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Unit outline_

CIVL1802: Statics

Intensive January, 2025 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Unit will focus on Engineering Statics, covering topics such as resolution of forces and moments, free body diagrams, support reactions, equilibrium in rigid bodies, trusses frames and machines, method of sections, method of joints, centroids, distributed forces, vibrations and friction. There will be extensive use of both 2D and 3D examples and solution methods by either resolution in the principle axes or by using vectors. Its main aim is to prepare students for 2nd year civil units such as Structural Mechanics.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Civil Engineering
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
ENGG1802 or AMME1802
Assumed knowledge
? 

HSC Mathematics Extension 1

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yixiang Gan, yixiang.gan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Peter Cafe, peter.cafe@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 24 January 2025
Type Description Weight Due Length
Small continuous assessment In-tutorial short quizzes
In-tutorial pop quizzes, 5% in total.
5% Multiple weeks Five minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO8 LO7 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Small test Long quiz 3
Closed book and Supervised, 25%
25% Week -01 60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO9 LO8 LO5 LO4
Small test Long quiz 4
Open book, 25%
25% Week -01 60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO11 LO10 LO9 LO7 LO4
Small test Long quiz 2
Closed book and supervised, 20%
20% Week -02 60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4
Small test Long quiz 1
Closed book and Supervised, 20%
20% Week -03 60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO3 LO2
Skills-based evaluation The 1st week in class Quiz
#earlyfeedbacktask, 5%
5% Week -04
Due date: 24 Jan 2025 at 23:59
60 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week -01 Distributed Loads: Beams - External Effects; Revision: Frames/Machines and Centroids Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO4 LO5 LO8 LO9
Beams - Internal Effects Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO4 LO9 LO10
Types of Friction; Dry Friction; Flexible Belts Revision: Beams - Internal Effects and Frictions Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO1 LO4 LO7 LO9 LO10 LO11
Week -02 Method of Section; Revision: Equilibrium and Plan Trusses Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5
Space Trusses; Frames and machines Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Centre of Mass and Centroids Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO8
Week -03 Resultants in 3D; Revision: 3D Forces, Moments and Resultants Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO2 LO3
Equilibrium in 2D; Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Equilibrium in 3D; Plane trusses; method of joints; Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO1 LO4 LO5 LO6
Week -04 Introduction, vectors, Newton’s laws; Forces and moments in 2D Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO2
Couples and resultants in 2D; Revision: 2D Forces and Moments Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO2 LO3
3D Force Systems; Moments and couples in 3D; Lecture and tutorial (5 hr) LO2 LO3

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance at tutorial sessions is compulsory and will be recorded.  If you are not at the correct tutorial (as per your University generated timetable) you will be marked absent.  If you miss more than 10% of the tutorials (4 hours for the semester) you will not have met the attendance requirements and may fail the unit of study with a maximum mark of 45%.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas.

  • Meriam, J.L., Kraige, L.G. and Bolton, J. N., Engineering Mechanics: STATICS, 9th SI version Australia & New Zealand Edition, Wiley.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. apply a logical approach for solving a complex engineering problem
  • LO2. express forces and moments as vectors
  • LO3. calculate the resultant force and moment for 2D and 3D systems
  • LO4. draw a correct free body diagram for any engineering entity
  • LO5. calculate the force in an internal member of a simple structure
  • LO6. calculate the value of unknown forces and moments acting on any three dimensional object from the equilibrium equations
  • LO7. calculate the forces acting as a result of two objects in contact
  • LO8. find the centre of mass or centroid of an object
  • LO9. calculate reaction forces under action of distributed forces for different structures
  • LO10. calculate internal effects such as shear force and bending moment in beams under loading
  • LO11. solve problems involving friction.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

A quick assessment is added in Week 3 to provide students with early feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.