Civil Engineering Structures Design Course

Lesson 1 • Statics and Equilibrium Principles

Covers free-body diagrams, force resolution, and moment equilibrium for 2D and 3D systems. Builds the analytical foundation required for all subsequent structural calculations.

Lesson 2 • Stress, Strain, and Material Behaviour

Explains normal and shear stress, strain, and elastic modulus for common engineering materials. Links material properties to structural performance under load.

Lesson 3 • Safety, Codes, and Design Philosophy

Introduces limit state design, factor of safety, and the role of structural codes in practice. Frames the regulatory context that governs all design decisions in the course.

Lesson 4 • Loads Acting on Structures

Categorises dead, live, wind, seismic, and environmental loads and their sources. Establishes load identification as the first step in any design process.

Lesson 1 • Frame Analysis and Portal Method

Analyses rigid frames under gravity and lateral loads using the portal and cantilever methods. Prepares students for multi-storey building frame design.

Lesson 2 • Analysis of Statically Determinate Beams

Derives shear force and bending moment diagrams for simply supported and cantilever beams. Mastery of these diagrams is prerequisite for all beam and slab design chapters.

Lesson 3 • Deflection Calculation Methods

Computes beam and frame deflections using double integration, moment-area, and virtual work methods. Deflection control is central to serviceability limit state verification.

Lesson 4 • Truss Analysis Techniques

Applies the method of joints and method of sections to determine member forces in planar trusses. Reinforces equilibrium principles in a discrete-member context.

Lesson 1 • Concrete and Steel Material Properties

Examines compressive strength, modulus, creep, and shrinkage of concrete alongside steel yield strength and ductility. Material understanding underpins all RC design decisions.

Lesson 2 • RC Column and Axial Load Design

Designs short and slender columns under pure axial load and combined axial load with bending. Interaction diagrams are introduced as the primary column design tool.

Lesson 3 • Flexural Design of RC Beams

Applies the equivalent rectangular stress block to design singly and doubly reinforced rectangular beams. Establishes the core design procedure repeated in slab and frame design.

Lesson 4 • Shear and Torsion in RC Members

Designs stirrups and torsional reinforcement using diagonal tension and strut-and-tie concepts. Shear failure is brittle, making this section critical for structural safety.

Lesson 1 • Steel Beam Design and Lateral Buckling

Designs steel beams for flexure, shear, and deflection, addressing lateral-torsional buckling as the governing limit state. Bracing requirements are established for practical beam design.

Lesson 2 • Steel Material and Section Properties

Reviews steel grades, yield and ultimate strength, and section classification as compact, noncompact, or slender. Section classification governs the applicable design equations.

Lesson 3 • Bolted and Welded Connections

Designs bolted and welded connections for shear, tension, and combined loading using limit state checks. Connections are critical transfer points that govern overall structural integrity.

Lesson 4 • Steel Column and Compression Design

Applies column curves to design steel compression members accounting for effective length and slenderness. Combined axial and bending interaction equations are introduced.

Lesson 1 • Transfer Structures and Deep Beams

Analyses and designs transfer beams, transfer plates, and deep beams using strut-and-tie models. Transfer structures redirect large column loads and require special design attention.

Lesson 2 • Principles of Prestressing

Explains pre-tensioning and post-tensioning concepts, prestress losses, and the load-balancing approach. Prestressing fundamentally changes how concrete resists flexural tension.

Lesson 3 • Post-Tensioned Slab Systems

Designs unbonded and bonded post-tensioned flat slabs for flexure, punching shear, and long-term deflection. PT slabs are widely used in commercial and parking structures.

Lesson 4 • Shear in Prestressed Members

Calculates shear capacity of prestressed beams including web-shear and flexure-shear cracking modes. Shear design in prestressed members differs significantly from ordinary RC beams.

Lesson 1 • Retaining Wall and Lateral Earth Pressure

Designs gravity, cantilever, and counterfort retaining walls against sliding, overturning, and bearing failure. Lateral earth pressure theory links geotechnical and structural design.

Lesson 2 • Soil Classification and Site Investigation

Covers soil classification systems, field exploration methods, and interpretation of boring logs and lab tests. Site data quality directly controls foundation design reliability.

Lesson 3 • Bearing Capacity of Shallow Foundations

Applies bearing capacity equations to isolated footings, combined footings, and raft foundations. Establishes the allowable bearing pressure used in footing sizing.

Lesson 4 • Deep Foundation Design

Designs driven piles and drilled shafts for axial and lateral capacity using static and dynamic methods. Deep foundations are required when shallow soils cannot support structural loads.

Lesson 1 • Shear Wall and Diaphragm Design

Designs reinforced concrete and masonry shear walls and floor diaphragms to transfer lateral loads to foundations. Diaphragm action is essential for three-dimensional structural behaviour.

Lesson 2 • Equivalent Lateral Force Procedure

Applies the equivalent lateral force method to distribute seismic base shear to building floors. This simplified procedure is the most widely used seismic analysis method.

Lesson 3 • Moment Frame and Braced Frame Systems

Designs steel and concrete moment frames and concentrically braced frames for lateral resistance. Frame system selection affects both structural performance and architectural flexibility.

Lesson 4 • Wind Load Determination

Calculates design wind pressures using velocity pressure, exposure categories, and pressure coefficients. Accurate wind loads are the starting point for lateral system design.

Lesson 1 • Structural System Selection and Planning

Evaluates and selects gravity and lateral systems based on building function, height, and site conditions. System selection decisions made here propagate through all subsequent design tasks.

Lesson 2 • Design Review and Quality Assurance

Conducts peer review, checks calculations for errors, and verifies code compliance across all design elements. Quality assurance processes are mandatory in professional structural engineering practice.

Lesson 3 • Structural Drawings and Specifications

Produces framing plans, section details, and written specifications consistent with professional practice standards. Documentation quality determines constructability and contractor compliance.

Lesson 4 • Load Takedown and Gravity Design

Performs a full load takedown from roof to foundation and designs all gravity members for the project building. Integrates slab, beam, column, and footing design into a coherent system.