CIVIL 727 : Dynamics of Structures in Earthquakes

Engineering

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Dynamic behaviour of structures and the means of predicting their response to the effects of earthquakes. Fundamental principles of earthquake engineering, including the effects of structural properties, and the roles of ductility, damping and isolation in mitigating earthquake damage. An individual research project on the impact of earthquakes on civil infrastructure is undertaken.

Course Overview

This course is intended to give students an understanding of the dynamic behaviour of structures and the means of predicting their response to the effects of earthquakes. Subsequently, the fundamental principles of earthquake engineering will be mastered, including the effects of structural properties, and the roles of ductility, damping and isolation in mitigating earthquake damage.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: Departmental approval Restriction: CIVIL 314 or equivalent

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Understand the principles of structural dynamics and the fundamentals of earthquake engineering, and the geophysical background to seismic ground motion (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  2. Understand the origin and nature of seismic ground motion (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
  3. Construct and use response spectra, to formulate and solve the equations of motion for simple MDOF systems to obtain natural frequencies and modes (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  4. Conduct dynamic analyses of simple MDOF systems using modal superposition, spectral modal analysis and equivalent static force methods (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
  5. Conduct an individual research project to develop the understanding of the fundamentals of earthquake engineering (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Test 20% Individual Coursework
Laboratories 10% Individual Coursework
Quizzes 4% Individual Coursework
Research 16% Individual Coursework
Final Test 50% Individual Test
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5
Test
Laboratories
Quizzes
Research
Final Test

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, a 12 hour tutorial, 80 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 40 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including interactive lecture, labs, tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including labs will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including group discussions and tutorials.
Attendance on campus is required for the test and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course recording
Course book
Text book
Tutorial materials
Publications related to topics

Health & Safety

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines outlined in the Health and Safety section of the Engineering Undergraduate Handbook.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Students requested more contact hours.

Other Information

Active participation in the weekly class, tutorial and lab activities is essential.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The textbook is available in the university library.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 18/07/2021 08:42 a.m.