Course Outline
CIV504 Advanced Structural Analysis and Design
Course Coordinator:Christophe Gerber (cgerber@usc.edu.au) School:School of Science, Technology and Engineering
2026Trimester 1
UniSC Moreton Bay |
Blended learning | You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement. |
Online |
Online | You can do this course without coming onto campus. |
Please go to usc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
This course will enhance your skills in structural analysis and design, emphasising their application to real-world structural engineering scenarios. It will introduce you to advanced levels of structural analysis, using specialised software, and will provide you with in-depth theoretical and technical knowledge in the field of structural design. Upon completion, you will possess the expertise to engage in complex structural engineering tasks. Whenever applicable, the course content will be aligned with the requirements outlined in Australian Standards.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Learning materials – Asynchronous weekly learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Seminar – On campus | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
| Online | |||
| Learning materials – Asynchronous weekly learning material | 1hr | Week 1 | 12 times |
| Seminar – Online | 1hr | Week 1 | 3 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Online | 2hrs | Week 1 | 10 times |
Course Topics
Topics may include:
- Analysis of Indeterminate Structures using the Slope-Deflection Equation
- Plastic Theory of Structures, including the Upper and Lower Bound Theorems
- Design Principles for Dynamic Loading, including Earthquake and Blast Loads
- Computer Analysis of Dynamic Loads
- Stability of Structures
- Computer Analysis of Structural Stability
- Deflection of Reinforced Concrete Beams and Slabs
- Design Aspects of Reinforced Concrete Foundations
- Design of Prestressed Concrete Elements
What level is this course?
500 Level (Advanced)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | Professional Standard Mapping * Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Discern the principles, considerations and processes in the design of steel frame buildings, various types of reinforced concrete slab systems, foundations and columns, as total systems and with regard to the design of individual components. | Knowledgeable |
1, 1.3.a, 1.3 |
| 2 | Develop computer models of complex structural systems and validate the results by independent manual means to assess alternative structural design approaches and justify optimal solutions. | Empowered |
2, 2.1.f, 2.2.b, 2.1, 2.2 |
| 3 | Design steel/portal frame buildings, with due regard for relevant Australian Standards and contemporary construction practices and produce calculations and checks to ensure compliance with appropriate deflection controls. | Empowered |
2, 2.2.b, 2.2.c, 2.3.a, 2.3.b, 2.2, 2.3 |
| 4 | Design reinforced concrete flat slab floors and foundations for buildings, on the basis of flexure and two-way shear, on the basis of AS3600 and with due regard for current industry practice and produce calculations and checks to ensure compliance with appropriate deflection controls. | Empowered |
2, 2.2.b, 2.2.c, 2.3.a, 2.3.b, 2.2, 2.3 |
| 5 | Demonstrate effective teamwork in the completion of structural design tasks. | Engaged |
3, 3.6.b, 3.6 |
| 6 | Create well-communicated and professional high-quality documents presenting analysis and design computations and computer modelling details and outcomes. | Engaged |
3, 3.2.a, 3.2 |
| 7 | Synthesise and critically evaluate core course concepts and their interrelationships and effectively communicate a comprehensive understanding of the course's main ideas and their broader implications. |
Knowledgeable Creative and critical thinker Empowered Communication Problem solving Applying technologies |
1.6, 2.3, 3.2, 3.5 |
* Competencies by Professional Body
| CODE | COMPETENCY |
| Engineers Australia Stage 1 Professional Engineer Competency Standards | |
| 1 | Elements of competency: Knowledge and Skill Base |
| 1.3.a | Knowledge and Skill Base - In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline: Proficiently applies advanced technical knowledge and skills in at least one specialist practice domain of the engineering discipline. |
| 1.3 | Knowledge and Skill Base: In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. |
| 1.6 | Knowledge and Skill Base: Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. |
| 2 | Elements of competency: Engineering Application Ability |
| 2.1.f | Engineering Application Ability - Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving: Conceptualises alternative engineering approaches and evaluates potential outcomes against appropriate criteria to justify an optimal solution choice. |
| 2.2.b | Engineering Application Ability - Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources: Constructs or selects and applies from a qualitative description of a phenomenon, process, system, component or device a mathematical, physical or computational model based on fundamental scientific principles and justifiable simplifying assumptions. |
| 2.2.c | Engineering Application Ability - Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources: Determines properties, performance, safe working limits, failure modes, and other inherent parameters of materials, components and systems relevant to the engineering discipline. |
| 2.3.a | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes: Proficiently applies technical knowledge and open ended problem solving skills as well as appropriate tools and resources to design components, elements, systems, plant, facilities and/or processes to satisfy user requirements. |
| 2.3.b | Engineering Application Ability - Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes: Addresses broad contextual constraints such as social, cultural, environmental, commercial, legal political and human factors, as well as health, safety and sustainability imperatives as an integral part of the design process. |
| 2.1 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. |
| 2.2 | Engineering Application Ability: Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources. |
| 2.3 | Engineering Application Ability: Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. |
| 3 | Elements of competency: Professional and Personal Attributes |
| 3.6.b | Professional and Personal Attributes - Effective team membership and team leadership: Functions as an effective member or leader of diverse engineering teams, including those with multi-level, multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural dimensions. |
| 3.2.a | Professional and Personal Attributes - Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains: Is proficient in listening, speaking, reading and writing English. |
| 3.2 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. |
| 3.5 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. |
| 3.6 | Professional and Personal Attributes: Effective team membership and team leadership. |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Enrolled in MC002 or MC006
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Early feedback will be provided through completion of weekly activities in workshops. Furthermore, feedback on each assessment will be provided which will be used to help with the following assessment.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1 | Written Piece | Individual | 40% | 3000 words |
Week 7 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Oral and Written Piece | Group | 40% | 2000 words |
Week 12 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Activity Participation | Individual | 20% | A 10-12 minute presentation which may be followed by approximately 5-10 minutes of question |
Week 12 | Online Submission |
| All - Assessment Task 1:Written Piece | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Formulate and solve mechanics problems based on the problem descriptions provided |
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| Product: | Written Piece | |||||||||||||||
| Format: | Formulate and solve mechanics problems based on the problem descriptions provided |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Problem solving, Organisation |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Report/Oral | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | Advance skills and understanding of structural analysis |
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| Product: | Oral and Written Piece | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Format: | Group project to advance skills and understanding of structural analysis |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Collaboration, Problem solving, Organisation, Applying technologies |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Course summary and critical evaluation | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | To assess your ability to synthesise and critically evaluate the course's core concepts, demonstrating a sophisticated and integrated understanding of its main ideas, their interrelationships, and broader implications. |
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| Product: | Activity Participation | ||||||||||||
| Format: | Presentation |
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| Criteria: |
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| Generic Skills: | Communication, Problem solving |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment
Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale
Assessment: Submission penalties
Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty
SafeUniSC
UniSC is committed to a culture of respect and providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. For immediate assistance on campus contact SafeUniSC by phone: 07 5430 1168 or using the SafeZone app. For general enquires contact the SafeUniSC team by phone 07 5456 3864 or email safe@usc.edu.au.
The SafeUniSC Specialist Service is a Student Wellbeing service that provides free and confidential support to students who may have experienced or observed behaviour that could cause fear, offence or trauma. To contact the service call 07 5430 1226 or email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au.
Study help
For help with course-specific advice, for example what information to include in your assessment, you should first contact your tutor, then your course coordinator, if needed.
If you require additional assistance, the Learning Advisers are trained professionals who are ready to help you develop a wide range of academic skills. Visit the Learning Advisers web page for more information, or contact Student Central for further assistance: +61 7 5430 2890 or studentcentral@usc.edu.au.
Wellbeing Services
Student Wellbeing provide free and confidential counselling on a wide range of personal, academic, social and psychological matters, to foster positive mental health and wellbeing for your academic success.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email studentwellbeing@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 1226.
AccessAbility Services
Ability Advisers ensure equal access to all aspects of university life. If your studies are affected by a disability, learning disorder mental health issue, injury or illness, or you are a primary carer for someone with a disability or who is considered frail and aged, AccessAbility Services can provide access to appropriate reasonable adjustments and practical advice about the support and facilities available to you throughout the University.
To book a confidential appointment go to Student Hub, email AccessAbility@usc.edu.au or call 07 5430 2890.
Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
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In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au