Introduction to Structural Design - Loads and Forms

Undergraduate | 2026

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area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
ENGC 2001
Course ID icon
Course ID
200642
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
2
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
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Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

This course introduces students to the conceptual and preliminary stages of structural design including developing an understanding of the behaviour and typical use cases of common structural forms and the quantification of load paths and design actions arising from gravity, live loads, wind and earthquake loads.

Course learning outcomes

  • Identify the commonly used structural forms and where they are found in practice including their typical application ranges or limits
  • Identify the type of loads acting on structures and quantify these loads using AS1170
  • Describe load transfer mechanisms for a range of structural forms that includes quantifying tributary areas for calculating loads that transferred within members as well as from one member to other member
  • Apply approximate analysis techniques to convert design loads into design actions and describe applicability limits of the approximate methods
  • Apply computer software to perform detailed accurate analysis of different structural forms subjected to different type of loads to quantify design actions

Prerequisite(s)

N/A

Corequisite(s)

N/A

Antirequisite(s)

N/A