48353 Concrete Design
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level: Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): 48349 Structural Analysis AND 48352c Construction Materials
The lower case 'c' after the subject code indicates that the subject is a corequisite. See definitions for details.
Anti-requisite(s): 48342 Structural Behaviour and Design
Description
Civil engineers in Australia must have knowledge of the behaviour and design of reinforced concrete (RC) structures and prestressed concrete (PSC) elements. This subject builds on the knowledge of statics, solid mechanics, and structural analysis that students have learnt in previous structural strand subjects. Students learn about the behaviour and design of RC beams, slabs and columns and PSC beams, for both serviceability and strength. The general philosophy of Limit State Design in AS3600-2018 is introduced together with materials properties including concrete, steel reinforcement and prestressing steel. Both uncracked and cracked beam cross-section analysis are detailed. Reinforced concrete beam design includes serviceability, ultimate limit state design in bending and design for shear according to AS3600-2018. Ductility of singly and doubly reinforced cross-sections and T-beams are considered. Then, approximate analysis and design of one-way slabs, two-way slabs and columns (interaction diagrams and slenderness effects) are covered including reinforcement detailing. Finally, an introduction to prestress concrete beam design is provided including history, uncracked section analysis, equivalent loads, load-balancing, cracked section analysis, design for bending, for determinate structures.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Discuss the behaviour and design of RC beams, slabs, columns and PSC beams, for both serviceability and strength. (D.1) |
|---|---|
| 2. | Apply the Limit State Design philosophy of Australian Standards AS3600-2018 for structural design. (C.1) |
| 3. | Discuss the material properties of concrete, reinforcement and prestressing steel. (D.1) |
| 4. | Discuss the behaviour of RC flexural members, for serviceability and for strength at ultimate, RC beams, slabs & columns to AS3600-2018 for strength at ultimate. (D.1) |
| 5. | Apply AS3600-2018 to analysis, design and detailing of PSC flexural members for serviceability and strength. (C.1) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design and decision-making methodologies to develop components, systems and processes to meet specified requirements. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply abstraction, mathematics and discipline fundamentals, software, tools and techniques to evaluate, implement and operate systems. (D.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies
This subject contributes to the development of the following Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies:
- 1.3. In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline.
- 1.6. Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline.
- 2.1. Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving.
- 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
- 2.3. Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes.
Teaching and learning strategies
The teaching and learning strategies focus on:
- theoretical materials;
- its application to professional and construction practice in structural design; and
- workshops supplemented by notes, worked examples and practice problems.
Students’ knowledge in this subject will be reinforced via design-based assessment tasks and quizzes that allow students to self-evaluate their understanding of the subject material.
All workshops (Wrk1 & Wrk2) and tutorial classes (Tut 1,2,3 & 4) will be online via Zoom. In addition, all of online sessions will be recorded and be made available for students to access on Canvas.
Content (topics)
General – Limit State Design, loads.
Reinforced concrete – introduction to reinforced concrete behaviour, uncracked and cracked section analyses, linear elastic and ultimate behaviour in beams, serviceability of beams and ultimate design for moment and shear in rectangular and T beams, one-way, two-way and flat slab analysis and design, punching shear, column design (stocky and slender), and reinforcement detailing.
Prestressed concrete – pre-stressing steel material properties, geometry, losses and effective prestress force, equivalent loads and load balancing techniques to analyse uncracked and cracked sections under linear-elastic conditions.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Online Quizzes
| Intent: | Assess students’ understanding and application of reinforced concrete design according to AS3600-2018. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
Assessment task 2: Design Assignments
| Intent: | To apply problem solving skills in designing reinforced concrete members according to AS3600-2018, in order to develop an awareness in design thinking and decision-making methodologies. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Exercises |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
Assessment task 3: Group project
| Intent: | To undertake a practical civil engineering project and develop an awareness of collaborative design thinking and decision-making methodologies. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Project |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Required texts
- AS3600 – 2018 Concrete Structures. Standards Australia.
- Foster SJ, Kilpatrick AE & Warner RF (2021) Reinforced Concrete Basics, Third Edition, Analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. Pearson Prentice Hall Australia.
- Warner, Faulkes & Foster (2013) Prestressed Concrete, Third Edition, Pearson Australia.
- Loo YC & Chowdhury SH (2018) Reinforced & Prestressed Concrete Analysis and design, Third Edition, Cambridge University Press, Melbourne.
References
- Warner, R.F., Rangan, B.V., Hall, A.S. and Faulkes, K.A. (1998) Concrete Structures. Longman, Melbourne. 620.137 WARN
- Steel reinforcing data: http://www.onesteel.com/productspecs.asp?specID=3078
- Reinforced concrete column charts: http://www.onesteel.com/images/db_images/productspecs/RCB_3_Columns.pdf
- The Project Handbook: http://project-handbook.pbwiki.com/
- Cement, Concrete and Aggregates Australia: http://www.concrete.net.au/index.php
- Concrete Institute of Australia: http://www.concreteinstitute.com.au/
Other resources
Besides reading and understanding the required texts, students must be thoroughly familiar with the loading and concrete design codes. To pass this subject it is expected that students will need to read a number of texts to become familiar with the subject material.
Furthermore, students are expected to complete the “Practice Problems” on Canvas.