Students
CIVL3305 – Design of Steel and Timber Structures
2025 – Session 2, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde
General Information
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| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor & Lecturer
Tohid Ghanbari-Ghazijahani
Contact via E-mail
To be set on email requests
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|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
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| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
130cp at 1000 level or above and CIVL2301
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| Corequisites |
Corequisites
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| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
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| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit introduces students to fundamental concepts and design principles for steel and timber structures, focusing on design requirements based on Australian standards (AS 4100 for steel and AS 1720 for timber) and relevant loading standards (AS 1170). Students will learn to design structural steel and timber members for primary loading systems in Civil Engineering, applying ultimate limit state principles and an introduction to serviceability criteria. Key topics include the types and properties of structural steel elements, the design of steel structures under various loading conditions, the design of steel connections, the characteristics of structural timber, and the design of timber structures. This unit provides a strong foundation for practical projects and final-year theses for students pursuing further studies in structural engineering. Learning in this unit enhances student understanding of global challenges identified by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; Sustainable Cities and Communities |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Convey sound knowledge of the theory, concepts and principles for structural steel and timber design.
- ULO2: Comprehend the knowledge of the applications of steel and timber design under each specific loading to create safe and accurate design outcomes according to the design requirements set out in Australian Standards.
- ULO3: Perform computation-based prediction and assessment of design capacities of structural steel and timber members.
- ULO4: Communicate effectively and professionally the outcomes of the structural steel and timber designs, and make meaningful relationships between concepts and the practice.
- ULO5: Improve transferable skills such as team player, time-management, self-management, creative thinking, and compliance with codes.
General Assessment Information
To pass this unit:
you need to achieve a total mark equal to or greater than 50% across all assessments.
Participation and Attendance:
We strongly encourage all students to actively participate in all learning activities. Regular engagement is crucial for your success in this unit, as these activities provide opportunities to deepen your understanding of the material, collaborate with peers, and receive valuable feedback from instructors, to assist in completing the unit assessments. Your active participation not only enhances your own learning experience but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic learning environment for everyone.
Late Assessment Submission:
Any late submission requires a Special Consideration application with a genuine reason, in accordance with the Faculty’s policies. Unless a Special Consideration request has been submitted and approved, a 5% penalty (of the total possible mark of the task) will be applied for each day a written report or presentation assessment is not submitted, up until the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. The submission time for all uploaded assessments is 11:55 pm. A 1-hour grace period will be provided to students who experience a technical concern. For any late submission of time-sensitive tasks, such as scheduled tests/exams, performance assessments/presentations, and/or scheduled practical assessments/labs, please apply for Special Consideration.
Special Consideration: The Special Consideration Policy aims to support students who have been impacted by short-term circumstances or events that are serious, unavoidable and significantly disruptive, and which may affect their performance in assessment. If you experience circumstances or events that affect your ability to complete the assessments in this unit on time, please inform the convenor and submit a Special Consideration request through https://connect.mq.edu.au.
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Problem set | 20% | No | End of Week 12 |
| Final Examination | 50% | No | TBC |
| Design Project | 30% | No | End of Week 13 |
Problem set
Assessment Type 1: Problem set
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: End of Week 12
Weighting: 20%
Students will be provided with a problem set to be submitted at a single point in time.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Convey sound knowledge of the theory, concepts and principles for structural steel and timber design.
- Comprehend the knowledge of the applications of steel and timber design under each specific loading to create safe and accurate design outcomes according to the design requirements set out in Australian Standards.
- Perform computation-based prediction and assessment of design capacities of structural steel and timber members.
- Communicate effectively and professionally the outcomes of the structural steel and timber designs, and make meaningful relationships between concepts and the practice.
Final Examination
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: TBC
Weighting: 50%
Final examination assessing content throughout the semester
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Convey sound knowledge of the theory, concepts and principles for structural steel and timber design.
- Comprehend the knowledge of the applications of steel and timber design under each specific loading to create safe and accurate design outcomes according to the design requirements set out in Australian Standards.
- Perform computation-based prediction and assessment of design capacities of structural steel and timber members.
- Communicate effectively and professionally the outcomes of the structural steel and timber designs, and make meaningful relationships between concepts and the practice.
Design Project
Assessment Type 1: Project
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: End of Week 13
Weighting: 30%
Students will submit a report about designing steel and timber structures incorporating major learning contents and also will include and discuss their observations and insight about the designed steel and timber structures.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Convey sound knowledge of the theory, concepts and principles for structural steel and timber design.
- Comprehend the knowledge of the applications of steel and timber design under each specific loading to create safe and accurate design outcomes according to the design requirements set out in Australian Standards.
- Perform computation-based prediction and assessment of design capacities of structural steel and timber members.
- Communicate effectively and professionally the outcomes of the structural steel and timber designs, and make meaningful relationships between concepts and the practice.
- Improve transferable skills such as team player, time-management, self-management, creative thinking, and compliance with codes.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
The main source is the lecture notes and additional resources are included in the lecture notes for each chapter of this unit.
Unit Schedule
Refer to the iLearn page.
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Complaints Resolution Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Academic Integrity
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
- Workshops
- Chat with a WriteWISE peer writing leader
- Access StudyWISE
- Upload an assignment to Studiosity
- Complete the Academic Integrity Module
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
- IT Support
- Accessibility and disability support with study
- Mental health support
- Safety support to respond to bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual assault
- Social support including information about finances, tenancy and legal issues
- Student Advocacy provides independent advice on MQ policies, procedures, and processes
Student Enquiries
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Unit information based on version 2025.05 of the Handbook