Critically analyse and appraise suitable methods of testing,investigation and diagnosis of a variety of building defects and problems.

Building Pathology Literature Review and Diagnostic Case Study Report

Learning Outcomes measured

Critically appraise building defects and problems and describe and explain their likely causes in various scenarios.

Critically analyse and appraise suitable methods of testing,investigation and diagnosis of a variety of building defects and problems.

Critically analyse information, identify solutions, demonstrate judgement and communicate findings.

Critically evaluate and contrast appropriate methods of survey,inspection, appraisal and reporting.

You will be able to plan and implement an academic review of literature on a building pathology topic.

What is serial computation?What is parallel computation?How does it work?

Parallel Computation

Topics to cover
What is serial computation? Von Neumann sequential computation
What is parallel computation?
How does it work?
Multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) systems
Message Passing interface
Why use parallel computation?
Parallel Computation in FEA
Parallel computation performance (cost, efficiency, speedup)
Parallel computation in relation to linear and non linear elasticity

Evaluate the relationship between project identification,feasibility and project planning, with consideration of the impact of project scope on time and resources.

Individual project plan

This unit will enable students to consider the different approaches to MMC and how these will create new opportunities and methods of working.. Through engagement with the theme and topics, students will have the opportunity to undertake work that will embed the knowledge and skills necessary to manage a project. You are employed as a design and build consultant for a small development consultancy firm in the West Midlands.

Activity/ Task
Faced with skills gaps and an aging workforce, combined with the role that global construction plays in driving economies, new approaches are required to continue to allow construction to respond to the challenges of today and the future. Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is a broad term that covers many different approaches to change the way in which we design and construct our built environment. From offsite construction and modular buildings to new materials and even 3D printing, MMC is a link between technology and the construction industry. How might MMC, or specific types of MMC, transform the industry?

The local authority have acquired a piece of land within the Birmingham area on the site of an old industrial estate and concrete mixing plant adjacent to a canal Warwick Warf (site investigation report and drawing information are on Attain) you have been requested to undertake a feasibility study and produce an outline scheme for a future development which will regenerate the area back into use and provide a future income stream for the authority. They have identified three possible options for the site:

Social Housing/residential
Transport hub and associated infrastructure
Restaurant and retail units
Primary school to serve the local area

You must provide all the essential information necessary to progress the project to the construction stage include reasons for your choice of specified materials and modern working methods with an emphasis on the Implications of MMC for sustainability. You should advise the client the type of inherent MMC possible on a project of this type. In addition, identify all relevant legislation the client would need to consider to ensure statutory compliance on the project.

Evaluate the relationship between project identification,feasibility and project planning, with consideration of the impact of project scope on time and resources

Appraise your own performance in managing the project; draw conclusions and make recommendations that would further improve your performance in the future

As part of your submission you are required to produce the following documents;

Project management plan to be discussed and agreed with your tutor

Produce a log book to record progress and decisions made

Performance review (500 words)

Provide a presentation of your final outcome

The project will be a vegan restaurant/ Bar built out of shipping containers located and Warwick wharf, fazeley street, Digbeth, Birmingham. Mimicking “Plekk bar” in amsterdam

Describe the systems view of the management of a construction firm and management of a construction site.

The Practice of construction Management (questions)

In his report what did Sir Michael Latham draw attention to?

When did the systematic study of management first emerge?

Certain factors clearly affect the size of group a construction manager can handle, what are they?

Elton Mayo is regarded as the founder of what theory?

Describe the systems view of the management of a construction firm and management of a construction site

Describe the relationships between the immediate cause, the causal factors, and underlying factors relating to the failure in civil engineering terms.

Transport engineering

Identify up to three failures that are related in some way to a failure of the civil engineering infrastructure, for example the track, the track foundation, the earthworks around a railway or structures linked to the railway.

From this short review of three failures, select one failure to consider in more detail.

Task 2. Thoroughly read and evaluate the whole of the RAIB report for your selected failure and develop an understanding of the immediate cause, the causal factors, and underlying factors relating to the failure in civil engineering terms. This will require you to draw on a wide range of knowledge and understanding you have acquired already on Civil Engineering course, for example including structures, geotechnics, materials, hydraulics as well as transport engineering.

Task 3. Provide a succinct report. Your report will include the following:

Chapter 1

Introduction.

This chapter should state clearly the reasons why you have selected the case study you have chosen, in contrast to the other two possible case study candidates you considered.

Chapter 2

Analysis of the failure.

This chapter should summarise and evaluate the RAIB report you have selected for detailed consideration. Briefly describe the failure location and what occurred. Describe the relationships between the immediate cause, the causal factors, and underlying factors relating to the failure in civil engineering terms.

You should prepare and develop your own appropriately annotated and dimensioned hand-drawn sketches to show, as appropriate, plan, cross-section, long section, and detail. You should develop, if it is appropriate, some approximate calculations which show why the failure occurred. You should ensure that you bring your own knowledge to bear, that is to say you must evaluate what you are reading in the report using the engineering knowledge and skills you have developed to date on your civil engineering programme.

Chapter 3

Conclusion.

Summarise what you think has been learned from the failure by the engineering community.

Evaluate the techniques and methods for producing budgets and periodic cost reports for projects and programmes.

Assessment brief (if appropriate,refer to module assessment briefing document)
No more than 12 slides
No more than 2000 words for report
Select a project/ an investment opportunity of your choice and carry out a detailed financial appraisal of the
project/ opportunity using traditional (Payback Period, Return on Capital etc.) and advance project appraisal
techniques (Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, Simple sensitivity). It is expected that selected
project/ opportunity should be of a significant scale, and it could be a proposed investment opportunity, an
on–going project or a recently completed project. Students are encouraged to discuss about the suitability of
project/ investment opportunity with module tutor once selected. Prepare a presentation highlighting your
findings.
A supporting report should be compiled to provide any associated detail to support your presentation, e.g.
any assumptions, detailed calculations etc.

Assessment Criteria (The actual assessment components for this assignment)
Criteria Weighting (If applicable)
Selection of the project/ opportunity and description
Use of project appraisal techniques, accuracy, sources of data and assumptions
Critical Analysis, Appropriate Recommendations, Clarity of expression/ communication
Structure, layout and visuals of presentation and report

This assessment is testing Module Learning outcomes Tick if tested here
Evaluate the techniques and methods for producing budgets and periodic cost reports for projects and programmes
Design suitable financial reports for project/programme stakeholders and justify appropriate remedial action to any problem areas.

Explain how the load path is changed by the damages leading to the risk identified above. Comment on the amount of horizontal deflection before and after the damages.

Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing
Structural Analysis

Part 1 – Modelling of steel frame without damages

Model the original undamaged structure as a 2D frame. The following should be reported: the bending moment and the shear force diagrams for all column and beam members; the axial forces in all columns and bracings; horizontal deflection at the top of the structure. Indicate the “significant values” in the diagrams.

Save the software project file with a name of “Group number_modelA”.

Part 2 – Modelling of steel frame with damages

Repeat the modelling exercise in Part 1 with the following modifications to represent damages:

The beam to column connections marked as “D” (for damaged) become a pinned connection due to bolt failure caused by corrosion instead of original rigid connection.
The column bases marked as “D” is no longer rigidly connected to the pad foundation but only “pinned” to the foundation due to damage to the stiffeners of the connections caused by corrosion.

The following should be reported: the bending moment and the shear force diagrams for all column and beam members; the axial forces in all columns and bracings; horizontal deflection at the top of the structure. Indicate the “significant values” in the diagrams.

Save the software project file with a name of “Group number_modelB”.

Part 3 – Parametric Studies and discussion

NOTE: No capacity check according to design code is required since the strength of the material is unknown. You should assume that the given structure without damage is able to take the bending moments, shear forces etc found in the undamaged structure model in Part 1 above.

Identify the minimum capacity of the structural members as indicated from the results of the undamaged structure in Part 1.
Identify the maximum axial force, shear and bending moment applied to the structural members of damaged structure.
Compare the findings in (i) and (ii) above and identify the most likely failure condition for each mechanical factor of bending moment, shear force and axial force.
Explain how the load path is changed by the damages leading to the risk identified above.Comment on the amount of horizontal deflection before and  after the damages.