Overview
This advanced course develops integrated design competence in reinforced-concrete and structural-steel systems. It examines material properties, durability, serviceability, strength, ductility, stability, constructability, corrosion protection, fire resistance, sustainability, and failure modes in accordance with applicable design standards.
The reinforced-concrete component covers load-transfer mechanisms; dead, live, wind, seismic, and other relevant actions; load combinations; flexural design of singly and doubly reinforced beams; shear and torsion; development and anchorage; one-way and two-way slabs; columns under axial load and bending; interaction diagrams; walls; isolated and combined footings; crack control; deflection; detailing; and ductility.
The structural-steel component covers design philosophies and limit states; structural steel properties; tension and compression members; buckling; beams under bending and shear; lateral-torsional buckling; beam-columns; bolted and welded connections; base plates; trusses and frames; global stability; serviceability; corrosion protection; and constructability. Students analyse determinate and indeterminate structures, select structural systems, idealize load paths, determine critical design actions, size members, verify strength and serviceability, detail reinforcement, design connections, and prepare coordinated calculation packages and drawings using hand methods and structural software.
Learning Outcomes
- Evaluate structural materials, load-transfer mechanisms, design philosophies, limit states, and applicable reinforced-concrete and steel standards.
- Interpret and apply code provisions independently to determine design actions, load combinations, strength requirements, and serviceability limits.
- Select appropriate structural systems and idealize clear load paths for determinate and indeterminate structures subjected to gravity, wind, seismic, and other actions.
- Design reinforced-concrete beams, slabs, columns, walls, footings, and torsional and shear-resisting elements for strength, durability, crack control, deflection, ductility, and anchorage.
- Design structural-steel members and systems, including tension members, compression members, beams, beam-columns, trusses, frames, base plates, and stability systems.
- Design and detail bolted and welded steel connections in accordance with applicable strength, serviceability, constructability, and durability requirements.
- Develop reinforcement details, steel connection details, structural drawings, and transparent calculation packages that communicate assumptions, procedures, and results.
- Use hand calculations and structural software to analyse and design structural systems, and critically review software outputs for modelling errors, unrealistic assumptions, and governing failure modes.
- Synthesize safety, economy, sustainability, fire resistance, corrosion protection, ductile behaviour, and constructability considerations in a coordinated structural design.
- Defend engineering decisions through technical documentation, independent checking, and professional evaluation of alternative design solutions.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Weekly | All semester |
| Workshop | 2 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Practicum | 2 hours | Fortnightly | All semester |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Reinforced-concrete design assignment | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Structural-steel design assignment | 15.00% |
| Test | Mid-semester design test | 15.00% |
| Deliverable | Calculation package and structural drawings | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Integrated concrete and steel design project | 20.00% |
| Exam | Final written design examination | 20.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.
