Course Details in 2026/27 Session


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Module Title LI Materials Engineering 1
SchoolSchool of Engineering
Department Civil Engineering
Module Code 04 29653
Module Lead Jelena Ninic
Level Intermediate Level
Credits 20
Semester Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions None
Contact Hours Lecture-44 hours
Tutorial-10 hours
Practical Classes and workshops-18 hours
Guided independent study-128 hours
Total: 200 hours
Exclusions
Description Building on material science taught in Year 1 (Engineering Materials (04 28605), the aim of the module is to develop sound fundamental knowledge of the main construction materials and, through this understanding, enable their cost-effective engineering performance and sustainable use in practice. The use of case studies is adopted to develop a wider appreciation of the scope of materials engineering. CEN standards and sustainability issues are addressed throughout the teaching of this module.

Five materials, concrete, steel, masonry, timber and bituminous mixtures, form the main core of the materials engineering are taught in Years 2, 3 and 4. Additionally, a series of relatively new, novel and innovative materials and applications are covered during the three years of the degree course.

1. Concrete: The basics, those underpin performance of concrete; the constituent materials, their characteristics and practical relevance to concrete performance. Fresh and hardened concrete properties, their role and significance in construction; mix design, quality control and assurance procedures. Permeation properties and their role in determining engineering properties and different durability aspects of concrete.

2. Steel: Building on the metallurgy lessons of Year 1, explore the properties of different type of steels in construction, hot-rolled, cooled-rolled, stainless, concrete reinforcement and pre-stressing. Corrosion and principles behind the methods used to prevent corrosion in different environments (i.e. paint protection, cathodic protection).

3. Masonry: Different types of masonry units (clay bricks, calcium silicate bricks and concrete blocks) and mortars; manufacture, properties and applications; explore basic design and specification of masonry structures/reinforced masonry; workmanship issues; trends towards off-site fabrication of masonry units.

4. Group Project/Laboratory Work: Supported by laboratory work, students to undertake a series of coordinated small projects covering various aspects of the taught course.

5. CES EduPack software, is introduced, for use as information repository providing basic materials properties and performance, including sustainability.
Learning Outcomes By the end of the module students should be able to:
  • List and discuss the main properties of concrete, steel and masonry for civil and structural engineering construction and explain how these properties can be modified, both in the short and long term, and how these impact on design and workmanship.
  • Describe how different materials are specified and tested in order to ascertain their compliance with the specification, requirements for quality control and assurance.
  • Describe and discuss durability and protective measures associated with different civil and structural engineering applications of concrete, steel and masonry and the associated design implications
  • Perform concrete mix design to meet exposure classification requirements.
  • List and describe the main mechanisms of affecting the durability of concrete, including permeation, physical and chemical deterioration and explain the measures to control these mechanisms.
  • Describe the use of materials and their impact in terms of cost effectiveness and the broader issue of sustainability.
  • Apply knowledge and its understanding as part of a series of coordinated small group projects covering the various aspects of the module.
  • Describe the use of information repositories (e.g. CES EudPack software and appropriate updates) to provide basic materials properties and performance, including sustainability.
Assessment 29653-02 : Coursework : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions Main assessment (100% module weighting): Assessed in Sem 2. Open book coursework
Supplementary: (alternative assessment made available with respect to extenuating circumstances): Open book coursework in supplementary period (August)
Other
Reading List