Overview
This unit will develop your knowledge on the properties of building materials. You will also examine testing (both destructive and non-destructive) of timber, concrete, and metals in relation to: Timber - grading, strength tests, durability and protection of timber products; Concrete - tests on aggregates, fresh and hardened concrete properties, durability studies and test methods, and concrete protection; and Metal - ferrous and non-ferrous metal and its alloys, corrosion of metals and protection, and strength properties tests. This unit also develops your understanding of: Protection from corrosion and destruction; Identifying the suitable grade material for the site conditions; and Relevant Australian and international Standards. You will be provided with an introduction to: the development and application of materials from industry by-products and re-cycling of materials and life-cycle analysis of materials.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2020
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation Survey
Learning material and structure was easy to follow making my study plan and time management simple.
We continue to use the new textbook introduced in 2019 offering and incorporate additional readings relevant to the Australian context where required.
Feedback from Unit Evaluation Survey
The lecturer was clear about the requirements and standards needed for the unit and assessments.
We continue to provide clear descriptions of the requirements of assessment items and marking criteria.
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Endnote (available through Library - see Moodle link)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.j.stone@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Building Materials
Chapter
Mitchell's Materials, 5th ed, Chapter 1: General Properties
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Brick and Brickwork
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 1: Brick and brickwork
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Block and Blockwork
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 1: Block and blockwork
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Blockwork
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 2: Block and blockwork
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Timber and Timber Products
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 4: Timber and timber products
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lime, Cement, and Concrete
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 4: Timber and timber products
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lime, Cement, and Concrete
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 3: Lime, cement and concrete
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Metallic materials
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 3: Lime, cement and concrete
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Plastics
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 5: Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Glass
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 5: Ferrous and non-ferrous metals
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Other Materials
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 17: Recycled and ecological materials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Sustainability in Material Use
Chapter
Materials for Architects and Builders, 5th ed, Chapter 18: Sustainability
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assessment questions and exercises cover topics of "Brick and Brickwork" and "Block and Blockwork."
Week 4 Friday (3 Apr 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Submit the assessment item on or before the due date and time. Late submission penalty is 5% per day of the allotted marks.
Vacation Week Friday (17 Apr 2020)
Marks and feedback will be available via Moodle
Assessment criteria are set in the assessment description sheet under a section called "Marking Rubrics."
These criteria cover the following aspects:
Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.
Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.
References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
2 Written Assessment
This assessment questions and exercises cover the topic of "Timber and Timber Products."
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Submit the assessment item on or before the due date and time. Late submission penalty is 5% per day of the allotted marks.
Week 10 Monday (18 May 2020)
via turnitin
Assessment criteria are set in the assessment description sheet under a section called "Marking Rubrics."
These criteria cover the following aspects:
Presentation and layout—includes demonstrated ability to prepare a professional technical report as part of the audit process, use of grammar, the selection of typeface, written and general appearance of the document or assignment, attention to detail and quality of arrangement with regard to page numbering, headings, margins, footnotes and similar details to provide a professional document presentation.
Content—includes the accuracy and relevance of the information supplied in relation to the set task, using an ‘easy to read’ language style.
References—includes the use of the Harvard Referencing System to reference information, data, tables or images used when preparing a response to the set task.
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
3 Written Assessment
This assessment questions and exercises cover topics of "Lime, Cement, and Concrete" and "Metallic Materials."
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2020) 11:55 pm AEST
Submit the assessment item on or before the due date and time. Late submission penalty is 5% per day of the allotted marks.
Exam week
No Assessment Criteria
No submission method provided.
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
