Unit Synopsis
This project-based learning unit will use cutting-edge computational design techniques to solve complex multidisciplinary problems in mechanical, structural and electromechanical engineering. You will formulate innovative design ideas for authentic applications and use the latest finite element simulation software to obtain accurate insights into how they will perform in practice. You will be introduced to the variational principles in statics and dynamics of structures and machines, finite element methods (FEM) and analysis procedures, principles of multivariate analysis, and parametric design optimisation techniques. You will apply these procedures to model and simulate a variety of problems at the interface of the mechanical, structural, electrical, and mechatronic disciplines. You will gain hands-on experience with an industry-standard finite element analysis software package.
Details
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 8 |
| Credit Points | 12 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.25 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
There are no pre-requisites for the 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). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2027
Term 1 - 2027 Profile
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 12-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 25 hours of study per week, making a total of 300 hours for the unit.
Assessment Tasks
To see assessment details from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.
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%).
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web 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.
Source: SUTE
Update unit content with more recent knowledge/research
UC should update unit content to align with more recent knowledge/research
Unit Coordinator revised and updated several portions of the unit content.
Source: SUTE
Provide clearer marking criteria/expectations
UC should investigate and amend current marking criteria to ensure more clarity
The Unit Coordinator revamped the marking criteria and designed a novel design-and-build assessment.
Source: SUTE
Improve clarity of quiz questions
UC should revisit this issue and revise the disputed questions and improve clarity
Quiz questions were carefully reviewed and amended for clarity.
Source: SUTE
Improve video resources.
The Unit Coordinator should review the quality of the video resources and update them.
In Progress
Source: SUTE
Use real world assessment problems.
The Unit Coordinator should review and adopt more real-world assessment problems.
In Progress
Source: SUTE
Review amount of weekly content.
The unit has been benchmarked using industry feedback in 2026. The Unit Coordinator should consider the feedback and amend the overall volume of content being delivered in the unit.
In Progress
Source: SUTE
Provide clearer expectations.
The Unit Coordinator should endeavour to further improve the feedback being provided to students.
In Progress
To see Learning Outcomes from an earlier availability, please search via a previous term.