Advanced Structural Analysis
The module will look into advanced structural analysis methods including finite element, non-linear analysis and stability. It will also look into the analysis of dynamic systems.
Advanced Structural Design
The module will look into the design of specialised structural systems such as composite beams and floors, portal frames, tubular trusses, and pre-stressed concrete beams and slabs. It will also look into connection behaviour, the design of steel moment connections and sway stability of buildings. A major group design exercise will illustrate the approach to the design of complete structures.
Coastal Engineering
This module is delivered through six hours of lectures and computer-based tutorials each week and covers the principles of water height variation, ocean forces (from waves and tides) and energy conversion into electrical power and to the design of energy production systems.
Dynamics and Wind Engineering
This module considers the effects of wind on structures. It shows how the wind loading codes are developed from first principles and how they can be applied to predict wind induced forces in structures. The dynamic response of structures to wind is studied with the help of wind tunnel tests.
Environmental Fluid Mechanics
This module introduces fundamental principles of environmental fluid mechanics focusing on buoyancy driven flows, fluid instabilities and the effects of the earth’s rotation on large scale oceanographic and atmospheric features.
Geotechnical Modelling
This module will reinforce and advance some of the principles of soil mechanics previously learnt, and describe the principles of Critical State Soil Mechanics (CSSM), a model used to predict the behaviour of soils.
It includes revision of previous concepts, shear box and triaxial tests data analysis, critical state line, elasticity and plasticity, development of an elasto-plastic soil model, and constitutive model application in numerical simulations.
Students will learn about and conduct their own triaxial tests on soil samples within the laboratory such that they can obtain constitutive model parameters for the soil. Students will learn to use a finite element method (FEM) software package that is popular for geotechnical analyses as well as the principles of physical modelling using a geotechnical centrifuge. The coursework element will require students to use constitutive model parameters obtained from triaxial testing within FEM analyses.
The FEM analyses will include
- the replication of the triaxial tests and verification of results against analytical predictions (using CSSM), and
- simulation of a boundary value problem (e.g. vertical loading of a foundation), for which they will compare numerical predictions against a centrifuge test data set provided to them.
Delivery
Activity |
Number of Weeks |
Number of sessions |
Duration of a session |
Computing |
3 weeks |
3 weeks |
2 hours |
Lecture |
8 weeks |
3 weeks |
2 hours |
Assessment method
Assessment Type |
Weight |
Coursework |
50.00 |
Coursework |
50.00 |
Highway and Pavement Design
This module covers the design of highway alignments, including curvatures, gradients, number of lanes, junction design and drainage. It also includes analysis and design of pavement structures and surfaces using different techniques and materials together with the deterioration mechanisms involved.
It module aims to:
- Embed the ability to design sensible and functional highway alignments
- Introduce the design of pavement structures
- Give understanding of the roles and design of different pavement surfaces
Delivery
Activity |
Number of Weeks |
Number of sessions |
Duration of a session |
Lecture |
11 weeks |
1 week |
2 hours |
Lecture |
11 weeks |
1 week |
1 hour |
Assessment method
Assessment Type |
Weight |
Requirements |
Coursework 1 |
20.00 |
Highway design exercise |
Coursework 2 |
20.00 |
Pavement design exercise |
Exam |
60.00 |
2 hour exam |
Life Cycle Assessment
This module is delivered through a combination of lectures and workshops, for three hours each week, and is designed to deliver an understanding of sustainability principles and how, in particular, transport infrastructure engineering as well as the wider construction industry can contribute to sustainable development.
Managing Infrastructure and Systems
This module considers some of the most commonly-used system reliability assessment techniques applied to support system management.
It covers the construction of reliability models that use basic component failure information to describe specific system failure modes, the qualitative and quantitative analyses of these models, and the critical evaluation of systems using the analytical results. The models will be discussed in the context of their application to engineering systems and infrastructure assets.
The module aims to provide students with:
- An understanding of the basic statistical, probabilistic and mathematical concepts required to predict the reliability of components and systems.
- A detailed knowledge of the most commonly used system reliability assessment techniques.
- The ability to critically evaluate systems and assets using mathematical models.
Assessment method
This module will be assessed by an in-class test (20%) and an exam (80%).
Mapping for Engineering Surveying GIS Practical
A practical module which complements the earlier engineering surveying modules. You'll work for three timetabled hours a week, individually and in small groups on projects involving the planning and the carrying out of observational and computational aspects of surveying for engineering and/or deformation applications.
Railway Technology
This module will introduce the components of railway track structures, conventional and otherwise. It will include analysis of forces on a railway track and consequent deflections, stresses, alignment design principles, and an overview of the railway as a total system including operational issues, signalling and control.
Assessment method
This module is assessed by individual and group coursework (40%) and an exam (60%).
Delivery
Activity |
Number of Weeks |
Number of sessions |
Duration of a session |
Lecture |
11 weeks |
1 week |
2 hours |
Lecture |
11 weeks |
1 week |
1 hour |
Assessment method
Assessment Type |
Weight |
Requirements |
Coursework 1 |
20.00 |
Track maintenance group coursework - 4 spreadsheet returns at approx. 2 hours. |
Coursework 2 |
20.00 |
Track design individual coursework - 1,000 word report |
Exam |
60.00 |
One 2 hour exam |
Satellite-Based Positioning
A combination of theory and practice is involved in this module, which complements the earlier engineering surveying modules. For the practical element, you will work for three timetabled hours a week in small groups on projects involving the planning and the carrying out of observational and computational aspects of satellite-based positioning for engineering surveying applications.
Sustainable Construction and Life Cycle Assessment
This module is designed to deliver an understanding of sustainability principles and how, in particular, transport infrastructure engineering as well as the wider construction industry can contribute to sustainable development.
The module will include the following themes:
- Sustainability: an introduction to sustainability, sustainable development; sustainable construction; and how transport infrastructure engineering can contribute to sustainable construction.
- Environmental impacts of infrastructure construction: a review of the positive and negative environmental impacts of construction including resources and waste and energy and climate change.
- Social impacts of infrastructure construction: a review of the positive and negative social impacts of construction including; corporate social responsibility, responsible sourcing, poverty reduction and sustainable development goals.
- Assessment: indicators, assessment systems, environmental life-cycle assessment, life-cycle cost analysis.
Delivery
Activity |
Number of Weeks |
Number of sessions |
Duration of a session |
Lecture |
11 weeks |
1 week |
2 hours |
Workshop |
11 weeks |
1 week |
1 hour |
Assessment method
Assessment Type |
Weight |
Requirements |
Coursework |
100.00 |
2 hour exam |