Course Title: Forensic Engineering (Structural)
Part A: Course Overview
Course Title: Forensic Engineering (Structural)
Credit Points: 12.00
Terms
Course Code |
Campus |
Career |
School |
Learning Mode |
Teaching Period(s) |
CIVE1226 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
120H Civil, Environmental & Chemical Engineering |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2014, Sem 1 2015, Sem 1 2016 |
CIVE1226 |
City Campus |
Postgraduate |
172H School of Engineering |
Face-to-Face |
Sem 1 2017, Sem 1 2018 |
Course Coordinator: Dr. Saman de Silva
Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 3235
Course Coordinator Email: saman.desilva@rmit.edu.au
Course Coordinator Location: 10.13.05d
Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities
Completion of structural design and analysis courses at undergraduate level program or demonstrated equivalent capability.
Course Description
Using major structural failures as case studies and tools for learning , this course will introduce you to the life cycle of creation and operation of major civil structures with a focus on elements that have the potential to cause a catastrophe. You will be introduced to technical or procedural causes of failure, typical consequences of failure such as injury, functional loss and other issues and application of knowledge acquired from failure analysis in new structural design.
Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development
This course contributes to the following Program Learning Outcomes for MC207 Master of Engineering (Structures and Forensics):
- Undertake advanced methods of computational mechanics, analysis, structural optimisation and design
- Apply the mechanics of materials in post elastic behaviour for reliable structural systems design and resilient response under extreme events
- Undertake problem-diagnosis and treatment during the structural design and construction phase
- Identify, diagnose and treat complex problems in relation to whole-of-life reliability and resilient performance during occupancy
On completion of this course you should be able to:
- Describe and evaluate the use of structural forensics in creating and maintaining resilient stock of urban civil infrastructure.
- Identify common failure modes of structures and classify them according to criticality/risk.
- Classify an observed structural failure as a technical or procedural failure or a combination.
- Implement a structural design/construction/procurement process with an understanding of key weak elements and methods of addressing the weaknesses.
- Investigate failures of structures, reverse engineer the lessons learnt and produce technical notes – simulating a mechanism of confidential reporting of structural safety (CROSS).
Overview of Learning Activities
A modular, blended learning model comprising lecture/workshop sessions, on-line forums and team based activities will be employed in the course.
You will be working on selected case studies applying a systems approach to ascertain the systemic and potential risk of failure of structural systems.
You will engage in on-line forums to share information and participate in case studies.
Total study hours: Lectures and tutorial sessions involve 3 hours/week over 12 weeks. In addition you are expected to spend around 6 hours/week in independent study on revision, additional research and assignments.
Overview of Learning Resources
Lecture notes, references and further reading material will be posted on the course web-site (Blackboard). Any appropriate computer software packages are usually available in the School of Engineering computer laboratories.
RMIT Library Subject Guide: http://rmit.libguides.com/civileng
Overview of Assessment
Note that: ☒This course has no hurdle requirements.
Assessment Task 1: Confidential Reporting Technical Note
Weighting 20%
This assessment task supports CLO 5.
Assessment Task 2: Post Failure Investigation Mapping
Weighting 30%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 to 3.
Assessment Task 3: Major Project (re-engineering existing structures)
Weighting 50%
This assessment task supports CLOs 1 to 5.