CIVIL 727 : Dynamics of Structures in Earthquakes
Engineering
2023 Semester One (1233) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The course addresses the dynamics of structures, the fundamentals of earthquake engineering and the influence of earthquakes on structures.
The course focuses on the dynamic properties of structures, i.e., natural frequencies and vibration modes, the characteristics of the earthquake load, i.e., frequency content, direction and duration of loading, and the relationship between loading and structural properties. Several numerical approaches to analyse structural responses under dynamic loads will be introduced. The role of the ductility and damping of structures and isolation measures to mitigate the impact of earthquakes will be discussed. The understanding developed will enable a reliable design of structures under seismic loads.
This course consists of weekly lectures and tutorials, two lab activities, research assignments and tests. In addition, you will be expected to learn through additional reading, problem-solving, and other work outside of formal contact hours. The course requires students to familiarize themselves with basic mathematics and the stiffness of structures. The course is supported by published texts.
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
- 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)
- Understand the origin and nature of seismic ground motion (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Construct and use response spectra, to formulate and solve the equations of motion for simple multi degree-of-freedom systems to obtain natural frequencies and modes (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Conduct dynamic analyses of simple multi degree-of-freedom systems using modal superposition, spectral modal analysis and equivalent static force methods (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tests | 70% | Individual Test |
| Laboratories | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Quizzes | 6% | Individual Coursework |
| Research | 14% | Individual Coursework |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||||||
| Tests | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Research | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a 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 26 hours of lectures, 7 hours of tutorials, 4 hours of laboratory activities, 73 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 lectures, laboratories, and tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including laboratories 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 two tests and the final test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Learning 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.
Health & Safety
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.
For a better introduction to the course materials, basic terms and terminology are provided with explanations.
Other Information
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 course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, 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 students may be asked to submit 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. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.