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AR30402: Bridge engineering

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2016/7
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Honours (FHEQ level 6)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 50%, EX 50%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Coursework 1 (CW 50%)
  • Examination (EX 50%)
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 develop an awareness and enthusiasm for the design, construction and assessment of various forms of bridge structures.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit, the student should be able to demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the following subjects, and an ability to apply that knowledge and understanding in engineering design: the history of bridge engineering and lessons learned from intermittent bridge collapses; the choice of bridge types; bridge construction techniques and components; design loading on bridges; elastic and plastic analysis techniques; strength assessment of existing highway bridges. The successful student should also be able to demonstrate an ability to gather relevant information pertaining to the construction of an existing bridge, prioritise this information, critically analyse the aesthetics, assess the bridge structurally, consider how the bridge was constructed and whether this could have been improved on, and report this information.

Skills:

* To understand taught material - taught
Professional/Practical skills
* To deal with bridge engineering issues in a systematic yet creative way, and to communicate the conclusions clearly.
Transferable/key skills
* Ability to collect, analyse, synthesise and present technical information.
* To demonstrate professional communication skills.

Content:
The history of bridge engineering, from stone arches and rope-suspension bridges to the wholly plastic Aberfeldy Bridge and the 2km long span Akashi Bridge.
Lessons learned from intermittent bridge collapses.
Bridge components and their nomenclature.
The choice of bridge types and suitability at specific sites for reasons of constructability, aesthetics, economics, function and available materials.
Issues involved in short, medium and long span bridge design.
Bridge construction techniques available for various applications, and design of the bridge to allow for easier construction.
Design loading on bridges, including dead, superimposed dead, traffic, wind, temperature, earthquake, etc.
Elastic and plastic analysis techniques available for the design of various forms of bridge structure.
Realistic strength assessment of existing highway bridges, so that needless demolition of adequate bridges may be prevented.
Bridges of the future, from short-span to the Messina Crossing. The history of bridge engineering, from stone arches and rope-suspension bridges to the wholly plastic Aberfeldy Bridge and the 2km long span Akashi Bridge. Assessment of an existing bridge - conference-paper preparation, proceedings publishing and oral presentation (to peers, lecturers and invited guests).
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

AR30402 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering
  • UEAR-AFM03 : MEng(Hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEAR-AKM03 : MEng(Hons) Civil and Architectural Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UEAR-AFB07 : BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEAR-AKB07 : BEng(Hons) Civil Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)
  • UEAR-AFM07 : MEng(Hons) Civil Engineering (Year 3)
  • UEAR-AKM07 : MEng(Hons) Civil Engineering with Year long work placement (Year 4)

Notes: