Structural Engineering: Composite and Concrete

Week 1: Composite Structures

• Composite construction combines steel and concrete for strength.
• Steel beam with shear connectors and concrete slab form the structure.
• Shear connectors transfer forces between steel and concrete, enabling composite action.
• Applications: high-rise buildings and bridges.

Week 2: Post-Tensioned Concrete

• Prestressing concrete reduces cracks and improves load-bearing capacity.
• Tendons are placed in ducts and stressed after concrete hardens.
• Tendons follow a parabolic profile to counteract slab weight.
• Applications: long-span floors in malls and parking structures.

Week 3: Reinforced Concrete Detailing

• Proper detailing prevents structural failures in reinforced concrete.
• Lap splices and hooked bars connect reinforcing bars for stress transfer.
• Beam-column joint reinforcement is bent and extended for strength at connections.
• Applications: foundations, beams, and slabs.

Week 4: Foundations and Retaining Walls

• Foundations transfer loads to stable soil.
• Retaining walls prevent soil collapse.
• Pad and raft foundations distribute loads to the soil.
• Retaining walls include backfill, drainage pipes, and reinforcement.
• Applications: basements, highways, and multi-story buildings.

Week 5: Tunnel Engineering

• Tunnels require supports to resist ground forces.
• Rock bolts and mesh are used for tunnel stability.
• Shotcrete stabilizes tunnels immediately after construction.
• Applications: mining and metro systems.

Week 6: Bridge Engineering (Part 1)

• Precast elements in bridges enable faster construction.
• Super T beam bridges use precast beams with integrated deck slabs.
• Balanced cantilever bridges involve sequential segment erection.
• Applications: highway bridges and long-span bridges.

Week 7: Bridge Engineering (Part 2)

• Bridges resist wind, traffic, and seismic loads.
• Cable-stayed bridges use pylons and cables to support the deck.
• Seismic isolation bearings absorb seismic forces in bridges.
• Applications: urban and seismic-prone areas.

Week 8: Wind Loading on High-Rise Buildings

• Wind tunnel tests determine building responses to high winds.
• Natural frequency modes (sway and torsional) affect how a building reacts.
• Streamlined building shapes reduce wind forces.
• Applications: skyscrapers and coastal buildings.

Week 9: Bamboo in Construction

• Bamboo is sustainable and ideal for temporary or lightweight structures.
• Bamboo grid shell frameworks and bolted connections utilize the material's unique properties.
• Applications: shelters and eco-friendly buildings.

Week 10: Building Technology

• Energy-efficient designs reduce environmental impact.
• Passive solar design utilizes windows and shading for natural ventilation.
• Net-zero energy buildings integrate renewable energy sources.
• Applications: green buildings and net-zero housing.

Week 11: Earthquake Loading

• Earthquake-resistant designs include shear walls and bracing.
• Shear walls are reinforced concrete walls strategically placed within a building.
• Base shear calculation determines horizontal forces on a structure during earthquakes.
• Applications: high-rises in seismic zones.

Week 12: Fire Engineering

• Fire protection systems use active and passive strategies.
• Fire-resistant beams and slabs have insulation and fireproofing.
• Sprinkler systems provide fire protection coverage.
• Applications: hospitals and office buildings.