EGB386 Design of Masonry Structures
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| Unit code: | EGB386 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | EGB275 |
| Equivalent(s): | ENB384 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,192 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $5,364 |
| International unit fee | $6,684 |
Unit Outline: Semester 1 2026, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | EGB386 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | EGB275 |
| Equivalent: | ENB384 |
| Coordinator: | Hossein Derakhshan | hossein.derakhshan@qut.edu.au |
Overview
This unit deals with structural design of masonry buildings according to relevant Australian Standards. Masonry construction is among options for building low to medium rise residential and industrial structures. This unit introduces the principles of safe and economical design of unreinforced and/or reinforced masonry walls to resist relevant structural actions from earthquake and gravity forces. In addition, Fire and Durability requirements are implemented in design.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Understand the scope of structural masonry design principles as per relevant Australian Standards at an introduced level.
- Evaluate the structural engineering testing methods for identifying the material properties at a developed level.
- Design structural masonry systems according to relevant standards at a developed level.
- Compose technical documentation of a structural masonry engineering project including design calculations and drawings at a developed level.
Content
Masonry Materials - properties and testing methods; Design for durability; Limit state design principles - capacity & serviceability; background research & innovations to design provisions; General design aspects of walling and lintels including interaction between masonry & other structural elements; Fire design provisions; Design for compression behaviour of unreinforced and reinforced masonry walls of various slenderness ratios; Design for out-of-plane behaviour of unreinforced and reinforced masonry walling; Design for in-plane behaviour of unreinforced and reinforced masonry walls of various aspect ratios; Design of facades & ties; thin bed masonry, cavity walls.
Learning Approaches
In this unit you can expect to experience the following 4.5 hour timetabled activities:
- Lecture: 1.5 hour/week to provide introduction of design concepts, theory, research-informed insights, discussions, occasional light in-class examples
- Tutorial: 1.5 hours/week with a walk-through design guidance for a mock-up building. In each teaching week, one aspect of the building is designed, often reflecting the concepts discussed in the current or previous weeks
- Design Studio: 1.5 hours/week. Regular weekly studios provide opportunity for you (learner) to complete a Design Project (one of the assessments). The assessment includes design of a masonry building. The activities in design Studio are learner-driven; i.e. you are expected to have attempted design steps prior to Studios and resolve any doubts with the Supervisor. Unlike Tutorials, these sessions do not include systematic solution of problems.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
In Assessment 1, you will gain topical feedback every week that you participate in Design Studio and asks questions/seek feedback from Supervisor. In addition, there is a formal formative assessment of your design project one or two weeks before submission deadline (towards the end of Semester; check Canvas). On the formative assessment day, your supervisor will provide you with holistic feedback of all of your project working. Upon submission, you will receive further grading feedback.
In addition to in-class feedback, you will have the opportunity to participate in Canvas Online Discussion forum. Questions asked in this forum can be answered by peers and/or teaching team.
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. This peer-grading will affect your Design Project grade.
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 exam. Finally, you will sit final 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. The peer-assessment will affect your grade.
This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
Assessment: Mid-semester exam
You will be given problems to solve in a limited time. Conditions are closed book and notes but a formulae sheet is provided.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
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.
The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools is prohibited during this assessment.
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
Learning material in this unit will be managed from its Canvas site. Reference text are as provided below.
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
Relates to: Design Project, Mid-semester exam , Examination
Relates to: Design Project
Relates to: Mid-semester exam , Examination
Relates to: Mid-semester exam , Examination
2: Engineering Application Ability
Relates to: Design Project, Mid-semester exam , Examination
3: Professional and Personal Attributes
Relates to: Design Project
Relates to: Design Project
Course Learning Outcomes
This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.EN01 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
- Engage stakeholders professionally and communicate the outcomes of your work effectively to expert and non-expert audiences using appropriate modes.
Relates to: Design Project - Manage projects to solve complex engineering problems, using appropriate information, engineering methods, and technologies.
Relates to: Design Project - Deploy appropriate approaches to engineering design and quality.
Relates to: Design Project - Engage with and apply regulatory requirements relating to safety, risk management, and sustainability in professional engineering practice.
Relates to: Design Project - Demonstrate coherent knowledge and skills of physical, mathematical, statistical, computer, and information sciences that are fundamental to professional engineering practice.
Relates to: Mid-semester exam , Examination - Demonstrate a thorough understanding of one engineering discipline, its research directions, and its application in contemporary professional engineering practice.
Relates to: Mid-semester exam , Examination