Unit information: Advanced Structural Analysis in 2022/23

Unit name	Advanced Structural Analysis
Unit code	CENG30010
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Alexander
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	CENG20019 Methods of Structural Analysis (or equivalent)
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	School of Civil, Aerospace and Design Engineering
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering

Unit Information

Analysis of complex engineering problems requires a variety of different tools. In this unit we will develop two different analysis approaches – plastic analysis and finite element analysis – and show how they can be applied to the analysis of simple and complex structures. Also, in some situations dynamic behaviour is important. The unit will introduce methods of how to analyse the dynamic response of structures.

The unit aims are:

1. To introduce the concepts of structural dynamics of single and multi-degree-of-freedom structural systems subject to free vibration and different types of excitation.
2. To develop students’ understanding of structural stability, lateral load transfer systems and earthquake shaking table testing.
3. To develop students’ understanding of the finite element method and its use in the analysis and design of structures.
4. To equip students to use the finite element method to estimate the response of structures to realistic loads.
5. To introduce the upper and lower bound theorems of plasticity and their role in the analysis and design of safe structures.
6. To equip students with methods of plastic analysis to calculate the collapse loads of statically indeterminate structures such as continuous beams, and frames.

Your learning on this unit

By the end of the course, successful students will be able to:

1. Apply structural dynamics principles to a variety of civil engineering problems.
2. Propose lateral load transfer systems and evaluate their performance in earthquake shaking table tests.
3. Formulate and solve simple structural engineering problems using the finite element method.
4. Use plastic analysis to evaluate the safety of standard structural designs.

How you will learn

Teaching will be delivered through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous sessions, including lectures, computer classes and practical activities supported by problem sheets and self-directed exercises.

How you will be assessed

Laboratory report on shaking table testing (20%) – ILO 2

Finite Element Analysis Software Competence Assessment (20%) – ILO 4

Final exam (60%) (ILOs 1, 3 & 5)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. CENG30010).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.