Availabilities:

Location Domestic International
Lismore Session 2 Session 2

Unit Summary

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit

Credit points

12

AQF level

8

Level of learning

Introductory

Unit aim

Building on the students’ knowledge of structural analysis, materials and construction, this unit introduces students to the design of complete structures to a specified brief. Structural materials including steel and prestressed concrete are covered. Students will apply appropriate Australian Standards to calculate loads and design specific structural elements to develop solutions that satisfy strength and serviceability limit states. Engineering sketch techniques, suitable to convey engineering solutions to drafting personnel, will be developed.

Unit content

Topic 1: Introduction to steel structures and portal frame design
Topic 2: Calculation of wind loads
Topic 3: Design of steel members and connections to AS4100
Topic 4: Introduction to prestressed design of concrete structures including pre-tensioning and post-tensioning
Topic 5: Calculation of stresses, losses and deflections in prestressed concrete structures

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

GA1: , GA2: , GA3: , GA4: , GA5: , GA6: , GA7:
On completion of this unit, students should be able to: GA1 GA2 GA3 GA4 GA5 GA6 GA7
1 Demonstrate an ability to undertake the process of identifying and formulating design problems
2 Design structural elements and entire structures to meet stipulated function and performance objectives
3 Use relevant Australian Standards and codes of practice to analyse and design structures
4 Demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour of steel as a structural material
5 Design connections and structural steel members in tension, compression, bending and combined actions
6 Demonstrate an ability to reduce a complex design project to a set of discrete tasks which are tractable and yet lead to a practical and appropriate overall solution
7 Produce effective and accurate sketches suitable to communicate design ideas to drafting personnel

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an ability to undertake the process of identifying and formulating design problems
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
  2. Design structural elements and entire structures to meet stipulated function and performance objectives
    • GA4:
  3. Use relevant Australian Standards and codes of practice to analyse and design structures
    • GA4:
  4. Demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour of steel as a structural material
    • GA4:
  5. Design connections and structural steel members in tension, compression, bending and combined actions
    • GA4:
  6. Demonstrate an ability to reduce a complex design project to a set of discrete tasks which are tractable and yet lead to a practical and appropriate overall solution
    • GA1:
    • GA2:
    • GA4:
  7. Produce effective and accurate sketches suitable to communicate design ideas to drafting personnel
    • GA2:
    • GA4:

Prescribed texts

  • Australian Standard , 1998, AS 4100-1998: Steel Structures.
  • Australian Standard, 2011, AS/NZ 1170.2-2011: Structural design actions (Part 2: Wind actions).
  • Bradford, MA, Bridge, RQ, & Trahair, NS, 2013, Worked examples for steel structures – According to strength limit states of AS4100-1998, 4th edn, AISC, Sydney.
  • Gorenc, B, Tinyou, R & Syam, A, 2012, Steel designers' handbook, 8th edn, UNSW Press, NSW, Australia. ISBN: 9781742233413.
Prescribed texts may change in future teaching periods.