Course coordinator
Dr Lisa Ottenhaus
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Civil Engineering School
A course on the design of timber structures for students looking towards a career in Structural Engineering. The course covers: understanding timber properties, timber micro structure, engineering design with wood (material strength used in design, compression, tension, bending), connection design, engineered wood products, designing for fire resistance, designing for durability.
General introduction:
This course provides an introduction to timber engineering in the context of civil engineering.
Timber is becoming an increasingly popular material in the built environment due to its sustainability, appealing aesthetics, high strength-to-weight ratio, and the potential for prefabrication and rapid construction. Timber is a non-isotropic organic material; thus its structural properties and design principles differ from those for traditional materials used in construction such as concrete and steel. Understanding the overall nature of timber is key to the design of timber structures.
This course provides senior civil engineering students with an overall understanding of timber as a structural material as well as an understanding of the design principles for structural timber. The following subject areas are covered:
- Material structure and its impact on fundamental material properties.
- Timber material properties (physical and mechanical).
- Timber products and wood processing.
- Durability of timber.
- Structural design of timber elements
- Design of timber connections.
- Design of common timber structures.
- Design of timber bridges.
- Fundamentals of design for fire.
- Learning from timber failures.
Guest lecturers:
As part of this course, engineering professionals and academic experts will deliver guest lecturesﾠand help provide the students with state-of-the-art knowledge in the design of timber structures and technology. The scope of this course does not only cover the use of codes and standards to design timber structures, but also extends to fundamentals and novel outcomes in timber research developed by the Centre for Future Timber Structures.
Course structure
The course uses blended learning with online content on learnXﾠandﾠclassroom activities including lectures, tutorials, and labs.ﾠ
Assessment items
Individual durability lab submission (5%), group project (40%) with peer assessment, group presentation (5%), final exam (50%). Further details will be provided on the Blackboard site for this course.
Course requirements
Assumed background
Students are expected to have a good background in structural mechanics and structural design.
No previous knowledge in timber engineering is required.
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CIVL3340
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
CIVL2340 or CIVL3380
Course contact
Guest lecturer
Dr Catherine Keys
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Lisa Ottenhaus
Dr Luis Yerman
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Additional timetable information
Full-day field trip Wednesday 31 July.
Aims and outcomes
This course aims to provide civil engineering students with a sound basis in the design of timber structures. The course uses a blended learning approach using a combination of traditional lectures, online course content, flipped classroom tutorials, collaborative group work, and gamification,ﾠto engage students in active learning,ﾠcritical thinking, collaboration, group discussion, problem solving,ﾠand deep learning.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Understand wood types, wood structure and its effect on timber properties.
LO2.
Recognise the range of timber products (graded and engineered), applications, and wood processing systems.
LO3.
Analyse and design structural timber elements (beams and columns), and timber structures.
LO4.
Analyse and design timber connections.
LO5.
Identify threats to the durability of timber structures and select suitable durability measures.
LO6.
Understand the basic fire behaviour of timber and the fire performance of timber structures.
LO7.
Apply design fundamentals to a real timber structure and communicate the design strategy for this structure.
LO8.
Collaborate in interdisciplinary groups with peers and learn from industry professionals.
LO9.
Understand and apply with confidence national and international regulatory frameworks for the design of timber structures.
LO10.
Critically analyse past failures of timber structures and develop safety and maintenance strategies to prevent such failures.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation | Durability Assignment | 5% |
23/08/2024 4:00 pm |
| Participation/ Student contribution |
learnX module completion
|
23/08/2024 4:00 pm |
|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook, Participation/ Student contribution, Project |
Group Project Submission
|
40% |
11/10/2024 4:00 pm |
| Presentation |
Group Project Presentations
|
5% |
7/10/2024 - 11/10/2024 |
| Examination |
Final Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024 |
A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.
Assessment details
Durability Assignment
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
23/08/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L05, L09
Task description
Assignment on durability coordinated by Dr Luis Yerman.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Via Inspera
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
learnX module completion
- Hurdle
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Participation/ Student contribution
- Due date
23/08/2024 4:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L09
Task description
learnX module 1-5 completion is a hurdle to be able to join a group and commence group work.
Hurdle requirements
learnX module 1-5 need to be completed.Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Group Project Submission
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia, Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Notebook/ Logbook, Participation/ Student contribution, Project
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
11/10/2024 4:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09
Task description
This report details the design developed during the group project and the logbook outlines learnings from working with peers and industry professionals. Submission requirements and marking criteria will be made available on Blackboard.
Anonymous peer assessment will be used to weight individual marks. Formative peer assessment will be available at project mid-point to help manage potential conflict.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Gradescope submission instructions on blackboard
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Group Project Presentations
- Team or group-based
- In-person
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Presentation
- Weight
- 5%
- Due date
7/10/2024 - 11/10/2024
- Other conditions
- Peer assessed.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09
Task description
Group project presentation to peers and external judges. Submission requirements and marking criteria will be made available on Blackboard. Presentations will be recorded for re-mark purposes if required. Recordings will be stored and treated with confidence. Recordings will be retained for at least 1 year after the release of course grades. Recordings will only be accessed for the purpose of moderation of marking; provision of feedback; or re-marking following a successful re-mark application.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance.
A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.
Final Exam
- Hurdle
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
2/11/2024 - 16/11/2024
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10
Task description
The final exam will be a Gradescope exam and include a combination of multiple-choice, short answer and problem solving questions.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Hurdle requirements
To receive an overall grade of 4 or more, a student must achieve at least 40% on the final exam.Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series or UQ approved , labelled calculator only |
| Open/closed book | Open Book examination |
| Exam platform | Paper based |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 19.99 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: As for grade of 2 and the student fails to complete the assessment for the course. |
| 2 (Fail) | 20 - 44.99 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student fails to demonstrate sufficient knowledge or understanding of the underlying concepts. Much of the information provided is inaccurate and irrelevant. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Some knowledge of the subject is evident but the student demonstrates limited understanding of the underlying concepts. A substantial part of information provided is inaccurate or irrelevant. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates sound knowledge of core material and at least partial understanding of the underlying concepts, particularly during the examination. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: The student demonstrates sound knowledge and sound understanding of the key concepts. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84.99 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Key concepts are understood. There is a demonstrated ability to solve previously unseen problems. There are only minor factual inaccuracies and there is little irrelevant information. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Key concepts are understood and can be used to solve previously unseen problems. There is evidence of critical analysis and an ability to synthesize information from different aspects of the subject. There are insignificant factual inaccuracies and there is very limited irrelevant information. |
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Additional assessment information
ﾠ
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
Recommended
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Safety boots | Safety boots are recommended for the field trip. |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 5 |
Not Timetabled |
learnX online modules Self-paced learning. You need to complete the online modules by the end of week 5. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L09 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Lecture |
Lectures Lecture series, including guest lectures and presentations by industry professionals. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10 |
Week 2 (29 Jul - 04 Aug) |
Excursion |
Field Trip Full-day Field Trip to Laidley on 31 July. Learning outcomes: L05, L08, L10 |
Week 3 |
Problem-based learning |
DIY durability lab DIY durability lab Learning outcomes: L01, L05, L09 |
Multiple weeks From Week 4 To Week 5 |
Tutorial |
Course tutorials Flipped classroom tutorials. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L09 |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 11 |
Team Based Learning |
Group Project Project based collaborative project designing timber structures. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09 |
Multiple weeks From Week 12 To Week 13 |
Problem-based learning |
Learning from timber failures Gamified activity to identify the potential for and prevent timber failures. Learning outcomes: L08, L09, L10 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
You'll also need to be aware of the following policies and procedures while completing this course:
- Laboratory Occupational Health and Safety
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: