EGB386 Design of Masonry Structures

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2025, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

This unit deals with the application of structural masonry to buildings with the core concepts of the design principles and methods of assessing the structural performance of masonry walls subject to earthquake and gravity loading. Most masonry buildings have heritage value and require knowledge for preservation; masonry structures are also popular in medium rise residential and industrial buildings. Therefore, this unit introduces the principles of safe and economical design of masonry walls for fire and combined compression, flexure and shear. Unreinforced, partially reinforced and fully reinforced masonry structures are covered.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Understand the scope of structural masonry design principles as per relevant Australian Standards at an introduced level.
2. Evaluate the structural engineering testing methods for identifying the material properties at a developed level.
3. Design structural masonry systems according to relevant standards at a developed level.
4. Compose technical documentation of a structural masonry engineering project including design calculations and drawings at a developed level.

Content

Learning Approaches

Teaching Mode:
Total hours per week: 4.5
Lecture: 1.5 hour/week
Tutorial & Workshop: 3 hours/week 

This unit is strongly focussed on design conforming to AS3700. To facilitate ease of reference to AS3700, a detailed set of notes is prepared and will be provided to the students. 

• Individual learning by regular reading of the study guide and engagement in Canvas Discussion Boards and live-streamed lectures and tutorials

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive feedback within two weeks of submission.
Assessment Submission and Extensions
Assessment items submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked and will receive a grade of 1 or 0%. If special circumstances prevent you from meeting the assessment due date, you may apply for an extension. If you don't have an approved extension you should submit the work you have done by the due date and it will be marked against the assessment criteria. QUT's assessment submission requirements reflect the expectations of professional practice where you will need to meet deadlines.

Assessment

Overview

You will be provided with a Project Brief to design a masonry building as per Australian Standards. As you progress throughout the semester, you will have the opportunity to apply your learnings by initiating design tasks. Unless exceptional circumstances govern otherwise, you will develop collegial work relationships with fellow students to facilitate the design. Your group will prepare and submit a design report towards the end of semester summarizing the work undertaken and the results obtained. At the time of submission, you are required to reflect on and provide a short narrative of your own and teammate's contribution to the project report. The Design Workshops (Studios) will facilitate your progress with opportunity to discuss and resolve design challenges.

You will further demonstrate your learnings against the learning outcomes by sitting an individual, theory, mid-term problem-solving exercise. Finally, you will sit an examination individually during the central examination period at the end of semester, where you will show your overall learning in the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Design Project

This is a group (team) submission. Your team will collate the masonry building design carried out by the members and submit as a coherent report of high professional standard. A reflective journal will be submitted by individual team members with confidential remarks including self and peer assessment.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Assessment: Mid Term Problem Solving Task

You will be given problems to solve in a limited time with available resources such as notes, standards and tutorial examples.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions

Assessment: Examination

You will be required to work through and provide answers for several problems. These problems may require extensive calculations and your answers must be submitted within a pre-determined time. 

“If campus access is restricted at the time of the central examination period/due date, an alternative, which may be a timed online assessment, will be offered. Individual students whose circumstances prevent their attendance on campus will be provided with an alternative assessment approach.”

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a commitment to undertaking academic work and assessment in a manner that is ethical, fair, honest, respectful and accountable.

The Academic Integrity Policy sets out the range of conduct that can be a failure to maintain the standards of academic integrity. This includes, cheating in exams, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion and contract cheating. It also includes providing fraudulent or altered documentation in support of an academic concession application, for example an assignment extension or a deferred exam.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Breaching QUT’s Academic Integrity Policy or engaging in conduct that may defeat or compromise the purpose of assessment can lead to a finding of student misconduct (Code of Conduct – Student) and result in the imposition of penalties under the Management of Student Misconduct Policy, ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

AS3700 (2018) Australian Standard - Masonry Structures, Standards Australia, Sydney.

AS3700 Supplement 1 (2020) Australian Standard - Masonry Structures, Standards Australia, Sydney.

CMAA Resource Materials - Concrete Masonry Walling
Think Brick Australia Reference Library - Clay Bricks & Pavers

Risk Assessment Statement

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineer

1: Knowledge and Skill Base

1. 
   Relates to: Design Project, Mid Term Problem Solving Task, Examination
2. 
   Relates to: Design Project
3. 
   Relates to: Mid Term Problem Solving Task, Examination
4. 
   Relates to: Mid Term Problem Solving Task, Examination

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Design Project, Mid Term Problem Solving Task, Examination

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Design Project
2. 
   Relates to: Design Project