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Unit outline_

CIVL5276: Bridge Engineering

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

This unit will provide students a wide knowledge and understanding of Bridge Engineering enabling them to be future practical bridge engineers. The unit consists of 4 parts, as detailed: Part 1 covers Introduction to Bridge Assets, Sustainability and Bridge Design Investigation. Part 2 covers Bridge Design to AS5100-2017. Part 3 covers Bridge Asset Management - Materials of construction, Asset Managers' challenges, Maintenance, Rehabilitation and Bridge Information System. Part 4 covers Types of Non-Destructive Bridge Load Testing and Structural Health Monitoring, and Benefits of Application of these Procedures.

Unit details and rules

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

(CIVL2201 and CIVL3205 and CIVL3206) or (CIVL9201 and CIVL9205 and CIVL9206). Students who have not completed Concrete Structures (CIVL3205 or CIVL9205) will be very disadvantaged and should not attempt this unit

Available to study abroad and exchange students

Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator Faham Tahmasebinia, faham.tahmasebinia@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Final exam (Take-home extended release) Type E final exam Final Exam
This is the final exam.
50% Formal exam period 48 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7
Assignment Assignment 1
This would a concept design task.
20% Week 08
Due date: 25 Sep 2022 at 23:59
TBA
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO1 LO2 LO3
Assignment Assignment 2
This is an assignment which is relevant to the bridge asset management.
30% Week 13
Due date: 06 Nov 2022 at 23:59
TBA
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO5 LO7
Type E final exam = Type E final exam ?

Assessment summary

There will be two assignments. Also, there will be an extended released final exam ( 48 hours) covering 50 percent of the total mark. 

Assessment criteria

The assignment will be marked and a proper feedback will be provided to the students. Also, the grading would be numeric and the maximum and minimum of the marks will be provided. 

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.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

10 percent reduction of the overall mark of the original assignment per day if a student submit their assignment after the due date.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Bridges Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 02 Sustainability and Aesthetics of bridges Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Bridge Design Investigation and Pile foundations Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 04 Design Loads for Bridges – AS5100:2017 requirements Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 05 Bridge Design – RC and PSC design (External Lecturer) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 06 Bridge Design - Analysis methods & Worked Example Super T girder deck (External Lecturer) Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 07 Overview and Examples of Bridge Structural Forms and deck Types - Selection of Structural Forms, Bridge Types Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 08 Overview of Bridge Designs - Abutments, Piers, Foundations, Traffic Barriers, Bearings and Joints Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 09 Composite Construction Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 10 Bridge Asset Management Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 11 Bridge Maintenance Practices Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 12 Bridge Rehabilitation Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO5 LO7
Week 13 Structural Assessment and Non-destructive Bridge Load Testing Lecture and tutorial (3 hr) LO6 LO7

Attendance and class requirements

It is highly recommended students actively take part in both lecture and tutorial sessions. 

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

•Bridge Deck Behaviour- Edmund C Hambly

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. 1. Understand principles of bridge design, asset management and maintenance practices
  • LO2. 2. Skills to develop a bridge concept design
  • LO3. 3. Design concrete bridge deck for serviceability and limit states
  • LO4. 4. Understand the principles of bridge inspection, structural assessment, and non-destructive load testing
  • LO5. 5. Skills to develop a management plan for an existing bridge
  • LO6. 6. Understand the principles of structural assessment, and non-destructive bridge load testing
  • LO7. 7. Skills to develop a management plan for an existing bridge

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.

This course will demonstrate a novel design process for different types of bridges. Also, the main technical approaches in terms of construction management will be comprehensively discussed.

This course will demonstrate a novel design process for different types of bridges. Also, the main technical approaches in terms of construction management will be comprehensively discussed. 

Work, health and safety

Students are required to fully comply with the safety rules implemented by the University of Sydney, including covid safety requirements, when taking part in the campus tutorial classes. 

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.