Advanced Structural Engineering

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify failure modes in mass timber structures
• Undertake ultimate limit state calculations of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete and composite structural elements
• Carry out design calculations for complex practical design situations.
• Undertake embodied carbon assessment using existing tools.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use practical and workshop skills.
• Solve complex problems via idealisation and analysis.
• Communication through written reports.
• Apply critical analysis to engineering problems.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The design of structural members made of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, timber and composite materials, under a variety of limit state loading conditions, such as axial load, flexure, shear and torsion.
• The concept of structural sufficiency (strength and stiffness) in order to decarbonise structures.
• The appreciation of the structural behaviour of mass timber products from experimental tests.

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Identify the underlying structural mechanics which are used in design codes
• Understand the behaviour and design aspects of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, composite, and timber structures
• Apply the basic hierarchy of carbon impact reductions and efficiency.
• Apply theoretical principles of structural mechanics to a wide range of design situations.

Part 1: Decarbonising Structures

Embodied carbon basics and decarbonisation hierarchy; Net-zero roadmaps to reduce carbon emissions of concrete, steel and timber; Introduction to the design of timber structures.

Part 2: Prestressed Concrete Design

Prestressing systems and devices; Analysis for flexure; Losses in prestress; Ultimate strength and design for flexure; Shear behaviour and design.

Part 3: Advanced Reinforced Concrete Design

Strut and tie method; Design of slender columns; Design of two way flat slabs; Design for torsion; Design of shear walls; Serviceability, crack width and deflection calculations.

Part 4: Composite Construction

General concepts; Composite beams; Composite slabs; Composite columns.

Teaching methods include:

• Lectures
• Tutorials

Learning activities include:

• Worked examples
• Tutorial questions
• Coursework
• Problem assignments
• Private study

PowerPoint slides, tutorial sheets and solutions, worked examples and pre-recorded videos available from the module Blackboard site.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.