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2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

CIVE5453M Testing, Quality Assurance, Repair and Maintenance of Concrete Structures

30 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Professor Muhammad Basheer
Email: p.a.m.basheer@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2016/17

Pre-requisite qualifications

Bachelor's degree in civil engineering or approved prior learning (certified or experiential)

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module contributes to students' comprehensive understanding of quality assurance of concrete for different applications, test methods that are used for measuring physical and chemical properties, and repair and maintenance techniques that are normally applied to concrete structures at an advanced level. Course content provides participants with an in-depth understanding of the fundamental principles underpinning the construction of high-quality, durable concrete civil engineering structures and is aimed at students and current construction professionals involved in production, use, quality control or learning activities associated wth concrete construction.

Objectives

The aim of the module is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the quality concepts, quality control of concretes, and test methods that are used both in laboratories and on site for measuring physical and chemical properties of concrete at both fresh and hardened states. The module also aims to give an in-depth knowledge of different repair and maintenance methods that can be used to ensure durable concrete structures. Students will be able to develop the ability to appraise practical situations and make informed decisions regarding the performance of structures in service environments.

Learning outcomes
Successful completion of the course will lead to the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge and understanding:

• Health and safety
• Quality concepts
• Quality control
• Mix design
• Special concretes, processes and technology
• Ready-mixed concrete
• Concrete plant
• Precast concrete
• Test methods and equipment
• Statistics
• Ability to apply statistical processes used in concrete production;
• Ability to understand and describe special design/construction process associated with special construction methods and applications;'
• Ability to understand and explain quality-related management, assurance, systems and control systems;
• Test methods for assessing the deterioration in typical concrete structures and environments;
• Principal repair materials and their benefits and limitations;
• Different maintenance strategies for achieving intended service life;
• Understanding of, and ability to discuss, relevant British and European specifications.

Practical skills:

• Ability to design trial mixes for concretes containing a range of constituent material types using methods of design commonly in use;
• Ability to trouble-shoot typical short-term problems associated with concrete construction;
• Ability to provide project-specific guidance on related design and specification issues pertaining to civil engineering structures;
• Ability to provide guidance on the selection and application of a range of test methods that can be used to assess quality of concrete and concrete constructions;
• Ability to provide project-specific guidance on related design and specification issues pertaining to civil engineering structures;
• Ability to recommend maintenance and repair methods to extend the service life of concrete structures for different exposure environments.

Transferable skills:

• Confidence to work independently to research, collate and synthesise information;
• Ability to derive solutions to engineering problems;
• Ability to reflectively evaluate one's own learning and personal development;
• Apply subject-specific knowledge to generic engineering challenges;
• Ability to collate complex information in a concise and effective manner in the form of a report.

Skills outcomes
Please see learning outcomes.


Syllabus

The module will cover the following broad topics:

• Health and safety
• Quality concepts
• Quality control
• Formwork
• Concrete plant
• Test methods and equipment
• Assessment of concrete construction
• Repair methods
• Maintenance of concrete
• Service life and life cycle costing

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
On-line Learning31.003.00
Class tests, exams and assessment00.000.00
Group learning228.0056.00
Independent online learning hours112.00
Private study hours129.00
Total Contact hours59.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)300.00

Private study

The module will be delivered via distance learning and will involve no conventional lectures or seminars, but will be based on the concept of self-learning, coordinated by the programme leader and invited University tutors (as appropriate). The module will be introduced through 3 numbers of recorded lectures by the programme leader.

The learning process will be achieved via the completion of two internet group-based assignments set by the programme leader, in consultation with University Tutors. The discussion between learners will be facilitated through the VLE. These assignments will be based on reference text books made available to students specifically for this self-learning module, together with relevant online resource materials as appropriate. Assignment topics will be both topical and challenging, designed to provide revision, updating and an advanced understanding of concrete technology against the prescribed modules learning objectives. Each assignment will last approximately 4 weeks and will be undertaken on a group-basis, with one student in each group assigned as a group leader. Each assignment group will receive technical support from an appointed academic member of staff or invited University tutor as appropriate. Assignment-specific discussion forums will also be created on VLE to allow open communication between students and enable input/review by the module coordinator/tutors. For each assignment, the team leader will be responsible for organising the group's work and posting the final report online and to deadline, via the course website.

Information required to contribute to group assignments will come from independent online learning and private study. In addition to the two group assignments, which will form the basis of formative feedback to students, there will be TWO individual assignments, which will be assessed by the programme leader and the University Tutor, and will form part of the summative assessment.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored at every week by the programme leader by closely monitoring the group discussion forum. In addition, each group of four to five students is expected to submit a group assignment at the end of a four week period for the two group assignments and the two individual assignments towards the middle and end of the module period. All these will allow closely monitor each student's contribution to and performance in the module.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Group Project/Project/Dissertation5,000 word assignment0.00
Group Project/Project/Dissertation5,000 word assignment0.00
Assignment3,000 word individual assignment50.00
Assignment3,000 word individual assignment50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 04/11/2016

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