Structures and Construction Systems

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Commercial construction can take many forms and often includes a multitude of complex systems with specific plant and equipment requirements. These commercial buildings can include high, medium or low rise office or apartment buildings, hospitals and institutional buildings, shopping centres, sporting facilities and warehouse industrial sheds. Each project has characteristic structural forms and resultant methods of construction. This subject investigates the various structural design concepts and their influence on construction. The topics covered include the interpretation of steelwork drawings and specifications, steel frame buildings and wide span industrial sheds, warehouse concrete pavements, basement construction and site retention methods, piling systems and construction methods to suit various geotechnical conditions, tilt slab construction methods, precast concrete building systems. Construction detailing and constructability are the key issues covered within each topic together with organisation of the construction process and hybrid construction systems.

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

• link structural design concepts and relate these to current construction practices;
• interpret concrete structural drawings and be conversant with engineering terminology;
• evaluate alternative construction systems;
• communicate construction solutions by means of sketches and drawings;
• research and analyse new construction methods and new products.

• Two assignments (40%).
• A 3 hour end of semester examination (60%).

A minimum mark of 40% must be achieved in the examination in order to pass the subject.

Course notes / reader available from the university bookshop

This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses:

• Bachelor of Arts
• Bachelor of Biomedicine
• Bachelor of Commerce
• Bachelor of Environments
• Bachelor of Music
• Bachelor of Science
• Bachelor of Engineering

You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.

On successful completion of this subject, students should have developed the following generic skills:

• analytical and evaluation skills;
• communication skills;
• problem solving skills;
• team working skills.

Students undertaking this subject will be expected to regularly access an internet-enabled computer primarily for technical construction product information and for the LMS.