Reference no: EM133913598 , Length: word count:5000

Advanced Structural Design and Bridge Engineering

Assessment Task 1: Essay

Learning Outcome 1: Critically evaluate the use of common structural materials in large structures.

Learning Outcome 2: Evaluate a range of structural theories and methods of analysis and their relevance to large structures, according to current codes of practice.

Learning Outcome 3: Perform advanced structural analysis and design of steel, composite, prestressed concrete, tensile cables, bridge deck structures/elements, and apply knowledge to the design in varying environments.

Assessment guidelines

Produce a 3000-word +/- 10% (excluding references and appendices) essay where you:

Compare and critically discuss the similarities or differences of two different types of bridges of your choice, in terms of their superstructure and substructure characteristics, as well as the key structural materials used. It is encouraged to support your discussion with examples of real bridges used around the world that represent each of the two bridge types.

Suggestion: You can use Structurae database as a supportive source to find basic information about types of bridges around the world, and perform a further research on the selected bridges to enhance your arguments.

Select two real bridges of the same type (corresponding to one of the types selected in (1) above), and discuss qualitatively and compare their applied dead loads, live loads, and other environmental loads (such as wind loads, snow, temperatures and earthquakes) and conditions (such as location, purpose of construction and environmental impact) using (publicly) available data. A summary of the data collected can be presented in tabular format, as shown in Table 1, below (the list of properties presented is indicative, and non-exhaustive):

Table 1: A comparison Bridges A and B in terms of the various properties accounted for in their structural design.

Based on the comparison conducted in (2) above, critically discuss the appropriateness of the design of the two bridges, considering their location, purpose of construction, materials used, and other environmental conditions.

Introduction Provision an essential background to the key characteristics of the two bridge types selected to be discussed. Explanation what factors have influenced the selection of the two types of bridge for discussion, to justify their selection. Clear
definition the objectives of the assignment.

Main Body: Discussion and Critical Analysis Identification of the superstructure and substructure characteristics, and key structural materials for each of the two bridge types. Comparison and critical discussion of the similarities or differences the two bridge types. Use of bridge examples that represent the two bridge types. Get top-rated assignment help now.

Identification of two real bridges of the same type. Collection and presentation available data corresponding to the loads and other environmental parameters for the two real bridges. Comparison of the data.

Critical discussion on the appropriateness of the design of the two bridges, considering their location, purpose of construction, materials used, and other environmental conditions.

Conclusion Effective summary of the critical points addressed in the assignment, and the most important findings of the discussion.

Layout and Referencing (list of references can take as many pages as necessary/not included in the 3000-word count) A high-quality presentation that conforms to principles of academic writing and contains minimal errors in sentence construction, grammar, and punctuation.

The assignment should follow appropriate academic conventions regarding in-text citations and references using Harvard referencing system.

Assessment Task 2: Real Practical Design Study

Learning Outcome 1: Critically evaluate the use of common structural materials in large structures.
Learning Outcome 2: Evaluate a range of structural theories and methods of analysis and their relevance to large structures, according to current codes of practice.
Learning Outcome 3: Perform advanced structural analysis and design of steel, composite, prestressed concrete, tensile cables, bridge deck structures/elements, and apply knowledge to the design in varying environments.

Assessment guidelines

Produce a 2000-word +/- 10% (excluding references and appendices) a real practical design study for either (a) a steel truss or (b) a cable-stayed or a suspension bridge of your choice, where you:

Provide a comprehensive discussion the essential site data available, construction materials, and the phases involved in the design process of the bridge. It is recommended that the discussion of the site data and materials is accompanied by a summary table of the data. A visual representation (e.g. flowchart) of the design phases can also be included to complement the respective discussion.

Based on the data and discussion presented in point (1) above, critically comment on the appropriateness of the particular bridge design, materials used, and the design phases implemented.

Discuss the final structural result of the constructed bridge and provide any advantages/innovations that emerged from the design, any design flaws (if applicable), whether the bridge is still operating and its (expected) service life, whether it collapsed etc.

Suggestion: If you decide to use a bridge design with proven flaws for your study, you could either select a bridge that collapsed due to deficient design or unexpected overloading, such as the Tacoma Narrows Bridge, or a bridge that was damaged during construction or service life, such as Zambezi river bridge in Mozambique and Chirajara bridge in Colombia. However, you could also use a bridge that it is still in use, such as Santa Cruz Bridge in Madeira. The above examples are not mandatory, you could of course select any relevant bridge around the world, but make sure that there are available design data.