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CIVL9230: Structural Concepts and Design (2017 - Semester 2)

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Unit: CIVL9230: Structural Concepts and Design (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: Civil Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Zhang, Hao
Session options: Semester 2
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: None.
Prohibitions: CIVL5509.
Brief Handbook Description: The primary objective is to develop an understanding of design concepts and an introduction to the design of steel, concrete and composite structures. This involves calculation of loads on structures caused by gravity, wind and earthquake; and analysis and design of basic structural elements.
Assumed Knowledge: Structural mechanics, first year mathematics, but these are not prerequisites
Additional Notes: Basic structural elements include beams, columns slabs and simple frames.
Lecturer/s: Dr Zhang, Hao
Timetable: CIVL9230 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 4.00 2 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 13
3 Independent Study 3.00 13

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Adapting concepts & principles from given situations in unfamiliar related contexts. Design (Level 1)
Basic design issues in high-rise steel and concrete buildings, the basic structural systems for high-rise buildings, such as the moment frame system, shear wall systems, etc. Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
Calculation of physical properties of structural components. Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2)
1. Ability to calculate gravity actions on typical structure members (i.e., slab, beam and column) as per the provisions of Australia/New Zealand load standard 1170.
2. Ability to calculate combined loads, determination of the most critical load combination, inluding the plot of bending diagram and shear diagram for beams and determination of the most critical section.
3. Ability to determine the wind region, design wind speed, external wind pressure (windward, leeward), internal wind pressure, roof wind pressure for low-rise buildings and high-rise buildings, as per code provisions for wind actions.
4. Ability to apply the equivalent static method for determining the seismic actions as per Australian code provisions, including determination of natural period of the structure using approximate method, the seismic weight, the earthquake base shear, vertical distribution of horizontal earthquake forces and structural ductility and performance factor.
5. Understanding the basic concepts of steel and concrete floor systems, one-way and two-way slabs, the load distribution in one-way and two-way slab systems.
6. Ability to calculate the yield moment and plastic moment of a steel section subject to bending, showing basic knowledge of the code requirement (AS 4100) for steel bending members.
7. Ability to calculate the cracking moment of a concrete section subject to bending, using the transformed section method and the ultimate moment capacity, showing basic knowledge about the code requirement (AS 3600) for concrete bending members.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 25.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
2 Final Exam No 75.00 Exam Period 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
Assessment Description: Final Exam: One 3 hr partial open book exam covering the whole syllabus.

Assignment: A series of 5 assignments (4% each) related to calculation of forces on structures and basic design of structural elements.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Policies & Procedures: See the policies page of the faculty website at http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/student-policies/ for information regarding university policies and local provisions and procedures within the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Note on Resources: Printed notes covering most aspects of the course are purchased at co-op bookshop.

Student edition of relevant Australian Standards must be purchased.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Lecture: 27/7 Introduction.
Lecture: 28/7 Dead and live loads
Week 2 Lecture: 4/8 Wind loads
Lecture: 3/8 Dead and live loads
Week 3 Assessment Due: HW1 due 4PM, 12/8
Lecture: 10/8 Wind loads
Lecture: 11/8 Wind loads/earthquake loads
Week 4 Lecture: 18/8 ACSE lecture 1
Lecture: 17/8 Earthquake loads
Week 5 Lecture: 24/8 Introduction to earthquake engineering
Lecture: 25/8 Load combinations
Assessment Due: HW2 due 4PM, 26/8
Week 6 Lecture: 1/9 ACSE lecture 2
Lecture: 31/8 Structural reliability
Week 7 Lecture: 8/9 Bending of steel beam
Assessment Due: HW3 due 4PM, 9/9
Lecture: 7/9 Structural steel construction
Week 8 Lecture: 15/9 ACSE lecture 3
Lecture: 14/9 Bending of steel beam
Week 9 21/9 ACSE lecture 4
Lecture: 22/9 ACSE lecture 5
Assessment Due: HW4 due 4PM, 23/9
Week 10 Lecture: 6/10 Bending of concrete sections
Lecture: 5/10 Reinforced concrete construction
Week 11 Lecture: 12/10 Bending of concrete sections
Lecture: 13/10 ACSE lecture 6
Week 12 Lecture: 20/10 Lateral systems-steel buildings
Lecture: 19/10 Floor systems-steel/concrete
Assessment Due: HW5 due 4PM,21/10
Week 13 Lecture: 26/10 Lateral systems-concrete buildings
Lecture: 27/10 Review
Exam Period Assessment Due: Final Exam

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Civil) 2015, 2016
Master of Professional Engineering (Structural) 2015, 2016

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design (Level 1) Yes 0%
Engineering/IT Specialisation (Level 2) Yes 100.03%
Maths/Science Methods and Tools (Level 2) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering & IT Graduate Outcomes Table for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.