Strengthening and Monitoring of Structures
Overview
The aim of this unit is to introduce engineering students to the basic principles of structural strengthening and health monitoring. During the unit we study the different causes of damage and deterioration mechanisms in structural materials, gain knowledge of different conventional repair and strengthening techniques, introduce innovative repair and strengthening methods using advanced composite materials and identify of the various technologies available for structural health monitoring.
Requisites
CVE30002 Design of Steel Structures
OR
Admission to cognate PG course
02-November-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Use advanced reinforced concrete design principles (K1, K3, S1, S2)
- Explain the causes of structural deterioration (K3, S3)
- Identify suitable strengthening techniques (K1, K3, S1, S2)
- Design externally bonded composite strengthening schemes for structural elements for flexure shear and axial loads (K1, K3, S1, S2, S3)
- Describe the constructability limitations of strengthening techniques (K3, S3)
- Analyse structural health monitoring systems for concrete and steel structures (K3, S3)
- Function effectively in small groups to design a strengthening solution for a reinforced concrete girder considering different loading actions, constructability and structural safety (K1, K3, S1, S2, S3, A4, A7)
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Lecture | 2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Tutorial | 2.00 | 11 weeks | 22 |
| Face to Face Contact (Phasing out) Laboratory | 2.00 | 1 week | 2 |
| Unspecified Learning Activities (Phasing out) Independent Learning | 8.50 | 12 weeks | 102 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual/Group | 30% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
| Examination | Individual | 60% | 1,2,3,4,5,6 |
| Laboratory Practicals | Individual | 10% | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 |
Hurdle
As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:
(i) An aggregate mark of 50% or more, and(ii) Obtain at least 40% in the final examStudents who do not successfully achieve hurdle requirement (ii) will receive a maximum of 44% as the total mark for the unit and will not be eligible for a conceded pass.
Content
Strengthening and Health Monitoring of Concrete Structures:
- Overview of the Infrastructure Crisis
- Introduction to Structural Concrete
- Damage and Deterioration Issues in Concrete and Steel Reinforcement
- Evaluation and Inspection
- Concrete Surface Repair Materials and Technique
- Conventional Strengthening & Repair Techniques
- Health monitoring techniques suitable for RC structures
- Strengthening & Repair using Advanced Composite Materials
- Case Studies
Strengthening and Health Monitoring of Metallic Structures:
- Damage and Deterioration Problems of Metallic Structures
- Factors Affecting Fatigue Life of Metallic Structures
- Conventional Strengthening & Repair Techniques
- Health Monitoring Techniques Suitable for Metallic Structures
- Strengthening & Repair using Advanced Composite Materials
- Case Studies
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.