2018/19 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

CIVE5454M Concrete Production, Processes, Applications and Construction Practice

30 creditsClass Size: 50

Module manager: Dr Emilio Garcia-Taengua
Email: e.garcia-taengua@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) 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 range of concretes that can be used in constructions, their methods of manufacturing, application areas and special considerations given for their placement, curing and maintenance. It is aimed at students and current construction professionals involved in production, use, quality control or learning activities associated with concrete construction.

Objectives

The aim of the module is to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the key construction methodologies associated with concrete buildings and infrastructure and the range of types of concretes that can be used for different applications. It also aims to introduce the concept of durable and sustainable constructions with the use of novel cementitious systems, non-ferrous reinforcement and sustainable forms of concrete constructions. Students will be able to develop the ability to appraise practical situations and make informed decisions regarding the use of different types of concretes for different applications in practice.

Learning outcomes
Successful completion of the course will lead to the following learning outcomes:
Knowledge and understanding:
• Different types of concretes and their methods of manufacturing;
• Different types of horizontal/vertical finishes and associated methodologies;
• Materials, practices and design of formwork;
• The principles of structural design, including the principles of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete.
• Knowledge of approaches for determining road and slab thickness, flatness, bay size, joint locations and reinforcement requirements;
• Understanding of defects encountered in the manufacture and construction of roads, floor screeds and toppings;
• Knowledge appropriate remedial measures for common concrete applications;
• Understanding of, and ability to discuss, relevant British and European specifications.

Practical skills:
• Ability to provide guidance on the selection and application of a range of concretes that can be used for different concrete constructions;
• Ability to provide project-specific guidance on related design and specification issues pertaining to civil engineering structures;
• Ability to carry out life cycle analysis and carbon footprinting.

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:
• Sustainability
• Special concretes, processes and technology
• Concrete roads
• Industrial floors
• Formwork
• Concrete plants
• Principles of reinforced and pre-stressed concrete
• Exposed concrete finishes
• Sustainability, carbon footprinting, life cycle analysis

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lectures	4	0.50	2.00
Discussion forum	2	0.25	0.50
Class tests, exams and assessment	2	3.00	6.00
Group learning	1	25.00	25.00
Independent online learning hours			170.00
Private study hours			96.50
Total Contact hours			33.50
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Private study

This 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 four recorded lectures by the programme leader.
The learning process will be achieved via the completion of group-based and individual assignments set by the programme leader, in consultation with University Tutors. 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 for group assignments one student in each group will be assigned as a group leader. Each assignment group will receive technical and moral 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.

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 group assignments, which will form the basis of formative feedback to students, there will be an individual assignment, 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 March Feedback on Individual Assignment 1
Week 12 Submission of Individual Assignment 2
Late May Feedback on Individual Assignment 2

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

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Group Project/Project/Dissertation	5,000 word assignment	0.00
Essay	3,000 word assignment	40.00
In-course MCQ	Online MCQ	10.00
Essay	3,000 word assignment	40.00
In-course MCQ	Online MCQ	10.00
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: 02/04/2019

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• Undergraduate module catalogue
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