49151 Concrete Technology and Practice
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2021 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksRequisite(s): ((120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10061 Bachelor of Engineering Diploma Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10066 Bachelor of Engineering Science OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10067 Bachelor of Engineering OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09067 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Diploma Professional Engineering Practice OR 120 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09066 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)) AND 48352 Construction Materials)
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses. See access conditions.
Description
Engineers choose concrete as the construction material of choice for civil and structural engineering applications. Concrete is the most common construction material used in the world. It can meet a diverse array of prescriptive and performance-based requirements. The constituent raw materials of concrete and its production methodology, and the placement and curing methods used, all contribute to determining the compliance of the concrete to performance-based requirements, standard testing methods and specification. Innovative concrete mixes and testing methods are continuously being developed to increase the use of concrete as an advanced construction material that can meet the demand of the highest performance requirements.
This subject provides students with an in-depth understanding and knowledge of a variety of topics relating to concrete. It provides practical examples and practical learning experiences, which allow students to understand concrete technology at an advanced level.
This subject explores:
- Constituent raw material components of concrete being: binders, aggregates, water, chemical admixtures
- Properties of concrete and the Australian Standard methods of testing concrete including: fresh concrete properties, hardened concrete properties including modes of failure and in-situ testing
- Concrete mix design and trial mixes and testing and reporting of properties
- Concrete supply and methods of transportation, placement, finishing and curing
- Concrete specification including compliance with supply and design standards
- Serviceability aspects of concrete including time dependent deformation behaviour including drying shrinkage and creep
- Durability aspects of concrete: corrosion of steel, and physical and chemical deterioration and aging of concrete
- Structural concretes and specialty concretes used in construction
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Demonstrate fundamental knowledge of the fresh and hardened properties of concrete and apply this knowledge to civil and structural engineering projects |
|---|---|
| 2. | Identify the functional role of raw materials and apply this knowledge to mix design philosophy and attributes relating to cohesiveness, workability, consolidation, form-work and steel integration and curing methods to achieve the necessary strength, serviceability and durability requirements of the concrete |
| 3. | Evaluate and account for the effect of the environment on service life performance, properties and failure modes of structural concretes |
| 4. | Interpret and apply Australian Standard test methods and specifications in relation to prescriptive and/or performance-based requirements needed for concrete supply and constructing concrete structures. |
| 5. | Recognise report styles and apply research, problem solving and communication skills to prepare reports that investigate concrete performance, properties and applications, and address specification, prescriptive and/or performance-based requirements |
| 6. | Select and optimise raw material components and mix design needed to formulate a concrete so that it meets the specification, prescriptive and/or performance-based requirements. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs):
- Design Oriented: FEIT graduates apply problem solving, design thinking and decision-making methodologies in new contexts or to novel problems, to explore, test, analyse and synthesise complex ideas, theories or concepts. (C.1)
- Technically Proficient: FEIT graduates apply theoretical, conceptual, software and physical tools and advanced discipline knowledge to research, evaluate and predict future performance of systems characterised by complexity. (D.1)
- Collaborative and Communicative: FEIT graduates work as an effective member or leader of diverse teams, communicating effectively and operating autonomously within cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural contexts in the workplace. (E.1)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies
Students enrolled in the Master of Professional Engineering should note that this subject contributes to the assurance of Engineers Australia Stage 1 competencies: 1.1, 1.2, 2.1, 2.3, 3.2.
Teaching and learning strategies
Students will be expected to perform the following orientation activities before the commencement of formal teaching activities:
- Watch the introductory video to the subject outlining the following content:
- Contact details of teaching staff
- Teaching schedule, planned activities an due dates of assessments
- Assessment details and breakdown of assessment marks
- Read the subject outline documentation and acknowledge the rules
- Read the teaching schedule, be familiar with the times and due dates of assessments and the location of scheduled activities
- Login on Canvas and familiarise yourself with the layout of subject resources
- Watch the videos introducing concrete as a construction material
- Prepare and maintain a reflective journal to document your thoughts and questions before and after engaging in the various orientation and teaching activities in the subject.
Content (topics)
This subject forms an extension of the construction materials strand taught in the undergraduate civil engineering and civil and environmental engineering curriculum at UTS. The construction of concrete structures requires a thorough understanding of the functional role of the raw material components that are selected, the production methods utilised, and the supply, transportation, placement and finishing of concrete at a construction site. It is also necessary to have an understanding of the fresh and hardened concrete properties, application, specification, prescriptive and performance-based requirements of concrete. In order to develop, design and build safe, economical, environmentally friendly and durable structures, a thorough knowledge of the production, properties and testing of all types of concrete and accompanying practices is vital.
Topics include:
- binders and aggregates for concrete production
- water and admixtures for concrete production
- fresh concrete properties
- hardened concrete properties
- concrete mix design
- concrete supply, transportation, placement, finishing and curing
- concrete specification
- time dependent deformation of concrete
- durability of concrete
- specialty concretes
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Online Quizzes
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students apply their knowledge of concepts learnt in concrete technology to apply and address the requirements that are called for by designers, specifiers and engineers in professional practice. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | Students will be given 24 hours to submit their solutions to Canvas after the availability of each online quiz is announced. |
Assessment task 2: Concrete Mix Design (Report 1)
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students follow a specification tender and design a concrete mix for use in a structure while satisfying the properties and requirements needed from the concrete in service. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1, D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | No more than 10 pages in length |
Assessment task 3: Precast Concrete (Report 2)
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students follow a specification tender and design precast concrete components for use in a production plant layout. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1 and D.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, group assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | No more than 10 pages in length |
Assessment task 4: Main Technology Project (Report 3)
| Intent: | In this assessment task, students follow a specification tender and design a new generation, greener concrete solution for use in a structure while satisfying the properties and requirements needed from the concrete in service. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses the following subject learning objectives (SLOs): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs): C.1, D.1 and E.1 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | No more than 7 pages in length |
Minimum requirements
In order to pass the subject, a student must achieve an overall mark of 50% or more.
Recommended texts
There is no standard text book used in this subject.
Writing your own notes at the lecture/tutorial and revision workshop sessions is a necessity for this subject.
Lecture notes, lecture/tutorial workshop notes, worksheets and quizzes and a selection of past examination papers will be made available on Canvas.
Handout slides will be made available on Canvas prior to the workshop sessions. Students are required to print out the relevant handouts prior to the workshop sessions and bring these handouts with them to the workshop sessions.
References
Properties of Concrete (Fourth Edition), Neville, A. M.
Concrete Technology (Second Edition), Neville, A. M. and Brooks, J. J.
Design and Control of Concrete Mixtures, Kosmatka, S. H., Kerkhoff, B. and Panarese, W. C.
Significance of Tests and Properties of Concrete and Concrete-Making Materials, Lamond, J. F. and Pielert, J. H.
Concrete (Microstructure, Properties, and Materials) Third Edition, Mehta, P. K. and Monteiro, P. J. M.
Concrete (Second Edition), Mindess, S., Francis, J. and Darwin, D.
http://www.amazon.com/Concrete-2nd-Sidney-Mindess/dp/0130646326
Other resources
Forums are available to students on Canvas discussion board as follows:
- Subject administration forum - students should use this forum to post any questions they have relating to subject assessment. Students should also use this forum to post any queries they have relating to administrative matters.
- Subject technical content forum - students should use this forum to post any questions they have relating to learning content covered during the lecture/tutorial and revision workshop sessions. Students should also use this forum to post any queries and/or questions they have have relating to the selection of past examination papers that have been posted on Canvas.
Students should use these forums in two ways:
- Post and answer questions to help students better understand the content taught
- To check and communicate with teaching staff if clarification of certain matters is required