EGB275 Structural Mechanics

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Structural engineering is a prominent field of civil engineering that focuses on creation of safe, economical and sustainable structures. Structural engineers use knowledge and skills bases that you will learn in this unit to meet stakeholders' needs. You will learn moment distribution, introduction to structural analysis software, principle of virtual work to determine deflections, transformation of stresses and Mohr's Circle, torsion, shear flow, shear centre, unsymmetrical bending, the principle of compatibility, and combined axial loading and bending of structural elements and systems. In this unit you will further develop your mathematical skills (20% of this unit is maths) in structural engineering applications, and professional skills in engineering communication. This unit draws upon your learning in EGB121 Engineering Mechanics and MZB127 Engineering Mathematics and Statistics. All structural engineering units in the Civil Engineering major will build upon this unit.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Explain the properties of a structural engineering system and its elements at an introduced level.
2. Determine the behaviour of a structural engineering system when subject to loading theoretically at an introduced level.
3. Model the behaviour of a structural engineering system when subject to loading using a computational approach at an introduced level.
4. Apply mathematical methods to model and analyse structural engineering systems subject to loading at a developed level.
5. Appraise a structural engineering system with regard to constructability considerations at an introduced level.
6. Compose technical documentation of a structural engineering task that includes design calculations and preliminary design drawings at an introduced level.

Content

Learning Approaches

In this unit you can expect to experience the following timetabled activities:

• Formal lectures from experienced mathematicians and professional civil engineers to give you insight into knowledge, skills, and attributes. You have the opportunity to ask questions during these lectures.
• Tutorial classes that will give you the opportunity to work collaboratively with your peers to solve problems. They will be facilitated by tutors and will provide an opportunity to test your understanding and gain feedback on your work. One of the tutorial classes will be conducted as a computer lab session.
• Two practical sessions (1 hour each) in Weeks 6 and 8 that will enhance your understanding on topics such as shear centre, shear flow and moment distribution method. 
• There will be six weeks of mathematics lectures (1 hour per week) dedicated to mathematical content, and corresponding four weeks of mathematics workshops (1 hour per week) addressing the mathematical content that will be facilitated by instructors to provide guidance and feedback on your work.

These activities will be detailed by week of semester on the unit schedule. You can also expect to be provided with learning resources including video presentations and readings on a unit Canvas site, which you can access flexibly to complete your learning in this unit.

At the beginning of the unit, you will be made aware of the ways in which you can ask questions or seek clarification from the unit coordinator, lecturers and tutors.

You are expected to:

• Engage with timetabled learning activities on campus and ask questions.
• Engage with online resources outside of timetabled learning activities. They will be available on the unit Canvas site. You will receive regular email announcements regarding the release of these resources.
• Work individually and consistently throughout the semester to complete the mathematical and structural mechanics problem solving tasks and laboratory tasks by the due dates that are published on the unit Canvas site. While there will be time during timetabled tutorial classes and mathematics workshops, you will also need to undertake independent work outside of that time to complete this assessment.
• Prepare for learning activities according to the unit schedule, and follow up on any work not completed.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

During tutorial and workshop classes, you will share your formative ideas for your assessment problem solving tasks and you will receive feedback from your peers and teacher. Submission of problem solving tasks and laboratory tasks will be graded against criteria and standards that will be shared with you at the beginning of semester through Assessment Task Descriptions and Marking Rubrics. Marked assessment will include feedback given by the markers against the criteria.

Assessment

Overview

Assessment in the unit includes two practical problem solving tasks and a final examination.
Assessment of the mathematics content in Assessment 1 Mathematical and Structural Mechanics
Problem Solving Task will contribute 10% to your final result in this unit. Assessment of the mathematics content in Assessment 3 Invigilated Written Examination will contribute 10% to your final result in this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task

Problem solving of mathematics and application to basic engineering structures. You are required to solve a series of problems related to the topics taught in the unit.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task

Structural mechanics laboratory tasks. You are required to complete two practicals on topics such as shear flow, shear centre and moment distribution method.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Invigilated Written Examination

Examination (Written) will involve descriptive questions and problems in all of the
topics covered in the whole of this unit. You will use the principles taught in this unit
to describe concepts and/principles and solve problems in mathematics, structural
analysis, and virtual work method applied for deflection calculations. Applications will
involve beam and frame structures.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

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.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Reference book(s)

Hibbeler, R.C. 2017. Structural Analysis (in SI Units), Ninth Edition. Pearson,
Singapore.

(does not need to be purchased)

Hibbeler, R.C. 2018. Mechanics of Materials. Tenth Edition. Pearson, Singapore.

(does not need to be purchased)

Risk Assessment Statement

Risks are associated with the two practicals scheduled in Week 6 and 8. You have to complete the Undergraduate Health Safety and Environment Induction prior to attending the prac sessions. More detailed information will be provided in your Week 1 information class. 

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: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Invigilated Written Examination
2. 
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Invigilated Written Examination
3. 
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
4. 
   Relates to: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task

2: Engineering Application Ability

1. 
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Invigilated Written Examination
2. 
   Relates to: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
3. 
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
4. 
   Relates to: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task

3: Professional and Personal Attributes

1. 
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task
2. 
   Relates to: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task

Course Learning Outcomes

EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task
2. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
3. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
4. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination

EV01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

1. Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task
2. Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
   Relates to: Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
3. Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination
4. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
   Relates to: Mathematical and Structural Mechanics Problem Solving Task, Structural Engineering Laboratory Task, Invigilated Written Examination