Lecturer: Paola Ceresa   Timothy Sullivan  

Course name: Structural Engineering
Course code: 504223
Degree course: Ingegneria Edile-Architettura
Disciplinary field of science: ICAR/09
L'insegnamento è caratterizzante per: Ingegneria Edile-Architettura
The course relates to: Ingegneria Edile-Architettura
University credits: ECTS 12
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The course and the laboratory aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the principles and methodologies for the design and verification of structures.

Course programme

The module "Structural Engineering" consists of the course and the laboratory.

Structural analysis
The first part of the course is related to the structural analysis and the solution of structures by means of the so-called "force-based method" and "displacement-based method", respectively. A short overview of "Solid Mechanics" is given at the beginning of the course.

Design and verification
The second part of the course is devoted to the study of reinforced concrete structures, the theory of prestressed concrete, the main properties of steel and concrete, the ultimate and serviceability limit states, and an overview of the basic aspects related to the design and verification of steel structures. The Eurocodes are the codes of reference.

Laboratory
During the laboratory students work in groups to design and build a small model structure. The activities of the laboratory are devoted to the characterisation of the properties of the materials to be used in the structural design of the cases of study. The laboratory i) allows students to be directly involved in the testing and in the characterisation of materials, ii) permits direct application of the theoretical aspects that have been learned during the course for the development of practical design solutions, iii) motivates the use of practical and economical considerations in order to optimise the design and creation of structures.

Course entry requirements

Knowledge acquired during the previous course of "Solid Mechanics" is expected.

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 80
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 40
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 60

Suggested reading materials

EN 1991. Eurocode 1: Actions on structures.

EN 1992-1-1. Eurocode 2: Design of concrete structures – Part 1-1: General rules and rules for buildings..

MacGregor J.G., Wight J.K.. Reinforced Concrete – Mechanics and Design. Pearson Prentice Hall (fourth edition).

Mosley B., Bungey J., Hulse R.. Reinforced Concrete Design to Eurocode 2. Palgrave Macmillan (sixth edition).

Collins M.P., Mithcell D.. Prestressed Concrete Structures. Response Publications, Canada.

Testing and exams

The evaluation of the course and the laboratory is mainly based on: i) A written examination with exercises covering the topics presented during the first and second part of the course, respectively. ii) An assessment of the quality and performance of the design, the description (written and oral) of the structural model and, more generally, of the satisfaction of the "project brief" for the laboratory. The oral description also includes the direct verification of the theoretical concepts learned during the course.