ballast, Sleepers and Fasteners and UDN502: Track Stability, Design and Formation, UDN501 addresses the need for you as a rail civil engineer to have a sound knowledge and clear understanding of the behaviour of the components of rail tracks. The rail is the immediate interface between train vehicle and the entire supporting system, and therefore is the most direct effect on enabling or inhibiting train operations. Aside from ballast rectification and sleeper repair/replacement, the costs of rail wear, rail grinding, replacement of worn rail and rectification of track geometry make up the bulk of maintenance expenditure by the track owner. In conjunction with UDN500, this unit is located early in the course so that you will have been introduced to the nature of all the key elements of the track superstructure and of their important contributions to the operation of rail systems.

Aims

This unit offers sound technical knowledge of the properties and behaviour of rails which will contribute towards your taking responsibility for the management and alignment of rail components.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will be able to:
1. Identify and describe problems associated with the analysis, maintenance and management of rails in track.
2. Retrieve and evaluate information necessary for and appropriate to the solution of those problems.
3. Apply your knowledge of the characteristics of rails and principles of the selection and maintenance of rails towards the safe operation of trains.
4. Describe the operation of rail related track structures and determine their maintenance requirements.

Content

The content of this unit will include aspects of:

• Rail metallurgy and manufacture, selection, profile, installation, wear, defects and maintenance.


• Operation and maintenance of turnouts, diamonds and crossings.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

You will undertake this unit entirely in an 'external study' or 'distance education' mode; the teaching approaches in this unit are based on principles of adult learning, theory and practice. The study notes and some of the resources you will need are contained as online materials and will be accessible via the QUT website. A number of the authors of the chapters that comprise the study materials in this unit are also those who will be interacting with you during your study and will be assessing the assignments you submit. The authors are all highly experienced and senior personnel in the railway industry. They, and the academic staff at QUT, are keen to provide you with assistance via telephone, email, fax and mail. Although the supplied study materials direct you to certain texts and standards for your reading, the external nature of the unit also requires you to draw on your own skills and other human and written resources at your disposal for information to complete some assignments. You will undertake short weekly quizzes early in the semester to help you come to grips quickly with initial technical issues, before moving on to a blog discussion and then a major report on an investigation of a real-world problem with rails.

Assessment

This unit incorporates combined formative/summative assessment through submission of three assignments, which will be marked using criterion referenced assessment (CRA) and returned with feedback to enable you to understand how you are progressing and how your work can be improved. The purpose of the assessment as defined in this Unit Information document is to classify your abilities in respect of professional capabilities and unit objectives.Formative assessment: feedback will be provided to you progressively, focusing on how your work can be improved, rather than the standard of the outcome.
Summative assessment: grading focusing on outcome, standard achieved and comparison with criteria.

Assessment name: Quiz/Test
Description: Quizzes
You will undertake five quizzes, one each week for the first 5 weeks of semester starting in Week 1.
Relates to objectives: 2 and 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Discussion Forum
Description: Discussion Forum
The purpose of Assessment 2 is for you to investigate key issues in Chapters 3 and 4 of your Text Resource, and to communicate, respond to and evaluate your own and others' thinking on the issues. The task will consist of postings to a blog on the UDN501 Blackboard website-you will be assessed on the extent and quality of information you provide and on the quality of the discussion you contribute in response to comments posed and the accompanying debate between students.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 4
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Report
Description: Report
You have been commissioned by the owner of a particular railway line to investigate what reserve capacity there might be for the rails on the line to carry increases in the frequency and tonnage of trains, and increases in wagon and loco axle loads.
Relates to objectives: 1 and 4
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 14

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

You will find all the primary resource materials you'll need are provided through the unit's Blackboard website. The course study text is there as well as standards and other documents from a number of rail authorities. In the Course Materials Database you'll find a number of articles reproduced under Australian copyright law. You will be expected at times to find additional information through your company's resources.

Risk assessment statement

There are no unusual risks associated with this unit; you are not required to undertake activities that attract risks different from those in an ordinary office environment.

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