49133 Steel and Composite 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.

UTS: Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of Engineering OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.

Recommended studies:

Knowledge is assumed of:

• structural steel material properties and design to AS4100 – 1998 Steel Structures for beams, columns, beam-columns and bracings
• reinforced concrete beam and column behaviour at ultimate (including the equivalent rectangular stress block) and concrete and steel reinforcement material properties
• fundamentals of solid mechanics (particularly the transformed section method)
• tributary widths and areas for load distribution to supporting structural beams and columns
• elastic structural analysis of indeterminate continuous beams by hand calculation using the moment distribution method.

For undergraduate students, this assumed knowledge is represented by the subjects 48331 Mechanics of Solids; 48349 Structural Analysis; 48353 Concrete Design; 48366 Steel and Timber Design

Description

This project-based subject introduces students to advanced techniques in design of steel structures and steel-concrete composite flooring systems. Steel-concrete composite flooring systems have long been recognised as the most economical structural systems for both multi-storey steel buildings and steel bridges as by rigidly joining the two parts together, the resulting system is stronger than the sum of its parts. The major emphasis in this subject is on learning analysis and design of composite flooring systems, design of steel bolted and welded connections, computer-aided structural design and design optimisation techniques and producing construction detail drawings of main structural components of buildings. The major design project in this subject is based on authentic professional projects relevant to the building industry that students wish to enter, providing material for a portfolio after graduation. It is designed to encourage students to work with a wide range of data inputs and to apply innovative thought and provide students the opportunity to learn critical review of engineering documents/projects and disciplinary research skills. Students will be encouraged to orally present design outcomes iteratively, throughout the teaching session and at the end of the semester to professional and non-professional audience. The presentations will be judged by an expert jury panel and peer feedback will be given to students.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

1.	Create a computer model and perform computer-aided analysis and design optimisation for a steel building. (D.1)
2.	Manually calculate and design the components of a steel building. (C.1)
3.	Produce written professional design reports and construction drawings for a steel building. (E.1)
4.	Orally present design outcomes to professional and non-professional clients. (E.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 thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
• Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
• Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.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.
• 2.2. Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools and resources.
• 2.4. Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects.
• 3.2. Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains.
• 3.6. Effective team membership and team leadership.

Teaching and learning strategies

This subject is comprised of a 3-hour face-to-face class each week. This time will be used to explain complex concepts and foster problem solving skills and independent and collaborative work. Students are encouraged to study prescribed reading material prior to attending the classes according to the weekly teaching schedule so that they can actively participate in in-class discussions and any nominated problem solving activities. The face-to-face sessions will build on the online preparation materials, such that the in-class activities aim to offer an opportunity to engage in practical examples and case studies.

The weekly schedule can be found in the Canvas subject website in the folder “Subject Information”. The material explain analysis and design of steel and composite structures while discussing various methods and application of different design approaches through a variety of means. Formal and informal learning activities and face-to-face, online and out-of-class learning activities form a significant portion of the class sessions in this subject.

A practice-based learning strategy is adopted in this subject for group activities focusing on the major design project. The major design project in this subject is based on authentic professional projects relevant to the building industry that students wish to enter, providing material for a portfolio after graduation. It is designed to encourage students to work with a wide range of data inputs and to apply innovative ideas. Design projects are allocated to groups of students in class. Students will form themselves in small groups of four to five, providing a collaborative learning experience. Students can directly connect the defined design projects to one or some of the sessions. Constructive feedback will be given throughout the session. While students undertake their design projects in small groups, in addition to group assessment, their progress will be assessed individually. Students are encouraged to use the new collaborative spaces available at UTS to facilitate the required collaborative group work for planning and presenting the major design project. Discussion and feedback on the progress of assignment tasks is incorporated in class time.

Content (topics)

Topics include:

1. Computer analysis and design of steel building structures
2. Design principles of steel welded connections
3. Design principles of steel bolted connections
4. Design of steel simple connections
5. Design of steel rigid connections
6. Design of steel baseplates
7. Introduction to analysis and design of steel-concrete composite floors including reinforced concrete slabs on profiled steel sheeting
8. Design of composite beams for flexure and deflection
9. Design of shear connectors for composite beams

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Major Design Project - First Submission

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): D.1
Type:	Project
Groupwork:	Group, group and individually assessed
Weight:	30%

Assessment task 2: Major Design Project - Second Submission

Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1
Type:	Project
Groupwork:	Group, group and individually assessed
Weight:	30%

Assessment task 3: Major Design Project - Third Submission

Intent:	This assessment task evaluates the student’s skills in generating written professional design reports and construction drawings for a steel building and presenting the design outcomes to professional and non-professional clients.
Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 2, 3 and 4 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and E.1
Type:	Project
Groupwork:	Group, group and individually assessed
Weight:	40%

Minimum requirements

In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.

Required texts

There is no standard textbook used in this subject. Writing your own notes at the lecture/tutorial and laboratory sessions is a necessity for this subject. Lecture notes, lecture/tutorial session notes, tutorial worksheets and quizzes will be made available on Canvas prior to class. Students are required to print out the relevant handouts prior to class and bring these handouts with them to class.

Recommended texts

• Gorenc, B.E., Tinyou, R, & Syam, A. (2012). The Steel Designer's Handbook (8th Ed.). UNSW Press.
• Durack, JM & Kilmister, MB (2007) Composite steel design, ASI, Sydney.
• Hogan, TJ & Munter, SA (2007) Connection handbook 1: Background and theory, Australian Steel Institute (ASI), Sydney.
• Hogan, TJ & Munter, SA (2007) Connection design guide 1: Bolting in structural steel connections, ASI, Sydney.
• Hogan, TJ & Munter, SA (2007) Connection design guide 2: Welding in structural steel connections, ASI, Sydney.
• Hogan, TJ & Munter, SA (2007) Connection design guide 3: Simple connections: Web side plate connections, ASI, Sydney.
• Hogan, TJ & Munter, SA (2007) Connection design guide 4: Simple connections: Flexible end plate connections, ASI, Sydney.
• Hogan, TJ & Van der Kreek (2009) Connection design guide 12: Rigid connections: Bolted end plate to column moment connections, ASI, Sydney.
• Morris, LJ & Randall, AL (1979) Plastic design, Constrado, London.
• Stramit (2015) Technical Supplement Stramit Condeck HP Composite Slab System: Supplement for Steel Framed Buildings, Stramit, Sydney.

References

1. AS1170.0 - 2002 Structural design actions, Part 0: General principles, Standards Australia International (SAI), Sydney.
2. AS1170.1 - 2002 Structural design actions, Part 1: Permanent, imposed and other actions, SAI, Sydney.
3. AS/NZS 2327 - 2017 Composite structures - Composite steel-concrete construction in buildings, SAI, Sydney.
4. AS4100 - 1998 Steel structures, SAI, Sydney.

The Australian Standards (codes) can be downloaded through the UTS Library's SAI licence. The relevant sections for the codes above for use in this subject are posted on Canvas under Subject Documents so you do not need to print the whole of each code.