KB5021 - Structural Analysis

What will I learn on this module?

You will learn about the important theories, principles, and procedures that form the basis of structural analysis. You will be able to develop analytical skills and an appreciation of how this knowledge might be applied in practice to analyse simple and complex structures. You will focus on types of structure and supports and analysis of stress and strain due to load temperature changes. You will also address the influence lines for determinate structures, analytical principles of indeterminate structures and buckling instability of short and slender columns. Finally, the basic principles of ultimate load analysis will be introduced.

How will I learn on this module?

The module will include a range of learning materials such as presentations, notes, seminar questions for you to answer, and other resources such as video links, spreadsheets and specific software-related files. All these resources will be arranged in a convenient learning journey, giving you a clear expectation of the material to be studied and tasks to be completed on a week-by-week basis. You will be expected to complete the appropriate tasks in your weekly journey before attending programmed sessions. You will take part in lectures to develop your knowledge and understanding of the module material and in seminars, where you will learn to apply the concepts learned to engineering problems, and you will participate in practical classes to further cement your learning of theoretical principles and to research relevant physical phenomena. There may be occasions within the semester where normal teaching will be suspended to allow your learning to be supplemented by a range of activities such as design workshops, guest presentations, professional body events, site visits and field work.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will include feedback from tutors during seminars, lectures, and practical sessions to clarify and deepen your understanding of the module material. In addition, tutors will use the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to provide electronic versions of module material. The University’s VLE offers remote access to materials and aids for reinforcing your learning. All of these support mechanisms and learning and teaching approaches will help to you to prepare for the assessments and prepare you for further learning in the programme.


The module and the wider programme teams will provide a supportive approach, enabling you to quickly and easily access and speak to any member of the programme team, as required.
The University Library and other student services also offer a variety of academic skills training both online and face to face, which you can access as needed.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. Explain stress and strain states in a structure and be able to evaluate the internal and external forces and stresses acting on or within a range of structural elements (i.e. slabs, beams, columns, etc.).
2. Explain and apply advanced theories, principles and computational methods to the solving of complex structures (i.e. statically indeterminate structures, members in plastic state, etc.).
3. Explain the procedures required to prepare and test a range of structural members in elastic and plastic state to determine how the structure will behave when loads are applied under different conditions.


Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4. Apply mathematics science and engineering concepts and principles to the analyses of structures.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5. Explain structural behaviours and be able to apply appropriate theories and principles to the structural analysis.

How will I be assessed?

Formative Assessment
You will be formatively assessed on all learning outcomes during the seminars and workshops by the module tutor leading the session. Discussion with the module tutor and reflection on your performance will allow you to continuously monitor your ability to feed this forward for your improvement.

Summative Assessment
You will be summatively assessed by Coursework and Examination.

Coursework: This summative assessment will be a coursework assignment of 3000 words equivalent length, covering MLO2 & 3 and worth 50% of the module marks.

You will receive individual digital feedback with marks and comments for your coursework. Your feedback will give generic consideration of your work, highlighting those areas that you completed successfully and those not so successfully. The intention will be to clarify points of learning that have not been fully assimilated.

Examination: The examination will assess your ability to satisfy MLOs 1,4 and 5. It will be of 2 hours duration and be worth 50% of the module marks.

Feedback on this examination will feed into future assessments as well as supporting your future learning.

Pre-requisite(s)

N/A

Co-requisite(s)

N/A

Module abstract

The fundamental principles of structural analysis and competences in applying such principles to determine the behaviour of the structures in both elastic and plastic state is a fundamental requirement of the construction engineer. It is needed to allow you to develop throughout the programme of study and to become a successful practitioner in the industry. It is essential for employment, and this module will give you the chance to demonstrate your achievements in this key area. Using the teaching you receive directly from contact time with your tutors as well as their guidance you will become competent to seek out your own knowledge to enable you to perform to the best of your abilities. Assessment in this module is through a combination of coursework and examination. Supportive individual feedback will be provided for each assessment which will identify areas of merit and offer guidance for future improvement.

Course info

UCAS Code H201

Credits 20

Level of Study Undergraduate

Mode of Study 4 years Full Time or 5 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad

Department Mechanical and Construction Engineering

Location City Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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