Unit Outline

The unit aims to give students the skills to analyse structures as a foundation skill to the design, construction and supervision of structural and mechanical projects. Topics include analysis of internal forces, stresses and deflections in statically determinate and indeterminate frames using the force and slope-deflection methods, an introduction to column buckling, and an introduction to structural analysis software. The unit also contains a major design project involving determining design actions. The unit cover the underpinning theory and problem-solving skills in structural and mechanical analysis through lectures, tutorials and laboratory, and will emphasise deep understanding of the key concepts through simple exemplars so that they can be extrapolated to more general and complex situations. The unit augments the fundamentals of the elastic behaviour of beam and frame structures and components acquired in the first year of the course and lays the foundations of modern methods of analysis of structures and machine elements, and will provide tools for such analyses. It emphasizes understanding of principles involved and their application to practical situations. The unit also prepares students for 3rd year units in advanced structural and mechanical engineering and design of steel, timber and concrete structures (mechanical?)

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1.	Calculate internal forces, stresses and displacements in statically determinate 2D beams, frames and truss type structures comprising members of both symmetric and asymmetric cross-section.
2.	Determine reactions and internal forces in statically indeterminate 2D frame structures using the Stiffness and Slope-Deflection methods
3.	Solve problems involving one- or two-member buckling with a variety of boundary conditions by formulating the differential equations from first principles
4.	Model the response of structures or components to loads and load combinations determined using relevant standards and Limit State principles

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	(ENG103 or KAA110) and KMA154

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Teaching arrangements


ATTENDANCE MODE	TEACHING TYPE	LEARNING ACTIVITY	CONTACT HOURS	FREQUENCY
On Campus	Lectorial	Weekly lectorial to introduce theory and/or worked example(s) on each topic. Each week will cover a new topic or sub-topic.	2	StudyPeriod 13 times
	Tutorial	A tutorial following each weekly lecture to solve problems on the week's topic	2	StudyPeriod 13 times
	Tutorial	Optional additional weekly Q&A session starting week 2 for students requiring additional assistance, or to discuss the major assignment.	1	StudyPeriod 12 times
	Workshop	1 hour design workshop weekly from weeks 4 -10 for the major design assignment	1	Study Period 7 times
	Practical	Labs 1 and 2 run concurrently in weeks 4-7. Each lab is 3 hours, and assessment is completed during the lab.	3	Study Period 2 times
	Practical	Lab 3 runs in weeks 8-11. It is 3 hours, and assessment is completed during the lab.	3	Study Period 1 time

Attendance / engagement expectations

If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Design action project	Week 13	30 %	LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Final Examination	Exam Period	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Assessed tutorials	Refer to Assessment Description	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	In-laboratory Assessment	Refer to Assessment Description	15 %	LO1, LO2

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Design action project

Task Description:

Design action project: Design project focusing on determining loads and load combinations on a structure using relevant Australian Standards, analysis of internal forces using industry standard structural engineering software such as SpaceGass, and selection of appropriate structural members.
The report may be completed in groups of 2 or 3, but individual contributions will be assessed via a weekly 3-5 minute progress presentation presented by one team member to the class on behalf of their team (alternating each week through the group so that everyone presents).

Task Length:

Maximum 30 pages

Due Date:

Week 13

Weight:

30 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Analysis and technical content: completeness, correctness and verifiability of the analysis and optimal achievement of design criteria	LO4
2	Writing and presentation: documentation and communication of the design process and outcomes	LO4
3	Individual contributions communicated through weekly presentation	LO4

Assessment Task 2: Final Examination

Task Description:

A three hour exam run during the final examination period. The exam will assess students on
knowledge and skills developed throughout the unit. In particular, this task will provide students with another opportunity to demonstrate their overall level of achievement across ILOs 1 to 3

Task Length:

3 hours

Due Date:

Exam Period

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Calculate area properties and use these to evaluate stresses and deflections in biaxial bending	LO1
2	Draw internal force diagrams for simple statically indeterminate structures	LO2
3	Calculate buckling loads or deflections in axially loaded members	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Assessed tutorials

Task Description:

Assessed tutorials: There will be weekly tutorials focusing on problem solving that reinforce the lecture content and apply the principles to practical problems similar to those that can be expected in the final exam. One problem from each of the weekly tutorial set needs to be submitted for assessment within 5 days of the tutorial. These assignments are aimed at preparing students for the final exam. The marking scheme will be coarse, and assignments will be assessed primarily on correctness and completeness. Setting out and presentation will be taken into account. Each assignment will count approximately 1% and will assess one of the first three ILOs.

Task Length:

Each week's problem would be similar in length to a typical exam question

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Calculate area properties and use these to evaluate stresses and deflections in biaxial bending	LO1
2	Draw internal force diagrams for simple statically indeterminate structures	LO2
3	Calculate buckling loads or deflections in axially loaded members	LO3

Assessment Task 4: In-laboratory Assessment

Task Description:

In-laboratory Assessment: Laboratory work will illustrate and reinforce the key concepts of structural mechanics learnt in the unit. Depending on enrolment numbers, Labs 1 and 2 run concurrently and will normally be in weeks 4-6. Lab 3 will normally be in weeks 8-10.

All assessment will be during the lab. You are required to have read the lab notes before the lab, and to turn up with PPE and having completed any required safety training.

Task Length:

Three 3-hour labs, 2-3 pages of calculations, diagrams or graphs completed within the lab.

Due Date:

Refer to Assessment Description

Weight:

15 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Safely perform experiments in structural mechanics and describe the concepts and principles that it demonstrates	LO1, LO2
2	Process experimental results to obtain key required results	LO1, LO2
3	Perform hand calculations or computer analyses to correctly predict key results of the experiment you have completed	LO1, LO2

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Australian Standards relevant to the design project, including AS1100 (available via the UTAS library)

Texts in the reading list below are not compulsory but are strongly recommended. The material is covered tersely in the lecture notes on MyLO - this may be sufficient for capable students, but is not a substitute for a good text.