Overview
This unit will develop your knowledge on the properties of building materials. You will also examine testing (both destructive and non-destructive) of timber, concrete, and metals in relation to: Timber - grading, strength tests, durability and protection of timber products; Concrete - tests on aggregates, fresh and hardened concrete properties, durability studies and test methods, and concrete protection; and Metal - ferrous and non-ferrous metal and its alloys, corrosion of metals and protection, and strength properties tests. This unit also develops your understanding of: Protection from corrosion and destruction; Identifying the suitable grade material for the site conditions; and Relevant Australian and international Standards. You will be provided with an introduction to: the development and application of materials from industry by-products and re-cycling of materials and life-cycle analysis of materials.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2024
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student
Students appreciated that the lecturer included modern materials and 3D printing of buildings.
The unit is continually updated to reflect technological advances.
Feedback from Student
The information provided by the lecturer was split randomly between the Moodle and MS Teams, this was confusing for some students.
All core learning material is provided through the Moodle site and mirrored in the MS Team which also provides a forum for student engagement.
Feedback from Lecturer
Attendance at and access to tutorial recordings was low.
Tutorial attendance is highly recommended for students to provide clarification on the unit's subjects and guidance on the assignments.
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
Materials for Architects and Builders
- Edition: 6th (2020)
- Authors: Arthur lyons
- Routledge
- ISBN: 9780815363385
- Binding: Paperback
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Microphone and camera for use with Zoom
- MS Teams
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
k.j.stone@cqu.edu.au
n.abbasi@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 04 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Topic 1: Introduction to Building Materials
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 11 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Topic 2: Brick and Brickwork (Weeks 2 and 3)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 18 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Topic 2: Brick and Brickwork (Weeks 2 and 3)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 25 Mar 2024Module/Topic
Topic 3: Block and Blockwork
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 01 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Topic 4: Timber and Timber Products (Weeks 5 and 6)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment one due the 4th
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 08 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 15 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Topic 4: Timber and Timber Products (Weeks 5 and 6)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 22 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Topic 5: Lime, Cement, and Concrete (Weeks 7 and 8)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 29 Apr 2024Module/Topic
Topic 5: Lime, Cement, and Concrete (Weeks 7 and 8)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment two due 2nd
Written Assignment 2 (30%) Due: Week 8 Friday (3 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 9
Begin Date: 06 May 2024Module/Topic
Topic 6: Metallic Materials (weeks 9 and 10)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 13 May 2024Module/Topic
Topic 6: Metallic Materials (weeks 9 and 10)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 20 May 2024Module/Topic
Topic 7. Sustainability in Material Use (weeks 11 and 12)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 27 May 2024Module/Topic
Topic 7. Sustainability in Material Use (weeks 11 and 12)
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Review/Exam Week
Begin Date: 03 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assignment three due the 6th
Exam Week
Begin Date: 10 Jun 2024Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit introduces the student to basic construction materials, their properties and common uses.
1 Written Assessment
Brick and concrete block in construction is to be researched and critically analysed. Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials to explain building them, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
Week 4 Friday (29 Mar 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit the assessment item as a word document on or before the due date and time. Late submission penalty is 5% per day of the allotted marks.
Week 6 Friday (19 Apr 2024)
As detailed on the assignment brief
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
2 Written Assessment
Timber in construction is to be researched and critically analysed. Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials. Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis and apply Australian and international standards relevant to the materials
Week 8 Friday (3 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit the assessment item as a word document on or before the due date and time. Late submission penalty is 5% per day of the allotted marks.
Week 10 Friday (17 May 2024)
As detailed on the assignment brief
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
3 Written Assessment
Concrete as a building material is to be researched and critically analysed. Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials. Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis and apply Australian and international standards relevant to the materials
Week 11 Friday (24 May 2024) 11:45 pm AEST
Submit the assessment item as a word document on or before the due date and time. Late submission penalty is 5% per day of the allotted marks.
Exam Week Friday (14 June 2024)
As detailed on the assignment brief
- Explain building materials, including the types, manufacturing process, properties, usage in construction and the life cycle analysis.
- Apply the Australian and international standards relevant to building materials.
- Conduct a literature review to answer specific questions related to building materials.
- Report on building materials through effective written communication.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
