CQUniversity Unit Profile

ENAC12002 - Steel and Concrete Design

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All details in this unit profile for ENAC12002 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.

General Information

Overview

This unit introduces you to the basic principles and processes of structural design. You will learn how to design simple structural components made of steel and reinforced concrete under the supervision of a professional engineer. The concept of load action will be introduced and you will build on the structural analysis skills developed in Engineering Statics. Properties of common construction materials and structural sections will be reviewed in the context of sustainability. You will also develop your professional communication, problem-solving and ethical practice skills.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate

Unit Level: Level 2

Credit Points: 6

Student Contribution Band: 8

Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: ENEG11006 Engineering Statics and ENEG11008 Materials for Engineers.

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 - 2026

Online

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).

Website

This unit has a website, within the Moodle system, which is available two weeks before the start of term. It is important that you visit your Moodle site throughout the term. Please visit Moodle for more information.

Class and Assessment Overview

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

Regional Campuses

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville

Metropolitan Campuses

Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)

Weighting: 40%

2. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

3. Written Assessment

Weighting: 30%

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.

CQUniversity Policies

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.

Previous Student Feedback

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 Students Feedback

Feedback

Well-delivered unit with appropriate support is given by the lecturer.

Recommendation

The best practice should be continued in future offers.

Feedback from Self Reflection

Feedback

Unit resources required a full update with recent changes and amendments in the AS3600 and AS4100.

Recommendation

Unit resources should be updated to reflect recent changes and amendments to AS3600 and AS4100 as necessary.

Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

Describe the limit state design process
Evaluate basic material and section properties for reinforced concrete and structural steel members in the context of sustainability
Design appropriate steel and concrete members using design tables and charts that comply with relevant Australian Standards
Demonstrate ethical conduct and a professional level of communication.

The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Engineering Associates in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:

Introductory

1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the practice area. (LO: 3N ) 2.2 Application of technical and practical techniques, tools and resources to well-defined engineering problems. (LO: 3N ) 3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 4N ) 3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 4N )

Intermediate

1.2 Procedural-level understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the practice area. (LO: 3I ) 1.4 Discernment of engineering developments within the practice area. (LO: 2N 3I ) 2.1 Application of established technical and practical methods to the solution of well-defined engineering problems. (LO: 3I ) 3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 3I 4I ) 3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 3I 4I )

Advanced

1.1 Descriptive, formula-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the practice area. (LO: 1N 2I 3A ) 1.3 In-depth practical knowledge and skills within specialist sub-disciplines of the practice area. (LO: 1N 2I 3A ) 1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 1N 2N 3A ) 2.3 Application of systematic design processes to well-defined engineering problems. (LO: 3A )

Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) which link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A - Advanced. Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping information https://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes

N/A Level

Introductory Level

Intermediate Level

Graduate Level

Professional Level

Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks	Learning Outcomes
	1	2	3	4
1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 40%
2 - Written Assessment - 30%
3 - Written Assessment - 30%

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

Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

Prescribed

Design Capacity Tables for Structural Steel, Vol. 1: Open Sections

5th Edition (2016)
Authors: Australian Steel Institute
Australian Steel Institute
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781921476402
Binding: eBook

Supplementary

HB71-2011: Reinforced Concrete Design in accordance with AS 3600 - 2009

(2011)
Authors: BD-002 (Concrete Structures)
Cement Concrete & Aggregates Australia and Standards Australia
Sydney Sydney , NSW , Australia
ISBN: 9781877023286
Binding: eBook

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:

CQUniversity Student Email
Internet
Unit Website (Moodle)
Microphone and headset

Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts

Kumaran Suntharavadivel Unit Coordinator
t.suntharavadivel@cqu.edu.au

Schedule

Week 1

Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Introduction to Structural Design, Limit State Design, Estimation of Loads on the Structure

Chapter

Study Resources will be provided on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2

Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Reinforced Concrete Design: Basics of Reinforced Concrete Design

Approximate Structural Analysis based on AS3600

Chapter

Study Resources will be provided on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3

Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026

Module/Topic

Reinforced Concrete Design: Beam Design

Chapter

Study Resources will be provided on Moodle

Study Resources will be provided on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Progressive Assessment (Quiz 2) due on Monday, 09:00 AM

Assignment 1: Reinforced Concrete Design Due: Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2026) 5:00 pm AEST

Week 8

Begin Date: 04 May 2026

Module/Topic

Steel Design: Design of Tension Members

Chapter

Study Resources will be provided on Moodle

Events and Submissions/Topic

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title

Progressive Assessments

Task Description

This assessment task consists of four Progressive assessments (tests) in the form of online quizzes. Each test consists of a combination of numerical and multiple-choice questions.
Important Notes:

Each test is set for 60 minutes. You have 60 minutes from when you start your attempt to submit your answers. If you start but leave a test and come back to it later, your 60-minute time may have lapsed and you will be scored - zero for that attempt.
You can attempt the quiz up to two times within the given time frame (generally one week) specified in the Schedule. Questions shall be different for each attempt and each student.
The test will be automatically closed after the given time frame ends.
The final mark will be the Highest of all the attempts.
Tests cannot be deferred.

Number of Quizzes

Frequency of Quizzes

Other

Assessment Due Date

See the Schedule

Return Date to Students

Immediately after the submission

Weighting

40%

Minimum mark or grade

30% (total of 12 marks out of 40 marks)

Assessment Criteria

Due to the nature of the assessment, only the final answer will be considered. Full marks will be given for each correct answer, but there will be no partial marks.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Evaluate basic material and section properties for reinforced concrete and structural steel members in the context of sustainability
Design appropriate steel and concrete members using design tables and charts that comply with relevant Australian Standards

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Assignment 1: Reinforced Concrete Design

Task Description

This assessment to cover the content from weeks 1 to 6 (Reinforced Concrete Design). Assessment questions include theory, analysis and design of structural elements. Questions will be available on Moodle at the end of Week 1.

Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2026) 5:00 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Week 9 Monday (11 May 2026)

Weighting

30%

Minimum mark or grade

40%

Assessment Criteria

Each question in this assignment will be assessed separately for accuracy and correct results.

Correct application of mathematics and arithmetic
Correct results

In addition, the assignment as a whole will be assessed against the following criteria:
Evidence of correct procedures

All necessary steps in the analysis are present in the correct order
Clear presentation of mathematical and arithmetical work linking given details of the problem to the results obtained
Evidence of checking results (mathematical, graphical, logic-common sense)

Evidence of the understanding of the topic

Explanation of choices made in the analysis (why is the procedure required, why this particular procedure)
Interpretation of results, eg limitations, the direction of vectors

Professional presentation

The work (job) is correctly identified (problem, date, analyst)
A clear statement of each problem and its details and requirements
The logical layout of the analysis
Appropriate use of diagrams, clear diagrams
Correct use of terminology, conventions
Clear English in the explanation of procedure and interpretation of results.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the limit state design process
Evaluate basic material and section properties for reinforced concrete and structural steel members in the context of sustainability
Design appropriate steel and concrete members using design tables and charts that comply with relevant Australian Standards
Demonstrate ethical conduct and a professional level of communication.

3 Written Assessment

Assessment Title

Assignment 2: Steel Design

Task Description

This assessment covers the content from weeks 7 to 12 (Steel Design). Assessment questions include theory, analysis and design of structural elements. Questions will be available via the Moodle unit website at the beginning of Week 7.

Assessment Due Date

Exam Week Monday (8 June 2026) 5:00 pm AEST

Return Date to Students

Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)

Weighting

30%

Minimum mark or grade

40%

Assessment Criteria

Each question in this assignment will be assessed separately for accuracy and correct results.

Correct application of mathematics and arithmetic
Correct results

In addition, the assignment as a whole will be assessed against the following criteria:
Evidence of correct procedures

All necessary steps in the analysis are present in the correct order
Clear presentation of mathematical and arithmetical work linking given details of the problem to the results obtained
Evidence of checking results (mathematical, graphical, logic-common sense)

Evidence of the understanding of the topic

Explanation of choices made in the analysis (why is the procedure required, why this particular procedure)
Interpretation of results, eg limitations, the direction of vectors

Professional presentation

The work (job) is correctly identified (problem, date, analyst)
A clear statement of each problem and its details and requirements
The logical layout of the analysis
Appropriate use of diagrams, clear diagrams
Correct use of terminology, conventions
Clear English in the explanation of procedure and interpretation of results.

Referencing Style

Harvard (author-date)

Submission

Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed

Describe the limit state design process
Evaluate basic material and section properties for reinforced concrete and structural steel members in the context of sustainability
Design appropriate steel and concrete members using design tables and charts that comply with relevant Australian Standards
Demonstrate ethical conduct and a professional level of communication.

Academic Integrity Statement

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.