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2018/19 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 2018/19

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 Learning20.250.50
On-line Learning31.003.00
Class tests, exams and assessment23.006.00
Group learning125.0025.00
Independent online learning hours112.00
Private study hours153.50
Total Contact hours34.50
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 group-based and individual assignments 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.

In addition to the group assignment, two individual assignments will be set by the module tutor in consultation with the University tutor. Students will have to submit approximately 3000-word report for each of these.

The group and individual assignments will be complemented by online MCQs. These will be designed to test deeper level thinking than conventional MCQs, by introducing “assertion-reason” style questions, or enabling calculation based questions. The introduction of these MCQs has been considered so as to provide instant feedback to students and guide them through their learning and potential gaps in their knowledge.

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 via a number of routes. Firstly, students are encouraged to use each module’s online discussion board. Engagement is then followed by regular assessment through the semester, with an assessment timetable developed so as to offer regular feedback to students while also monitoring student engagement and progress. A typical timetable is given below:

Week 1 Group Assignment set
Week 3 Individual component submission of Group Assignment
Weeks 4-5 MCQ 1
Week 5 Feedback on Individual component of Group Assignment
Week 6 Individual Assignments set
Week 8 Group Assignment submission
Weeks 9-10 MCQ 2
Week 10 Feedback on Group Assignment
Week 11 Submission of Individual Assignment 1
Late December Feedback on Individual Assignment 1
Week 12 Submission of Individual Assignment 2
Late January Feedback on Individual Assignment 2

Note that the weeks are indicative of teaching weeks rather than calendar weeks, such that students also have the Christmas vacation to complete their individual assignments.

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation3,000 words40.00
Essay or Dissertation3,000 words40.00
Group Project5,000 words (formative)0.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)80.00

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


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Online MCQ0 hr 00 mins10.00
Online MCQ0 hr 00 mins10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)20.00

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: 30/04/2018

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