Aims

The aim of this module is to help students develop skills in structural design and problem solving for steel, concrete, and timber structures, with a special emphasis on timber structures.

Outline Of Syllabus

The ability to design a building for structural adequacy is an essential part of a chartered engineer’s job. This module is the second in the series of structural design modules and develops problem solving skills in structural engineering. Students are given design exercises, which assist a student to develop general design principles. Students are instructed on how to develop sound structural engineering solutions from structural, economic and sustainable viewpoints. Students determine an appropriate structural system for a given structure and design and detail appropriate structural elements for it. As part of this process, students must ensure that all relevant limit states are met, and that all relevant design loads and sustainability requirements are considered. Students’ designs must conform to relevant codes of practice (e.g. Eurocode and Building Regulations), be correctly detailed for construction, and be assessed for sustainability.

The module topics include:

Advanced design of reinforced concrete, structural steel structures, timber structures and structural elements to Eurocode;
Calculation of relevant loadings;
The framing of structures and the idealisation of structural systems; Structural stability and resistance to horizontal and vertical loads;
Sustainability assessment.

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching and learning are mainly through lectures and design examples. Analytical and calculation methods are taught during lectures and applied during the tutorial sessions. Students are encouraged to practice example problems and to do further reading. Students will be required to present design solutions for practical building structures.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam will test the students’ ability to apply structural design skills and knowledge.