Bridge Design
Duration
- One Semester or equivalent
Contact hours
- 48 hours face to face + Blended
On-campus unit delivery combines face-to-face and digital learning.
Prerequisites
Undergraduate Students
Aims and objectives
Bridge design is a common career for civil engineers, with strong demand due to the global expansion of transport infrastructure. The aim of this unit is to introduce students to bridge design and equip them with the basic knowledge and skills to embark upon a career as a bridge design engineer. The unit aims to build upon the knowledge of structural engineering acquired through fundamental structural engineering units taken at undergraduate level, and overlay that with knowledge and skills specific to the practice of bridge engineering.
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe and discuss the common structural forms for bridges (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S3).
2. Select an appropriate structural form and construction method for a specific bridging task (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
3. Develop a structural analysis model for a beam and slab bridge and apply loading representative of a moving vehicle (K1, K2, K3, K4, K6, S3).
4. Design selected bridge members in prestressed concrete and steel materials (K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
5. Specify appropriate components for bridge joints, bearings and parapets (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
6. Undertake preliminary analysis and design of bridge substructure components (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
7. Describe the processes for assessment, rating and strengthening of bridges (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S2, S3).
Unit Learning Outcomes (ULO)
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
1. Describe and discuss the common structural forms for bridges (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S3).
2. Select an appropriate structural form and construction method for a specific bridging task (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
3. Develop a structural analysis model for a beam and slab bridge and apply loading representative of a moving vehicle (K1, K2, K3, K4, K6, S3).
4. Design selected bridge members in prestressed concrete and steel materials (K1, K2, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
5. Specify appropriate components for bridge joints, bearings and parapets (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
6. Undertake preliminary analysis and design of bridge substructure components (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S1, S2, S3).
7. Describe the processes for assessment, rating and strengthening of bridges (K1, K3, K4, K5, K6, S2, S3).
Swinburne Engineering Competencies (A1-7, K1-6, S1-4): find out more about Engineering Skills and Competencies including the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competencies.
Unit information in detail
- Teaching methods, assessment and content.
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
Type | Hours per week | Number of Weeks | Total |
Live Online Lecture | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| On Campus Tutorial | 2 | 12 | 24 |
| Online Contact | 1 | 12 | 12 |
| Unspecified Activities Independent Learning | 7.5 | 12 | 90 |
TOTAL | 150 hours |
Assessment
Types | Individual/Group Role | Weighting | Unit Learning Outcomes (ULOs) |
Assignment | Individual/Group | 40-60% | 1,5 |
| Examination | Individual | 40-60% | 1,2,4,5,6,7 |
Minimum requirements to pass this Unit
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 overall mark for the unit 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 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
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 overall mark for the unit 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 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
Content
• Choice of bridge systems and construction methods
• Conceptual design
• Loading
• Analysis models
• Design for prestressed concrete construction
• Design for steel-concrete composite construction
• Substructure
• Joints, bearings and parapets
• Assessment, rating and strengthening
• Conceptual design
• Loading
• Analysis models
• Design for prestressed concrete construction
• Design for steel-concrete composite construction
• Substructure
• Joints, bearings and parapets
• Assessment, rating and strengthening
Study resources
- Reading materials.
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required texts will be made available in the Unit Outline.