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CIV6170 · Bridge design and assessment

Official Handbook

2026 Handbook0 credit pointsLevel 6Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

Last checked: 23 Aug 2026 UTC

Overview

Essential aspects of highway bridge design, assessment and rehabilitation. Criteria for selection of bridge types, which are most prevalent. Examine structure as a whole, and implement the analysis and design of the bridge deck and the supporting members. Relevant strength and serviceability limit states applied to the design of the bridge, life-cycle performance and risk assessment, material degradation, corrosion, fatigue and time-dependent deformations of reinforced and prestressed concrete elements of the bridge, structural rehabilitation and repair techniques.

Offerings

CampusTeaching periodMode
ClaytonFirst semesterTeaching activities are on-campus (ON-CAMPUS)

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

#AssessmentTypeWeightHurdle
1Bridge design projectProject25%Threshold
2Project deliverable submissionsProject25%Threshold
3Final assessmentExamination50%Threshold

Continuous assessment: 50% Final assessment: 50% Final grades: PGO (pass grade only) or NGO (fail) This unit contains threshold hurdle requirements that you must achieve to be able to pass the unit. You are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final assessment component. The consequence of not achieving a hurdle requirement is a fail grade (NGO).

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

prohibitions

  • CIV4280 — Bridge design and assessment
  • CIV5170 — Bridge design and assessment

Joined by OR.

Learning outcomes

  1. Formulate a conceptual design for a bridge considering various types of bridges, their components, and methods of construction.
  2. Identify and calculate the loads to which a bridge is subjected, according to first principles and relevant codes of practice.
  3. Determine the structural behaviour of various bridge types quantitatively and qualitatively using relevant hand- and computer-based methods.
  4. Design prestressed concrete beams for service and strength requirements.
  5. Assess the reliability basis for limit state design and its use in bridge assessment, including descriptions of the basic variables.
  6. Appraise bridge inspection and management procedures, including levels of assessment and condition rating approaches.
  7. Work effectively in a bridge design team and communicate professional decisions to specialist and/or non-specialist audiences.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

ActivityDuration
Practical activities24 hours
Workshops24 hours

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