Module Catalogue 2025/26

Pre Requisite Comment

Design of Building Elements (CEG2302) or equivalent, DSES 2 (CEG2004) or equivalent.

Co Requisite Comment

None

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 structures, 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;
Computer-based structural analysis;
Structural serviceability design;
Sustainability assessment.

Intended Knowledge Outcomes

At the end of the module students should be able to:

Develop general structural design schemes (C5 and C7);
Demonstrate the framing of structures to ensure that a complete load path exists for all loads and forces and their combination (C1, C2 and C10);
Satisfy the strength and serviceability (e.g. deflection, vibration, etc.) requirements of the Eurocodes (C4);
Assess relevant loadings (C2);
Perform preliminary sizing of members (C5);
Perform computer-based structural analysis (C3 and C4);
Idealise a structural system and hence perform an analysis with an appropriate amount of detail (C3 and C6);
Understand the erection of building systems and their interaction with design (C6 and C10);
Understand sustainable timber materials and perform fundamental timber structural design (C5 and C3).

Intended Skill Outcomes

At the end of the module students should be able to:

Analyse and design simple building systems (C5 and C7);
Produce structural design calculations (C2 and C6);
Produce structural design sketches (C5, C7 and C17).

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 and perform calculations for practical building structures.

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The exam will test the students’ ability to apply structural design skills and knowledge (C1, C2, C5, C6, C7, C10, C13 and C17). The individual report will test students’ ability to use computer-based structural analysis tool (C3 and C4).

General Notes

N/A