Program Overview

Course Specification

The current and official versions of the course specifications are available on the web.

CIV4506 Concrete Structures

Staffing

Course Coordinator: Thiru Aravinthan

Requisites

Pre-requisite: CIV2503 or Students must be enrolled in one of the following Programs: GCEN or METC or MEPR or GCNS or GDNS or MENS

Overview

Concrete is a versatile building material which is used extensively in multistorey buildings, airports, dams, roads and many other important parts of today's modern infrastructure. Whilst it is inherently strong in compression, its weakness in tension is offset by suitable steel reinforcement which is initially either unstressed or prestressed. This results in a composite material which requires a detailed understanding of its behaviour before safe and economical designs can be produced. Accordingly, this course provides an advanced knowledge on the design and analysis of: The Behaviour of Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete, Durability and Fire Resistance, Behaviour and Design for Strength and Serviceability of Reinforced Concrete Beams, Slabs and Columns, Detailing, Behaviour and Design for Strength and Serviceability of Fully Prestressed and Partially Prestressed Concrete Beams and Losses of Prestress.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Calculate the design loads on an element for both the strength and serviceability limit states;
2. Explain the background to, and be able to apply, the durability and fire resistance provisions of AS3600 Concrete Structures;
3. Evaluate the behaviour under load of reinforced concrete beams and select a beam size and reinforcement layout which satisfies the strength and serviceability limit state requirements of AS3600;
4. Evaluate the behaviour under load of reinforced concrete columns and select a column size and reinforcement layout which satisfies the strength limit state requirements of AS3600;
5. Evaluate the behaviour under load of reinforced concrete slabs and select a slab size and reinforcement layout which satisfies the strength and serviceability limit state requirements of AS3600;
6. Draw layouts and details of the reinforcement designed in 3, 4 and 5 above;
7. Evaluate the behaviour of statically determinate prestressed concrete beams and analyse the losses in prestress. Select a beam and reinforcement and tendon layout which satisfies the strength and serviceability limit states of AS3600.

Topics

1. | General principles of reinforced concrete | 10.00
2. | Load estimation for RC structures | 5.00
3. | Durability and fire resistance | 5.00
4. | The behaviour, analysis and design of RC beams | 20.00
5. | The behaviour, analysis and design of RC slabs | 10.00
6. | The behaviour, analysis and design of RC columns | 10.00
7. | Detailing of reinforced concrete members | 10.00
8. | The behaviour, analysis and design of prestressed beams | 20.00
9. | Analysis of prestress losses | 10.00

Text and Materials Required

• Foster, SJ, Kilpatrick, AE & Warner RF 2021, Reinforced concrete basics: Analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures , 3rd edn, Pearson Australia, Melbourne, Victoria.
• Standards Australia 2018, Concrete structures , AS, Standards Australia, Sydney, NSW.
• A handheld battery-operated calculator which does not have keys for the alphabet.

Student Workload Expectations

To do well in this subject, students are expected to commit approximately 10 hours per week including class contact hours, independent study, and all assessment tasks. If you are undertaking additional activities, which may include placements and residential schools, the weekly workload hours may vary.

Assessment Details

• Approach: Assignments
  • Type: Written
  • Description: Report 1
  • Group: No
  • Weighting (%): 25
  • Course learning outcomes: 1,2,3,4,7
• Approach: Assignments
  • Type: Written
  • Description: Report 2
  • Group: No
  • Weighting (%): 25
  • Course learning outcomes: 1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9
• Approach: Examinations
  • Type: Non-invigilated
  • Description: Time limited online examination
  • Group: No
  • Weighting (%): 50
  • Course learning outcomes: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9