Outline

Overview

This unit of study is concerned with the behaviour and design of steel structures. Statics provided the fundamentals of equilibrium upon which most structural engineering is based. Structural Concepts and Structural Analysis provided information on the loads (actions) on a structure and how structures resist these actions with a resulting distribution of internal actions (bending moments, shear forces, axial forces; BMDs, SFDs and AFDs). Structural Mechanics considered how these internal actions resulted in stresses and strains in members. Materials considered the microscopic and molecular structure of metals to determine its inherent mechanical properties such as yield stress. This unit of study will then combine the knowledge of stresses, material properties of steel, structural analysis, and loading, and consider new concepts and modes of failure, such as local and flexural torsional buckling, combined actions and second-order effects to understand the behaviour of steel members and frames, and how this behaviour is accounted for in the design standard AS 4100. Both the units of study "Steel Structures 1" and "Concrete Structures 1" can be considered the culmination of the various elements of structural engineering begun in "Engineering Mechanics" in first year, and is further developed in "Civil Engineering Design" in final year. More advanced topics, such as plate behaviour, advanced buckling and connection design, are considered in the final year elective subject "Steel Structures 2". It is recognised that not all students intend to become consulting structural engineers. The unit of study is designed so that students who make an effort to understand the concepts are most capable of passing. Students who are planning a career in the consulting structural engineering profession should be aiming at achieving a Distinction grade or higher.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Civil Engineering
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	CIVL2110 AND CIVL2201 AND (CIVL2230 or CIVL1900)
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Tim Wilkinson, tim.wilkinson@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Tim Wilkinson, tim.wilkinson@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Open book)	Final exam	30%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Assignment	0%	Multiple weeks	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Design assignment 1	15%	Week 04	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 1	7.5%	Week 06	50 min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Design assignment 2	15%	Week 08	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Quiz 2	7.5%	Week 10	50 min
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Lab Report	10%	Week 11	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Design assignment 3	15%	Week 12	n/a
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = Type C final exam ?

Assessment summary

Criteria for Passing: In order to achieve a pass in this unit of study, all the following criteria must be satisfied:

A total mark of at least 50 %.
Final examination mark of at least 45 %. This hurdle percentage may be reduced by the lecturer based on exact nature of the questions in the exam.
Assessment mark of at least 45 % (sum of all tasks except the final exam). This hurdle percentage may be reduced by the lecturer based on exact nature of the questions in the assessments.
Satisfactorily attend and complete the laboratory exercises and write acceptable reports.
Satisfactorily complete each of the 3 design assignment exercises

Final exam: The questions will be of a similar format to the questions in the tutorials. For each of the 5 main topics (tension, compression, bending, combined actions, and connections) there will be both an explanation-type and a numerical question. The “explanation” questions test understanding of the subject. Questions related to the design project and laboratory sessions maybe included in the final exam. The final examination is partial open book. Students will be provided with an un-annotated Australian Standard AS 4100 in the exam and quiz. Students may bring in handwritten equation sheet (details provided later).
Quiz: Two short quizzes will be held. The main aim of the quizzes is to examine the students’ understanding of the main concepts in the unit of study covered to that date, and familiarity with the use of AS 4100, without excessive calculations. The quizzes will provide feedback to the students on their individual performance, and help the lecturer identify students at risk. Students should be aiming to achieve a mark of at least 65 % in these simple quizzes.
Project: Students will be required to design the critical components of a real steel structure in various stages. The workload is spread across three separate submissions. Submission of all 3 parts of the design exercise is essential. The individual components are loads and layout; structural analysis, tension/compression design; and bending/compression design. The design exercise is integrated into the unit of study - eg there are the lectures on compression, followed by the tutorial on compression and finally the design exercise on compression. Exercises are anticipated to take 8 hours each.
Report: A report on each of the two laboratory sessions is required.
Assignment: Various tutorial questions will be distributed relating to each of the five major topics covered in the unit of study. The tutorial questions are designed to complement the lecture material. Students should aim to complete some of the questions immediately. The tutorial questions prepare students for the corresponding component of the design exercise.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

There will be additional discussions in lectures/tutorials and/or separate electronic documents/announcements outlining the standards expected to receive specific grades in assignments. These will also provide guides to students to help them improve the quality of their work. Specific examples or expectations of good answers are actively discussed in lectures.

There may be statistically and educationally defensible methods used when combining the marks from each component to ensure consistency of marking between markers, and alignment of final grades with grade descriptors

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.

Learning support

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.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	1. Welcome; 2. Intro to the design exercise; 3. Assumed knowledge session	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 02	1. Structural steel/standards; 2. Structure layout and loading	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 03	1. Frame and truss analysis; 2. Tension members	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 04	1. Compression members; 2. Frame and truss analysis	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 05	1. Compression members; 2. Tension/compression	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 06	1. Truss design briefing; 2. Tension/compression	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 07	1. Beams; 2. Truss design	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 08	1. Beams; 2. Truss design	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 09	1. Beams; 2. Frames and beam-columns	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 10	1. Civil engineering workshop tour; 2. ASI lecture (to be confirmed); 3. Beam-columns	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 11	1. Frame design briefing; Frames and beam-columns; 2. Beam-columns	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 12	1. Connections; 2. Practical steel design	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)
Week 13	1. Connections; 2. Frame design; 3. Unit of study summary;	Lecture and tutorial (6 hr)

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.

Learning outcomes

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.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

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

LO1. follow most other structural design specifications, given their similarities to AS 4100
LO2. demonstrate competence in designing a simple structure to AS 4100
LO3. be familiar with the behaviour of steel structures, in particular the various forms of failure for members and connections under tension, compression, bending and combined action
LO4. understand the various types of buckling that occur, and the parameters which affect buckling
LO5. determine strength capacities of individual members to AS 410.

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
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

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

'No significant changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Additional information

Work, health and safety

For lab sessions, students will be required to read, acknowledge and follow a set of safety instructions. Enclosed shoes are required to enter the laboratory.

Additional safety requirements due to the COVID-19 emergency, especially social distancing requirements, will be announced on canvas.

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.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

CIVL3206: Steel Structures 1

Semester 2, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect