Overview

This unit introduces underlying principles of pneumatic and hydraulic systems and it's components.

The knowledge and skills covered in the unit equip the students to analyse, design and build pneumatic and hydraulic circuits for various industrical applications considering efficiency, safety and sustainablility.

This unit enhances the practical troubleshooting skills and will give them confidence to perform pneumatic and hydraulic installation and maintenance job.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
02-March-2026
31-May-2026
Last self-enrolment date
15-March-2026
Census date
31-March-2026
Last withdraw without fail date
21-April-2026
Results released date
07-July-2026

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Identify and analyse fluid power systems and their applications when working in an engineering environment
  2. Apply fluid power fundamental principles and conservation of energy when solving engineering problems
  3. Design and construct pneumatic and hydraulic circuits when performing engineering projects and practical exercises
  4. Monitor and control fluid power systems when working in an engineering environment
  5. Design efficient fluid power systems when analysing system performance
  6. Evaluate real-world engineering applications of pneumatics and hydraulics when working in various industries
  7. Demonstrate an understanding of WHS legislation and comply with standard operating procedures when working in an engineering environment

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)

On-campus
Lecture

2.00 16 weeks 32
On-campus
Lab
4.00 16 weeks 64
On-campus
Class
1.50 16 weeks 24
Online
Learning activities
1.00 16 weeks 16
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning
0.88 16 weeks 14
Total     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Case Studies Individual     20-30 % 5,6,7
Major Project Group 20-30 % 2,3,4,5,6,7
Online Quizzes Individual 20-30 % 1,2,5
Test Individual 20-30 % 1,2,3,5

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all Unit Learning Outcomes to a minimum standard, a student must achieve:

(i) an aggregate mark of 50% or more, and
(ii) at least 40% in the final exam.

Students who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 45% as the total mark for the unit.

Content

  • WHS and Regulatory Requirements
  • Fluid Power Fundamentals
  • Fluid Power Components
  • Fluid Power System Concepts
  • Electrical Principles and Components
  • Specific Components
  • Circuit Design

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.