Module manager: Professor John Forth
Email: j.p.forth@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2026/27
CIVE2780 Structural Design and Materials 1
This module is not approved as a discovery module
This module is concerned with the structural behaviour of reinforced concrete and steel structures. It includes: the design of reinforced concrete and steel structures; the engineering properties and behaviour of concrete and steel, and their composites; and the analysis of structures. Students learn: the design methods for reinforced concrete elements (slabs, beams and columns) and steel structures and their relation to structural analysis.
To provide:
• An understanding of structural form in relation to reinforced concrete and steel buildings, including knowledge of various floor systems
• An understanding of Limit State Design Philosophy
• An ability to design reinforced concrete elements (slabs, beams and columns) from first principles, and structural steel elements for flexure, shear and axial loads (ULS)
• An ability to check serviceability (i.e. cracking and deflection - SLS) based on empirical rules
• An ability to design for continuity in reinforced concrete structures and connections in steel structures
• An awareness of stability and robustness, practical issues, and codes of practice
• An ability to design structures in steel and understand their structural behaviour
Students completing this module will have gained the knowledge, understanding, skills or abilities that contribute to achieving the following learning outcomes: (contributing to the AHEP4 learning outcomes between brackets and the ARB competences between square brackets):
• Apply a comprehensive knowledge of mathematics, statistics, natural science and engineering principles to the solution of complex problems (M1) [CK5 part]
• Formulate and analyse complex problems to reach substantiated conclusions (M2)
• Select and apply appropriate computational and analytical techniques to model complex problems, discussing the limitations of the techniques employed (M3)
• Design solutions for complex problems that evidence some originality and meet a combination of societal, user, business and customer needs as appropriate (M5) [CK7, D8 part]
• Evaluate the environmental and societal impact of solutions to complex problems (including the entire life cycle of a product or process) and minimise adverse impacts (M7)
• Use practical laboratory and workshop skills to investigate complex problems (M12)
• Select and apply appropriate materials, equipment, engineering technologies and processes, recognising their limitations (M13) [CK5 part]
[b]Methods of Assessment[/b]
The assessment details for this module will be provided at the start of the academic year.
On successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Structural design, component assembly and construction skills
• Use of hand and power tools
• Time management, planning and organising
• Team working and collaboration
• Reliability and reproducibility of data
• Interpretation of data
• Report writing and communication skills
• Working under pressure
• Introduction to the statutory and legal requirements of building structures
• Design of Reinforced Concrete Elements
• Introduction to reinforced concrete structures, including types of slabs, beams and columns
• Stress/strain properties for concrete and reinforcement
• Design for flexure, including moment curvature, ductility and redistribution of bending moments
• Empirical methods for checking serviceability (i.e. cracking and deflection)
• Design of shear reinforcement
• Design of columns for axial load and bending moment
• Structural steel: General objectives for design of steel structures
• Introduction to Eurocodes and Eurocode 3
• Loads on steel building frames
• Floor and cladding systems for steel framed buildings
• Elementary structural design: fabrication, joints, lateral bracing, collapse mechanisms and analysis
• Elementary structural design: classification of steel sections; design and basis of capacity checks for struts and ties, trusses, restrained and unrestrained beams, columns, and axially loaded columns with moments
• Connection design: shear connections and combined shear/torsion connections
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consultation | 10 | 1 | 10 |
| Lectures | 52 | 1 | 52 |
| Tutorials | 14 | 1 | 14 |
| Practical | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Seminar | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Private study hours | 120 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 80 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
Problem sheets (the students receive full worked solutions) and individual consultation (these sessions allow students’ knowledge to be reinforced through discussion and they provide opportunities for students to demonstrate to themselves what they have learnt).
Check the module area in Minerva for your reading list
Last updated: 08/09/2026
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