STRCTENG 710 : Low Rise Structures Design
Engineering
2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
STRCTENG 710 will build on the individual component design taught for timber, concrete and steel elements in the year three courses, by introducing structural systems, centered on low-rise commercial and residential buildings. The focus of this course is the fundamentals of building systems with an emphasis on load paths, earthquake loading and building response.
The first two weeks will cover general seismic design, application of NZS 1170.5, focusing on the application and limitations of equivalent static method. The concept of capacity design and its general application as well as an introduction to low damage design, key concepts of resilience and seismic hazard will be discussed.
The course will provide an understanding of the characteristics of different structural systems across different materials, their typical lateral response, their ductile mechanisms and their appropriateness to certain building forms. Through a section on structural form and load paths, common errors in design and detailing will be investigated.
The principles of sustainable structural design will be introduced, looking at the role of embodied carbon within the built environment, and how structural engineers can respond to the call for reduced emissions.
Strut and Tie design will be taught and applied to discuss and explain load paths, the role of diaphragms, and load transfer through reinforced concrete connections.
The second half of the course will focus on structural steel, with a review of steel element design, a focus on design of steel connections, followed by combining the member and connection requirements into the design of parts of a portal frame building.
This course consists of lectures, a weekly tutorial, quizzes, a mid-semester test and design assignment. In addition, you will be expected to learn from additional reading, problem solving, structural drawings and other work outside of formal contact hours. The course requires students to become familiar with part of the Design Actions Standard and the material standards for concrete, timber and steel. The course is well supported by the course notes and published texts.
Course Requirements
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | People and Place |
| Capability 3: | Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 4: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 5: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 6: | Communication |
| Capability 8: | Ethics and Professionalism |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and explain how structural components are assembled into complete structural systems, including describing the load paths and the interactions between components. (Capability 4.1)
- Understand and apply the fundamental concepts involved in sustainable structural design. (Capability 5.1)
- Demonstrate an understanding of the design of buildings for earthquake loading and the application and limitations of the equivalent static method of determining seismic design actions. (Capability 3.1)
- Demonstrate the importance of good documentation associated with sound structural calculations and the ability to be able to clearly convey engineering information. (Capability 6.1)
- Explain and apply the principles of resilient seismic design to both global and local components within a building for reinforced concrete and for structural steel. (Capability 3.2 and 5.1)
- Evaluate lessons learned from past structural failures and poor design practice, and the implications for safe and reliable design, professional competencies, and upholding engineering ethics. (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 8.1)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 40% | Group & Individual Coursework |
| Test | 25% | Individual Test |
| Quizzes | 10% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 25% | Individual Examination |
| 4 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |||||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
| Quizzes | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
A passing mark, comprising the sum of all assessment types, is 50% or higher, according to University policy. In addition, a minimum of 40% is required in the exam to pass the course.
Students must sit the exam to pass the course. Otherwise, a DNS (did not sit) result will be returned.
Late submissions will not be accepted/allowed for the exam, tests, and online quizzes. It is possible to submit late for the assignments and projects, and the late submission penalty schedule will be published on the course Canvas page.
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, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 3 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Delivery Mode
Campus Experience
Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events including.
Attendance on campus is required for the 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.
Two volumes of course notes will be prepared and put onto CANVAS before the start of the course. Additional material will be put onto CANVAS during the course. In addition students will need access to copies of the following standards; AS/NZS 1170 set, NZS 3101, NZS 3404, NZS 3604. These can be via the student standards.
Health & Safety
Students must ensure they are familiar with their Health and Safety responsibilities, as described in the university's Health and Safety policy.
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.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations 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. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.
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.