During the module, you will be presented with a selection of complex structures and will be guided in analysing the overall structural form, the design of key components, as well as the socio-economical-environmental drivers and constraints that influenced the design decisions and construction methods. You will be encouraged to develop, use, and present simple schemes and calculations to demonstrate their understanding of the structural systems, all whilst working in a team environment.

• LO1: Systematically identify the various factors that must be taken into account in design and to rationalise the steps to be followed during the design process.
• LO2: Demonstrate a qualitative appreciation of the design, behaviour and performance of civil engineering schemes
• LO3: Critically analyse complex structural systems and their components through the creation and use of simplified, quantitative models
• LO4: Working collaboratively critically analyse selected structures and to discuss solutions for engineering problems that you may encounter in your career 

A basic briefing is given before site visits (virtual where necessary) and baseroom sessions for small-team work and tutoring.

The lecturers will introduce the students to a selection of structural systems, providing guidance for the students to undertake their own qualitative and quantitative analyses of said systems.
 

The students will be provided with tasks to complete with reference to each selected structure. The tasks will involve a combination of reporting from the site visits, additional independent research, and proposal and solution of simplified structural schemes. These activities will involve both individual and small-team work.

The lecturers will assist the students in their tasks via both face-to-face and group-based tutoring.

• Exhibit a professional attitude towards personal development by maintaining a formal record of case studies and visits.
• Demonstrate an understanding that design is a creative process in which experience and a thorough knowledge of historical precedent can inform intuition and conscious choice.
• Discuss the uncertainties associated with the multitude of factors involved in design and evaluate how and to what extent the design codes can address these uncertainties.
• Study examples of current designs and report upon them critically both orally and in writing.
• Gather relevant information about a wide variety of issues from different sources and to sort and synthesise the information so that proposed solutions can be tested against pre-defined criteria and overall social, economic and business objectives.
• Work in a group to formulate, justify and present a solution to a conceptual design problem.

The assessment will be structured into two summative components:

1. Coursework (LO 1-3): Each student will submit an individual coursework report collating their answers to various tasks that the lecturers will have proposed for each of the selected structures to analyse.

1. Presentation (LO 1-4): An oral (or pre-recorded video) presentation of an independently undertaken, in-depth analysis of one or two structural systems. The presentation will be prepared and performed in small groups.

Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback on tasks during site visits.

THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REASSESSMENT IN THIS MODULE:

Re-assessment candidates will undertake a synoptic 100% individual coursework assessment based on the work undertaken within the module (LO 1-4)

Opportunities for re-assessment is only permitted provided if the student has not failed more credits than in the resit rule adopted by your programme.  If the amount of credit failed is more than permitted by the relevant resit rule, the student might be permitted to repeat study if within the threshold set for the Repeat rule adopted by the programme.  The student will be notified of their eligibility to resit/repeat any modules after the Examining Board in the Summer period.

All resit assessments will be held in the Resit Examination period, prior to the start of the following academic session.

The Design Process:-
Design brief
Conceptual design
Design drivers
Scheme selection
Expert systems

Design Philosophy:-
Safety, uncertainty, performance, economy, appearance
Uncertainties – loading, material strength, behaviour
Design Codes – limit states, safety factors
Preliminary costing
Aesthetics
Buildability
Maintenance

Qualitative Appreciation:-
Sustainability
Environmental issues
Site constraints
Architectural issues
Ground conditions
Load paths
Limit states – ultimate/serviceability
Structural action

Note: The contents of the case studies and of any site visits and institution lectures will cover different projects each year as available.