Units
Structural Engineering 3
Unit code: ENB475
Contact hours: 4 per week
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This is an advanced structural engineering unit which builds up on previous knowledge in this area and covers applications. Load paths in structures and cable structures with applications in bridge engineering will be covered. The stiffness method, which is the basis of all structural analysis software packages will be covered in detail. The formation of plastic hinges (failure points) and failure mechanisms in structures will be treated with simple applications. Structural dynamics and vibrations in structures will be introduced and illustrated with applications. Application of structural dynamics will be extended to seismic engineering. The basics of seismic engineering and the use of the Australian code for analysing structures subjected to seismic loads will be covered.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
It is timely in this unit to extend and apply the principles learnt in earlier structural engineering and mechanics units to understand structural analysis and response. The stiffness method used in most structural analysis programs will be developed and applied to some simple structures and then extended to facilitate computer solution for complex structures. Engineers must understand how structures fail and collapse. The concepts underlying such phenomena will be covered including plastic hinges and failure mechanisms. Most loads are dynamic in nature and the principles of structural dynamics will be covered to understand how structures respond to these loads. These principles will be applied to seismic analysis of building structures and the relevant Australian Standard AS1170.4 will be introduced.
Aims
The aim of this unit is to introduce advanced structural analysis principles and their applications to enable you to have comprehensive understanding and skills in structural engineering.
Objectives
On successful completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge and skills pertinent to the area of advanced structural analysis and design.
2. Demonstrate critical, creative and analytical thinking and effective problem-solving.
3. Apply the principles taught in this unit to solve real-world problems such as computer analysis of large structural systems, structural failure and seismic engineering.
Content
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
Teaching mode: 4 hours per week.
Lectures: 3 hrs
Tutorials: 1 hrs
Teaching in this unit will be through lectures, tutorial sessions and class room discussions. It is imperative that you attend lectures as class discussions will focus on 'why' and 'how' structures respond. 'Real world' examples will be presented to illustrate the theory. You will be encouraged to ask questions to clarify doubts and to cover 'what if' scenarios to enhance learning. Most (not all) of the lecture material will be made available to you through power point slides and notes on Blackboard. There will be derivations and problem solving in class, which have proven to have a significant impact on students' learning.
Tutorial sessions will form an important part of the teaching and learning. In tutorials, theory will be illustrated with examples. Students will have the opportunity to work through problems with the assistance of the lecturer and tutors. This provides an opportunity for team work.
Assessment
Assessment in the unit includes practical problem solving tasks and a final exam.Feedback will be provided in class after grading each assessment. Important points on your overall performance will also be provided through Blackboard.
Assessment name:
Examination
Description:
Final examination involving problem solving in all the topics covered in this unit. You will use the principles taught in this unit to solve problems on plastic analysis and design. Applications will involve simple frames and multi-span beams.
Relates to objectives:
1 - 3.
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Examination period
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Task
Description:
Problem solving in stiffness method, load paths and cable structures. You will use the principles taught in this unit to solve problems on (i) the stiffness method applied to simple structures, (ii) direct stiffness method for complex structures through matrix-vector formulations, (iii) load paths to illustrate load travel from structure to ground and (iv) cables structures and applications to cable supported bridges.
You will be required to submit assessment as required by the lecturer in week 4.
Relates to objectives:
1 and 3.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 7
Assessment name:
Problem Solving Task
Description:
Problem solving plastic analysis & design, structural dynamics and seismic engineering. You will use the principles taught in this unit to solve problems on (i) plastic analysis and design of simple frames and multi-span beams, (ii) vibration analysis of single and multi degrees of freedom systems and (iii) seismic analysis of bulding structures.
You will be required to submit assessment as required by the lecturer in week 8.
Relates to objectives:
1 - 3.
Weight:
20%
Internal or external:
Internal
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Week 11
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
Type: Lecture Notes placed on Blackboard
Type: Standards
Author/Publisher: Standards Australia
Title: AS 1170.0 and AS 1170.4 (or equivalent student version), all with current amendments.
Type: Book
Authors: West, HH and Geschwindner, LF
Title: Fundamentals of Structural Analysis.
Year: 2002 (2nd edition) or later.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Type: Reference book (need not be purchased)
Author: Moy, SJ
Title: Plastic Methods for Steel and Concrete Structures
Year: 1996 or later version.
Publisher: Macmillan.
QUT Blackboard web site for ENB475.
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
You will undertake lectures and tutorials in the traditional class rooms or lecture theatres. As such, there are no extraordinary workplace health and safety issues associated with this unit.
QUT has a formal risk assessment process which can be used to determine the types or risks and how you should handle them.
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-Oct-2012
