MABY4500 Sustainable Concrete Structures Course description

The course deals with selected topics relating to the durability and service life of large structures such as bridges, quays and offshore installations with service life requirements of more than 50 years. Reinforcement corrosion is decisive for the service life of concrete structures. Thus, degradation and damage caused by corrosion is an important topic in the course, but other relevant degradation mechanisms are also addressed. The course provides in-depth studies in topics such as:  

• degradation and damage caused by corrosion
• modelling of transport and degradation mechanisms for reinforced concrete
• service life calculations and service life design of concrete structures
• condition assessments, remaining service life and service life extension of existing concrete structures.

Analysis and design of concrete and steel structures.

Admission requirements.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The student:

·         has advanced knowledge of relevant degradation mechanisms for steel and concrete and consequences for the service life and load-bearing capacity of structures.

·         has in-depth knowledge of strategies, methods and calculation models used to achieve the prescribed service life (working life) of reinforced concrete structures.

·         has in-depth knowledge of the structural consequences of reinforcement corrosion on the load-bearing capacity of concrete structures.

·         is capable of assessing various measures to extend the service life and of using various calculation methods and models to estimate the remaining service life and capacity of existing concrete structures.

Skills:

The student is capable of:

·         designing structures that fullfill the Eurocode requirements for durability and service life.

·         carrying out service life predictions for concrete structures in marine environments.

·         assessing the condition of and estimating the remaining service life and capacity of a relevant concrete structure.

·         proposing measures to extend the service life of and repair methods for a relevant concrete structure

·         carrying out capacity control of a damaged concrete structure or component.

General competence:

The student is capable of:

·         acquiring new knowledge in the field and communicating it orally and in writing.

·         understanding and analysing scientific publications on the topic of durability and service life of concrete structures.

·         applying theories in practice based on scientifically justified choices of relevant solutions.

The teaching consists of lectures and exercises. In addition, the students will carry out a major project assignment in which they perform analyses and calculations of the service life and capacity of a concrete structure (or components thereof) exposed to relevant degradation mechanisms. The project assignment shall be presented in the form of a scholarly report. Detailed guidelines for the project assignment will be published on Canvas.

Three of four compulsory exercises must be approved in order for students to be able to take the exam. Students who fail to meet the coursework requirements can be given up to one re-submission opportunity before the exam.

Exam spring 2021 due to Covid-19:

Type of assessment:  

1) Individual or group oral exam, weighted 40 %

2) Project report, prepared by groups of 2-3 students, approx. 20-30 pages, including a presentation - weighted 60 %.

All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) in order for the student to pass the course. Students must be awarded an E or better on their project report to be allowed to take the oral exam. Individual questions about the project report will be also be asked in connection with the presentation of the report. In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, oral examination may be used instead. If oral exams are used for resit and rescheduled exams, the result cannot be appealed.

Assessment part : 1) and 2) cannot be appealed.

[Exam earlier]:

Type of assessment:  

1) Individual oral exam, weighted 60 %

2) Project report, prepared by groups of 2-3 students, approx. 20-30 pages, including a presentation - weighted 40 %.

All assessment parts must be awarded a pass grade (E or better) in order for the student to pass the course. Students must be awarded an E or better on their project report to be allowed to take the oral exam. Individual questions about the project report will be also be asked in connection with the presentation of the report. In the event of a resit or rescheduled exam, oral examination may be used instead. If oral exams are used for resit and rescheduled exams, the result cannot be appealed.

Assessment part : 1) and 2) cannot be appealed.

Assessment part: 1) none, 2) all aids.

A grade scale with grades from A to E for pass (with A being the highest grade and E being the lowest pass grade) and F for fail is used in connection with the final assessment.

1) and 2): Two internal examiners.

External examiners are used regularly.