Abstract
This is a report about two subjects offered in the second year of Swinburne’s engineering degree course. These subjects are Design of Concrete Structures and Road Engineering. They provide the students with the knowledge and skills required in the construction and design of roads and buildings and other related fields.
Introduction
This report concentrates explores two second-year courses offered within Swinburne’s engineering degree course. It focuses on the relevance of the subjects to engineering, the amount of reading that is required, their content, mode of assessment and the knowledge and skills that a student is expected to gain from them (EEA, 2011). This report focused on the Design of Concrete Structures and Road Engineering.
Design of Concrete Structures
Aim
This subject aims to offer the student with the relevant knowledge and skills required to analyze indeterminate structures using a variety of methods such as flexibility and moment distribution. The subject also gives the student the skills to design reinforced concrete structures. It gives students the opportunity to learn and understand the designs which have been used by architects in the past to design houses. They can therefore incorporate this information with their ideas, knowledge and skills to design modern structures (National Academic Press, 2006). This will ensure that the trends in which constructions follow have a historical element.
Content
This subject is very detailed. It involves the analysis of indeterminate structures such as elastic beam theory and virtual work method. It also covers the information concerning concrete technology. This includes concrete properties, and concrete design under different conditions. This information is important especially in design and construction.
Assessment
The assessment of this subject involves administration of assignments, continuous assessment tests and laboratory experiments. This accounts for about 30-50% of the final mark for the subject. The final exam of the subject is given to the students towards the end of the semester. It covers all units which the students had covered in the subject and account for about 50-70% of the final mark for the subject.
Generic Skills Outcome
After finishing this subject, the student should be able to apply the knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals, undertake problem identification, formulation and solution and utilize a systems approach to design. Also students should have the ability to work as an individual or work as team members under real conditions which engineers face.
Road Engineering HES2136
Aim
This subject aims at giving students practical laboratory experiences where they can apply their knowledge and skills to solve problems. Through this, they are able to develop mathematical knowledge and skills required in problem-solving. The subject also enables them to understand the principles and practice of geometric road design, safety and comfort (Open University, 1999).
Content
The subject is divided into two parts. The first part which accounts for about 65% of the subject is called road elements and design. Here, students are expected to get the knowledge and skills required to design road cross-sections, road classification, drainage structures and basic principles of road design (computer-aided road design), to design the vehicles, speed and stopping sight distance. The second part which accounts for 35% of the subject is called road construction and materials where students learn earthwork equipment, compaction theory and road construction sequence. Students also need to care about environmental issues and have skills required in the stabilization and testing of crushed rocks (University of Queensland, 2011).
Assessment
This subject requires 51 hours of study for the whole semester. Students should attend lectures for a total of 24 hours, tutorials for 18 hours, and computer classes for just 9 hours. Tests, assignments, and computer lab classes account for about 30-50% of the total mark. The final exam offered at the end of the semester accounts for 50-70% of the final mark.
Generic Skills Outcome
At the end of this subject, students are expected to have basic skills in design. They should also be able to use civil 3D software and produce and analyze earthwork diagrams (American Society of Civil Engineers, 1991). They should also be able to design and develop road engineering technology and also be able to solve problems such as traffic.
Conclusion and Recommendations
As it has been discussed, these two subjects are very important. They provide the students with the knowledge and skills required in the engineering industry. I would recommend that up-to-date technology should be applied while teaching these courses. The faculty should also partner up with many engineering firms which will create an avenue for students to gain practical experience in various fields.
References
American Society of Civil Engineers (1991) Civil engineering. California: American Society of Civil Engineers EEA (2011) EEA Professional Development Schedule 2011. Web.
National Academic Press (2006) Learning to think spatially. New York: National Academies Press.
Open University (1999) Distance & supported open learning. Pennsylvania: Hobsons University of Queensland (2011) Bachelor of Engineering. University of Queensland. Web.