Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

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

Rationale

Simply knowing about the components from which railway track is assembled will not enable you to understand and influence the complex interactions between each of those components. Design of railway tracks requires you to build on that component knowledge from UDN500 and UDN501 by considering how they influence each other and what limitations they have in carrying forces applied by operational or by environmental factors. The unit also provides some further foundation knowledge to enable you to understand the forces of interaction between the whole track and passing trains that will be explored later in UDN503.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to help you assess and manipulate the factors relating to the stability, design and behaviour of track.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Critically review and evaluate the likely causes of track instability in a team environment.
2. Apply analytical thinking to evaluate the probability of train derailments.
3. Retrieve and apply relevant information to undertake a first order track design with consideration of economic, engineering, and operational factors.

Content

The content of this unit will include aspects of:

• Types of track structures.


• Track geotechnology, formation, drainage, design, construct and maintenance.


• Track stability, thermal expansion of rails and management of buckling.


• The role of economic analysis in selection of appropriate track structure, and application of net present value theory.


• Principles of design of ballasted track.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

You will undertake this unit entirely in an external study mode; the teaching approaches in this unit are based on principles of adult learning, where theory is connected with workplace situations and issues. Approaches used in this unit include:

• Interactive, interpersonal explorations of personality styles.


• Simulation of a collaborative approach to problem solving.

The study notes and some of the resources you will need are contained within the online materials you will access via QUT Blackboard. A number of the authors of the modules 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 you to read, 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.

Teleconferences
Teleconferences are an important part of learning by distance education. They enable you to have a more personal contact with the QUT academic(s), conduct conversations with the experts contributing to the unit, and to establish and grow networks with your fellow students. Many important learning issues are covered in the teleconferences and they contribute strongly to the quality of your engagement with the resources and the assessment tasks. The teleconferences will be held at times that best suit most participants in the unit.

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 the professional capabilities and unit objectives.Formative assessment: feedback provided to you progressively, focusing on how your work can be improved, rather than the standard of the outcome.

Summative assessment: grading of your work focusing on outcome, standard achieved and comparison with criteria.

Assessment name: Presentation (Oral or Group)
Description: In this assessment, you will be investigating and reporting on a train derailment. You will be conducting the investigation in a team of two or three people per team and reporting as a team on your findings via a live presentation.
Relates to objectives: 1
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 5

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: You will prepare a spreadsheet-based analysis related to the stability of a track involved in a train derailment.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 9

Assessment name: Design
Description: You will undertake the design of a new railway line
Relates to objectives: 3
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: External
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 15

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.

Recommended reading:
1. Esveld, C. (2001). Modern Railway Track. MRT Productions. Netherlands.

2. International Heavy Haul Association. (2001). Guidelines to Best Practices for Heavy Haul Railway Operations: Wheel and Rail Interface Issues. IHHA, Virginia, USA.

3. Tew, G.P., Marich, S., Mutton, P.J. (1991). A Review of Track design Procedures. Railways of Australia.

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: 03-May-2012