Overview
In this unit, you will analyse, design and prepare documentation for major civil engineering projects involving a broad range of investigation and design activities. You will establish project requirements and determine design loads and conditions, analyse structures and design components using Australian Standards and/or relevant guidance. You will use commercial computer software to analyse and design the structures with various design actions; conduct site investigations, test and characterise geotechnical materials, design foundations and earth retaining structures, and make assessments of geotechnical stability. In this unit, you are expected to document the process of modelling, testing and analysis, and communicate, work and learn, both individually and in teams, in a professional manner. In this unit, you must complete compulsory practical activities. Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for proposed dates.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: (ENEC12012 Stress Analysis or ENEC13010 Solid Mechanics) AND ENEC12008 Geotechnical Engineering AND (ENEC13015 Steel & Timber Design or ENEC13011 Steel Structures) AND (ENEC13016 Concrete Technology & Design or ENEC14013 Concrete Structures)
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 - 2022
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).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 12-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 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 Moodle
Both structural and geotechnical engineering assessments were very relevant and practice-oriented.
The high fidelity assessments will be maintained in future offerings.
Feedback from Moodle
The course content was diverse and informative.
The diversity of the content will be upheld in the next offering.
Feedback from Moodle
The lecturers were very well planned, in-depth discussion of topics and never stretched for time.
The conceptual discussions and their articulation in an easy to understand manner is central to this design unit and this teaching style will be maintained in future.
Feedback from Moodle
Some assessments were returned late which hindered learning.
Care will be taken to return assessments within the two-week time period.
Feedback from Moodle
RC design and labs could have been taught in other units.
This is a high priority and the teaching team is working to restructure some aspects of the unit. The lab component has now been moved and from 2023 onward will be discontinued.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ethical practice by promoting principles of sustainable development and awareness of stakeholder requirements
- Determine and justify loads and load combinations for a structural system
- Analyse and design concrete and masonry structural components using appropriate Australian Standards
- Describe and apply site investigation and geotechnical testing techniques to characterise sites and geotechnical materials based on Australian Standards
- Analyse and design foundations and earth retaining structures and assess the stability of slopes
- Accurately model and analyse structural and geotechnical systems using industry-standard software and Australian Standards.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Introductory
3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 3N)
Intermediate
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 3I)
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 2I 3I 4I)
3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 4I)
Advanced
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 3A 4I)
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 2A 3A 4I 5A)
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 2A 3A 5A)
1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 1A 3I)
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. (LO: 3A 5A)
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. (LO: 3A 5A 6A)
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 2A 3A 4A 5A)
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 2I 3A 5A)
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 3A 4A)
3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 3A 4A)
Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) which link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A - Advanced.
Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Portfolio - 50% | ||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Oral Examination - 20% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 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 | ||||||
Textbooks
Soil Mechanics and Foundations
Edition: 3rd (2010)
Authors: Muni Budhu
John Wiley & Sons
USA
ISBN: 978-0-470-55684-9
Binding: Hardcover
Foundation Design: Principles and Practices
Edition: 3rd (2015)
Authors: Coduto, D. P., Kitch, W. A., Yeung, M. R.
Pearson
USA
ISBN: 9780133411898
Binding: Hardcover
Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete
Edition: 3rd (2018)
Authors: Yew-Chaye Loo, Sanaul H. Chowdhury
Cambridge University Press
Melbourne Melbourne , VIC , Australia
ISBN: 9781108405645
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Further information regarding Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete:
This edition has been written based on the Australian Standard for Concrete Structures AS3600–2009. Since then the AS3600 was updated and a new version is released in 2018 as Australian Standard for Concrete Structures AS3600-2018. Therefore, this textbook may not necessarily reflect recent amendments and addenda to AS3600-2018. However, an errata for this book will be provided through the unit website.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Finite Element Software for Structural Analysis: SPACE GASS
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
s.noorekhuda@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Introducing the course and discussion on soil bearing capacity
Lecture 2: Masonry Design
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation
Structural Design: Masonry Design (AS3700-2018)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Bearing Capacity II
Lecture 2: Masonry Design and Material Properties
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundation (continued)
Structural Design: Masonry, Material Properties, Design of Control Joints (AS3700-2018)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Bearing Capacity III
Lecture 2: Design of Unreinforced Masonry I
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Pile Foundation
Structural Design: Design for in-plane and out-of-plane shear (AS3700-2018)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Bearing Capacity IV
Lecture 2: Design of Unreinforced Masonry II
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Pile Foundations (continued)
Structural Design: Design for out-of-plane Bending (AS3700-2018)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Retaining Wall I
Lecture 2: Design of Unreinforced Masonry III
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Retaining Wall
Structural Design: Design for Compression (AS3700-2018)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Mid-term break
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Retaining Wall II
Lecture 2: Prestressed Concrete Design I
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Retaining Wall (continued)
Structural Design: Introduction to Prestressed Concrete Design
Events and Submissions/Topic
There are two reports to be submitted with various due dates ranging from week 6 to week 11 (please see the project briefing for exact dates)
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Slope Stability
Lecture 2: Prestressed Concrete Design II
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Slope Stability
Structural Design: Estimation of Prestress Force and Tendon Profile
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Site Investigation
Lecture 2: Prestressed Concrete Design III
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Site Investigation
Structural Design: Ultimate Design Checks
Events and Submissions/Topic
There are three reports to be submitted with various due dates ranging from week 8 to week 12 (see the project briefing for exact dates)
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Soil Testing - Lab
Lecture 2: Prestressed Concrete Design IV
Tutorial 1: Geotechnical Engineering
Tutorial 2: Structural Engineering
Chapter
Geotechnical Design: Soil Testing - Lab
Structural Design: Losses in Prestressed Beam
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Tutorials (as required)
Lecture 2: Tutorials (as required)
Chapter
Tutorials
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Lecture 1: Tutorials (as required)
Lecture 2: Tutorials (as required)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No lectures in this week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Please follow the Unit Website of ENEC14014 for more information.
1 Portfolio
The aim of this assessment is to allow the students to demonstrate their understanding of various concepts, theories, software and processes developed in Structural Engineering topics covered in the course. This may include but is not limited to structural analysis, calculation of design actions, concrete and masonry design.
This portfolio contains 2 projects and students are expected to work individually as specified below.
1. Masonry Design – Individual Project [25 marks]
2. Prestressed Concrete (PC) Design – Individual Project [25 marks]
Formal assessment is by submission of a portfolio which contains evidence of all the work that the student has performed throughout the term. Each project may be due on different dates. Students must read each project briefing carefully and follow instructions and time frames as specified to complete the project successfully.
A Project Brief detailing the requirements for each project, including required pieces of work, will be available on the unit website as below.
1. Masonry Design – Week 1
2. Prestressed Concrete (PC) Design – Week 6
There are two reports to be submitted with various due dates ranging from week 6 to week 11 (please see the project briefing for exact dates)
2 weeks from the due date
Each main steps in project tasks will be assessed separately for the criterion accuracy and correct results.
- Correct application of mathematics and arithmetic
- Reference to correct Standards and/or principles
- Answers clearly identified
- Correct results
In addition, each project as a whole will be assessed against the following criteria:
Evidence of correct procedures
- All necessary steps in the analysis are present in the correct order
- Clear presentation of mathematical and arithmetical working linking given details of the problem to the results obtained
- Evidence of checking results (mathematical, graphical, logic-common sense)
Evidence of the understanding of the topic
- Explanation of choices made in the analysis (why is the procedure required, why this particular procedure)
- Interpretation of results, eg limitations, the direction of vectors
Professional presentation
- The work (job) is clearly identified (problem, data, analysis)
- A clear statement of each problem and its details and requirements
- The logical layout of the analysis
- Appropriate use of diagrams, clear diagrams
- Correct use of terminology, conventions
- Clear English in the explanation of procedure and interpretation of results.
Important: The omission of any of the required items as specified in the Portfolio Brief will automatically result in a Fail grade.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ethical practice by promoting principals of sustainable development and awareness of stakeholder requirements
- Determine and justify loads and load combinations for a structural system
- Analyse and design concrete and masonry structural components using appropriate Australian Standards
- Accurately model and analyse structural and geotechnical systems using industry-standard software and Australian Standards.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Portfolio
The aim of this assessment is to allow the students to demonstrate their understanding of various concepts, theories and processes developed in Geotechnical Engineering topics covered in the program. This may include but is not limited to consolidation, slope stability, site investigation, earth retaining wall and foundation design.
This portfolio contains 2 projects and laboratory reports. Detail of the projects and laboratory tasks are given below. Students are expected to work in a team and/or individually as specified below.
1. Foundation Design – Individual Project [10 marks]
2. Earth Retaining Wall Design – Individual Project [12 marks]
3. Laboratory Report – Individual Reports [8 marks]
Formal assessment is by submission of a portfolio which contains evidence of all the individual work that the student has performed throughout the term. Students must read and follow the guidance and timeline to complete the project successfully.
A Portfolio Brief detailing the requirements for Portfolio and laboratory instructions will be available on the
unit Website as below.
1. Foundation Design – Week 1
2. Earth Retaining Wall Design – Week 6
3. Laboratory Report – Week 6
There are three reports to be submitted with various due dates ranging from week 8 to week 12 (see the project briefing for exact dates)
2 weeks from the due date
Each main steps in project and laboratory tasks will be assessed separately for the criterion accuracy and correct results.
- Correct application of mathematics and arithmetic
- Reference to correct Standards and/or principles
- Answers clearly identified
- Correct results
In addition, each project as a whole will be assessed against the following criteria:
Evidence of correct procedures
- All necessary steps in the analysis are present in the correct order
- Clear presentation of mathematical and arithmetical working linking given details of the problem to the results obtained
- Evidence of checking results (mathematical, graphical, logic-common sense)
Evidence of the understanding of the topic
- Explanation of choices made in the analysis (why is the procedure required, why this particular procedure)
- Interpretation of results, eg limitations, the direction of vectors
Professional presentation
- The work (job) is clearly identified (problem, data, analysis)
- A clear statement of each problem and its details and requirements
- The logical layout of the analysis
- Appropriate use of diagrams, clear diagrams
- Correct use of terminology, conventions
- Clear English in the explanation of procedure and interpretation of results.
Important: The omission of any of the required items as specified in the Portfolio Brief will automatically result in a Fail grade.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ethical practice by promoting principals of sustainable development and awareness of stakeholder requirements
- Describe and apply site investigation and geotechnical testing techniques to characterise sites and geotechnical materials based on Australian Standards
- Analyse and design foundations and earth retaining structures and assess stability of slopes
- Accurately model and analyse structural and geotechnical systems using industry-standard software and Australian Standards.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Team Work
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Oral Examination
At the end of the term, an oral examination (viva) will be scheduled for each student. Students must be prepared to answer questions raised by the facilitator/lecturer. The questions will be based on project and laboratory work as well as all the topics covered in this unit. Due to the nature of the assessment item, each question will be marked either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
All oral examination will be recorded for assessment review purpose and may be stored up to 3 months (or as required by DDLT) after the release of the grades.
Individual time for each student will be notified in week 10
Feedback will be released only on Grade certification date
Each question in the oral examination will be assessed separately for the criterion accuracy, comprehension and correct understanding of the principles.
- Explanation of choices made in the analysis or design (why is the procedure required, why this particular procedure)
- Interpretation of results, eg limitations, the direction of vectors
- Ability to use the knowledge in similar and/or less-complex scenarios
- Ability to answer questions on software used
Each question will be marked either satisfactory or unsatisfactory based on the answer given by the student. The satisfactory answer will be marked as 1 and the unsatisfactory answer will be marked as 0. Then it will be converted to final marks with direct scale.
Example: If a total number of questions = 10 and a student answered 7 questions correctly, then he answered 70% of the questions correctly. Therefore, the student will get 0.7x20 = 14 marks for this assessment item.
No submission method provided.
- Determine and justify loads and load combinations for a structural system
- Analyse and design concrete and masonry structural components using appropriate Australian Standards
- Describe and apply site investigation and geotechnical testing techniques to characterise sites and geotechnical materials based on Australian Standards
- Analyse and design foundations and earth retaining structures and assess stability of slopes
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Ethical practice
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?
