ENG212 Structural Engineering

Competently explain, demonstrate and apply steel and timber design procedures compliant with AS/NZS 1170.0, 1170.1 & 1170.2; and AS 1720.1 & 4100, and to the adequate design limit states (strength, serviceability, etc.)

You determine the relevant limit state conditions of structural steel and timber elements, design these elements to these limit states, provide the detailing of these elements if applicable, and discuss the design procedures and/or your design. 

You complete your designs competently in compliance with AS/NZS 1170.0, 1170.1 & 1170.2; and AS 1720.1 & 4100: 

1a)Structural engineering, 

1b) Steel member under axial actions, 

1c) Steel beam under flexural design action, 

1d) Timber member under axial actions, 

1e) Timber beam under flexural design action, 

1f) TBC. 

You present your designs in short design reports of max. 200 words each or equivalent. Your reports adhere to the conventions of engineering reports, must be strictly handwritten (neat and legible) and ready for review by a senior engineer. If relevant, you may include captioned diagrams, tables of data, graphs, photographs, etc. as Appendices. Calculations must be in adequate significant figures and units throughout the reports. If applicable, your design detailings are complete with adequate specifications, dimensions and units (neat hand sketches are acceptable). Note the word count excludes Appendices.

You may collaborate with peers to complete Task 1. Such collaboration will be clearly stated on the task coversheet. You also provide your details (names and student number) and signature on the cover page of each report. A coversheet template will be available on Blackboard.

Submission in Weeks 3, 5, 6, 9, 10 & 13.

Effectively and professionally collaborate with your peers to undertake the detailed engineering design of steel and timber structures (buildings, bridges, etc.) or aspects of these to relevant limit states in compliance with Australian Design Codes: AS/NZS 1170.0, 1170.1 & 1170.2; and AS 1720.1 & 4100.

Engineers work in project teams! This challenging design project will allow you to demonstrate your (structural) design abilities by developing, designing and drawing the structural elements of a building, and will contribute to developing and/or improving your collaboration skills.

2a)Structural engineering

2b)Steel design and construction 

2c)Timber design and construction 

Site details, architectural drawings and full project description will be supplied on Blackboard and/or discussed in class. 

In your group (3-4 members), you collaborate effectively and professionally to write three design reports that adhere to the conventions of engineering reports, of a maximum of 1000 words or equivalent, your reports must be ready for review by a senior engineer. Your report may include calculations - ensure calculations are in adequate significant figures and units throughout the reports (scanned copies of hand calculations are acceptable), diagrams, tables of data, graphs and photographs adequately captioned and referenced, and shop drawings of your design (if required).

All drawings and detailings (shop drawings) are prepared with AutoCAD or an equivalent CAD program and placed in an Appendix.

Task 2a - Structural engineering 

Your team determine the design parameters of the Limit State Design of a proposed building. To this end, you investigate and identify the loads (incl. wind load) and design load combinations for ultimate and service limit states applicable to the building in compliance with the Australian Loading Code: AS/NZS 1170 set, you conceive a solution for the structure of the proposed building, including the stability concept, and you complete the pre-analysis of the primary structure (stability members excludes). Note further details about the building/structure will be provided on Blackboard and/or in class. 

Task 2b - Steel design and construction 

Your team engineer and design a structural solution using steel products. Your steel solution is adapted to your primary structure (refer to Task 2a). Your design must comply with Australian Design Code AS 4100-1998 Steel Structures. Note further details will be provided on Blackboard and/or in class. 

Task 2c - Timber design and construction 

Your team engineer and design a timber structure adapted to the primary structure of the proposed building (refer to Task 2a). Your design must comply with Australian Design Code AS 1720.1-2010 Timber Structures. Note further details will be provided on Blackboard and/or in class. 

The design project will be completed without the help of specialised structural analysis software and design aids such as span tables. Note design capacity tables and aids may be used as a check of your design solutions.

Note: These tools are obviously used in practice but until you have enough experience to appreciate their limitations and/or critically assess their results, eg. whether or not a software output is reasonable, it is best that you design 'manually' and check/discuss your design solutions with your peers. 

The names and student numbers of all team members are listed on the cover page of each report and each team member must sign the cover page. The contributions of each team member will also be clearly stated on the coversheets. Coversheet templates will be available on Blackboard.

Submission in Weeks 4, 8 & 12

Demonstrate the competencies and skills to competently and compliantly determine Limit State Design parameters, and to competently and compliantly design steel and timber structural elements.

The final exam assesses the material (lectures, tutorials and assignments) covered in the course and the self-study material.
The exam will be partially open book. Full details of what may be taken into the exam venue will be explained in class during the semester and posted on Blackboard. You will be required to solve a number of typical Structural Engineering design problems similar to the Lecture examples, Tutorial questions and/or those you undertook in your design projects.Past exam papers may be available on Blackboard.