CIV4280 - Bridge design and assessment - 2019

Essential aspects of highway bridge design, assessment and rehabilitation. Criteria for selection of bridge types, which are most prevalent. Examine structure as a whole, and implement the analysis and design of the bridge deck and the supporting members. Relevant strength and serviceability limit states applied to the design of the bridge, life-cycle performance and risk assessment, material degradation, corrosion, fatigue and time-dependent deformations of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete elements of the bridge, structural rehabilitation and repair techniques.

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

1. Formulate a conceptual design for a bridge considering various types of bridges, their components, and methods of construction.
2. Identify and calculate the loads to which a bridge is subjected, according to first principles and relevant codes of practice.
3. Determine the structural behaviour various bridge types quantitatively and qualitatively using relevant hand- and computer-based methods.
4. Design prestressed concrete beams for service and strength requirements.
5. Describe the reliability basis for limit state design and its use in bridge assessment, including descriptions of the basic variables.
6. Discuss bridge inspection and management procedures, including levels of assessment and condition rating approaches.
7. Work effectively in a bridge design team and communicate engineering designs.

Continuous assessment: 50%

Examination (2 hours): 50%

Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

2 hours of lectures, 2 hours of practical and 8 hours of private study per week.

See also Unit timetable information