STRCTENG 201 : Civil Engineering Materials and Design
Engineering
2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
This course will provide an introduction to the three main structural engineering materials, structural steel (heavy and light gauge), structural timber and its derivatives and reinforced concrete, plus transportation engineering materials (e.g. bound and unbound aggregate, bitumen, asphalt and additives). The course will cover how the materials are made, their properties, property testing methods and how they are used in practice. The aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive overview of the general concepts behind the design and use of these materials, both separately and when acting together to produce a composite solution. Design problems and methodologies will be presented at a basic level as appropriate to the scope of the course.
This course builds on concepts such as equilibrium, free body diagrams and beam bending theory with the aim of expanding and improving understanding of structural behaviour and providing analytical techniques to facilitate quantitative and qualitative assessment of that behaviour. Principles of mechanics are further developed with an emphasis on their application to the analysis of structures. The course will explore the concept and application of the Slope Deflection Method, using Fixed End Moments (FEM), unit-load method, virtual work and associated theorems. Examples will be based on real structures and links with the design standards demonstrated where possible. New concepts include methods of calculating deflections, buckling of columns, analysis of indeterminate structures, shear stresses and torsion. For students majoring in structures, this course lays the foundations for ensuing structural design courses. For students with other majors, this course forms the minimum necessary engineering knowledge and enhances understanding of the constituent raw material properties and structures that inevitably form part of most engineering projects, and facilitates interaction with the designers and constructors of those structures.
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 2: | Sustainability |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand the benefits and limitations of each material (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Understand the manufacturing methods of each material and its influence on the material properties (Capability 2.1, 3.1 and 4.1)
- Understand the design and construction concepts for each material (Capability 2.1, 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Understand the behaviour of structures and the principles of mechanics (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 5.1)
- Apply analytical techniques such as slope deflection, fixed end moment methods, unit-load method, virtual work and associated theorems (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Understand and identify the link of the structural behaviour and analytical methods with real structures and design standards (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Sketch out direction of reactions, deflected shapes, bending moment diagrams, shear force diagrams and axial force diagrams (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Set up and solve the equation governing the buckling of a column for a range of support and loading conditions (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Calculate shear stresses produced by shear forces and/or torsional moments in beams and elastic deflections of simple structures (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
- Analyse simple indeterminate structures, including beams, frames, trusses and mixed systems. Use and apply all of the above to practical engineering problems. (Capability 3.1, 3.2, 4.1 and 4.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Concrete lab report | 10% | Group Coursework |
| Transport lab report | 5% | Group Coursework |
| Test | 10% | Individual Test |
| Final Exam | 60% | Individual Examination |
| Assignments / Homework | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| 6 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Concrete lab report | ||||||||||
| Transport lab report | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
| Assignments / Homework | ||||||||||
Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
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 3 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials/labs will be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.
Offshore students will by be notified on a course-by-course basis of any COVID-related changes to accommodate them studying remotely.
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.
Based on feedback, the course is fast pace and students would like to better introduction of the prerequisite material. Additionally, more detailed step-by-step solving of problems. These will be explored in 2024
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 for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, 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.