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AR40413: Structures 4

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2013/4
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Semester 1
Further information on unit assessment Assessment: CW 10%, EX 90%
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Reassessment exam (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites:
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To cover the effects of vibrations, dynamics, wind and earthquake affecting the behaviour and stability of structures.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of the unit, the student will be able to analyse complex structures in terms of dynamics and stability. The student will also be able to demonstrate:
* a systematic understanding of this knowledge, and a critical awareness of current problems and/or new insights, much of which is at, or informed by, the forefront of this area of professional practice;
* conceptual understanding that enables the student to evaluate critically current practice and new developments, and propose new solutions;
* an ability to deal with complex issues both systematically and creatively, make sound judgements in the absence of complete data, and communicate their conclusions clearly.

Skills:
Intellectual skills
* To understand taught material - taught
Professional/Practical skills
* To understand vibrations, dynamics, wind and earthquake affecting the behaviour and stability of structures - assessed.
Transferable/key skills
* To communicate ideas verbally and in writing - facilitated and assessed.

Content:
Vibrations of single degree of freedom systems: free vibrations, response to step and sinusoidal loads. Multi degree of freedom systems. Modal analysis for vibrations and buckling of structures; eigenvalues, eigenvectors and othogonality conditions. Damping and geometric stiffness. Lateral vibrations of beams under constant axial load. Discussion of post buckled stability via single degree of freedom models. Lateral torsional buckling of beams. The nature of wind, flow around angular, curved and streamlined bodies. Vorticity and turbulence. The effect of terrain. Introduction to the statistics of extremes, return periods, gusts, etc.. Introduction to codes and standards. Wind tunnel testing. Comfort criteria limiting sway of tall buildings. Introduction to aero-elasticity, flutter, galloping and divergence. Aero elastic wind tunnel tests. The causes of earthquakes, prediction of ground movements. Effects of earthquakes on buildings and other structures. Introduction to codes and standards. Rules for the design of earthquake resistant buildings and structures. Description of wind and earthquake loads using power spectra. 'Reconstitution' of load from power spectrum. Fourier transform, auto-correlation and cross-correlation. Use of modal analysis to predict the root mean square building acceleration from power spectrum of load. The use of tuned mass dampers to reduce the motion of tall buildings.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

AR40413 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
  • UEAR-AFM03 : MEng (hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEAR-AKM03 : MEng (hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5
  • UEAR-AFM07 : MEng (hons) Civil Engineering (Full-time) - Year 4
  • UEAR-AKM07 : MEng (hons) Civil Engineering (Full-time with Thick Sandwich Placement) - Year 5

Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2013/4 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2014/15 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2013/14.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.