Overview
In this unit, you will learn the idealisation and loading of complex structural systems. You will also learn how to calculate deflections in truss, beam, and frame structures using various analytical methods such as the virtual load method. You will be able to analyse indeterminate structures using fundamental techniques/methods e.g., force method, and slope-deflection method. You will be introduced to the fundamentals of structural analysis using the direct stiffness method and you will use industry-relevant software such as SPACE GASS or equivalent to analyse complex structures.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisites: ENEG11006 Engineering Statics and ENEC12012 Stress Analysis
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 2 - 2026
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 SUTE
Students value the lecturer’s clear and engaging delivery, particularly the ability to explain complex concepts in an accessible way.
This teaching approach should be maintained and further strengthened by continuing to use worked examples, step-by-step explanations, and scaffolded problem-solving in lectures and tutorials.
Feedback from Low participation in Student Unit Evaluation surveys
Student feedback volume was very limited, with only a small number of comments received.
Students should be more actively encouraged to complete unit evaluations, with reminders during class and via Moodle announcements, to obtain more representative feedback for continuous improvement.
Feedback from SUTE
Students have indicated a need for more feedback on their submitted assessments.
More structured feedback should be provided for the assessments.
- Apply principles of structural idealisation, and loading (including moving loads) for practical structures
- Apply fundamental theories to determine deflection in structures
- Apply analytical methods to solve statically indeterminate structures
- Perform critical analyses of complex structures using industry-relevant software
- Demonstrate engineering values including professional communication and sustainable development.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Introductory
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 3N )
3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 2N 3N )
Intermediate
1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I )
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 5I )
Advanced
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4A )
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences that underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 2A 3A )
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4A )
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem-solving. (LO: 1A 2A 3A )
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools, and resources. (LO: 3A 4A )
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4A)
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 1A 4A )
3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 4I 5A )
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 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 Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20% | |||||
| 2 - Project (applied) - 30% | |||||
| 3 - Project (applied) - 30% | |||||
| 4 - Project (applied) - 20% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 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 | |||||