Engineering, Mathematics and Physical Sciences Intranet

Structural Engineering (ECM3155)

DEVELOPER NOTES
View description page that displays items individually rather than looping through them all

Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 15
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2014/5

Module staff

Dr Prakash Kripakaran (P.Kripakaran@exeter.ac.uk) - Convenor

Duration (weeks) - term 1

Duration (weeks) - term 2

Duration (weeks) - term 3

Number students taking module (anticipated)

Module description

A good knowledge of the philosophies and techniques of structural design and analysis are essential elements of the training of civil engineers. In this module you will learn about these philosophies and techniques, and their application to the design of steel, reinforced concrete, and pre-stressed concrete structures. In hands-on laboratory sessions, you will learn about factors such as elasticity, cracking, tensile strength, shear and flexure, through observation and analysis. You will complete two design projects, one in steel, one in concrete, and will get the chance to carry out calculations, create drawings and make critical judgments. Furthermore, you will get the opportunity to hone your skills in methods of structural analyses, technical report writing and presentation.

In addition, the module emphasises the role of the Engineering Council's Code of Practice, the application of engineering judgment, and the execution of appropriate structural analyses in the context of design problems.

Module aims

This module aims to consolidate and extend methods of analysis for both linear elastic and plastic modes of behaviour, and to help you gain an understanding of how engineers apply these methods to real structures. It focuses particularly on steel, reinforced concrete, and prestressed concrete, materials that are often used in civil engineering, despite their complex properties. You will learn how, for this reason, simplified but realistic engineering approaches are required for design purposes. In addition, the module aims to help you appreciate the limitations of these methods, to understand the underlying philosophies of current professional Codes of Practice, and to gain competence in using appropriate methods for the design of simple structures.

This module covers Specific Learning Outcomes in Engineering, which apply to accredited programmes at Bachelors/MEng/Masters level. These contribute to the educational requirements for CEng registration (as defined under the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence – UK-SPEC).

This module correlates to references E1, E2, D1, MU1, MU3, ME1, ME2, MD1 and MD2. These references are indices of the specific learning outcomes expected of Bachelors/MEng/Masters candidates set out in UK-SPEC, codified with reference to systems used by professional accrediting institutions. A full list of the standards can be found on the Engineering Council's website, at http://www.engc.org.uk

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. understand a range of structural theories and methods of analysis, and comprehend their relevance to real structures fabricated in steel and/or concrete and the roles of Codes of Practice;
2. execute appropriate structural analyses in the context of design problems and understand the reasons behind the choices of methods of analysis.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

3. appreciate design synthesis and the importance of engineering judgement in the context of design within the civil engineering discipline;
4. create a detailed design that an engineer can use to build from at a level appropriate to a graduate engineer with an MEng.

ILO: Personal and key skills

5. undertake independent studies;
6. communicate effectively to a level appropriate to a graduate engineer with an MEng.

Syllabus plan

Structural analyses:

- review basic assumptions for linear elastic analyses;

- moment distribution as a simple iterative technique for carrying out a stiffness method;

- influence lines;

- plastic methods for limit analyses;

- non-linear aspects of material behaviour and slenderness effects;

- Perry-Robertson curves;

- limit state design

- SLS and ULS concepts and associated partial safety factors and their significance in terms of stochastic behaviour;

- structural materials;

- an overview of steel production and fabrication;

- an overview of concrete production, casting, and structural properties with consideration of shrinkage and creep;

- steel plate girders;

- stiffeners;

- buckling with consideration for ULS;

Reinforced concrete beams:

- cracked elastic behaviour for SLS;

- deflections & creep effects;

- modes of failure for ULS;

- under/over-reinforced modes of failure;

- plastic hinges & moment redistribution;

- shear modes;

- analytical models based on Bernoulli and/or equilibrium;

Prestressed concrete beams:

- forms and methods of construction, with consideration of losses of prestress;

- stress diagrams and design for SLS;

- Magnel diagrams for zero tension and/or limited tension;

- tendon profiles and load balancing with post-tensioning;

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
50	100	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	22	Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	4	Site visits
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	11	Tutorials
Guided independent study	100	Guided independent study

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
40	60	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Written exam closed book	60	3 hours	All	Written
Coursework design project 1	18		All	Written
Coursework design project 2	14		All	Written
Coursework laboratory report	8		All	Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
All	Written exam (100%)	All	August Ref/Def period

Re-assessment notes

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.

If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ECM3155

Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

ECM2108

ECM2109

NQF level (module)

3 (NQF level 6)

Available as distance learning?

Origin date

19/11/2012

Last revision date

25/04/2013

Key words search

Steel design; reinforced concrete; prestressed concrete.