Comparing and Bridges - Report Example

Bridges College Date PART B Course Description Civil engineering at Leeds Beckett University prepares students for careers such as civil engineering technicians. The university offer training on students’ expertise design, operations, and constructions. LJMU also provide civil engineering to both full-time and part-time students. In both institutions, the students have to undergo the various modules that prepare them both practical add theoretically Similarity There are many similarities between LJMU and Leeds Univesity. For instance, both universities have similar structures and materials subject. The schools base their studies on similar materials and structures in offering the courses. Some of the materials include sand, steel, among others. The second similarity is in civil engineering project subject. In both universities, the students are allowed to have projects subject, for instance, the EU FP7 project. The project is a research meant to bridge the ICT development and the Ageing. Engineering Mathematics Subject is the third similarity.Mathematics in Civil Engineering helps the students in real situations to simplify the work, for instance, by presenting the work on a map using a scale. Finally, both universities have similar entry requirements. The entry requirements recommended are 300 UCAS tariff points. The students should also have AS in Mathematics and C in English Language is a requirement. Differences On the other side, the two universities above have some differences in the courses offered in civil engineering. The first difference is on the Leeds Beckett Surveying A & CAD. The course instills calculations and observation techniques to the students. In addition, students learn how to use computer technology to collect and display data. Secondly, unlike LJMU Leeds Beckett offers Engineering Mechanics. The course involves solving common engineering problems by applying mechanics. The third difference is in Civil Engineering Management A. unlike LJMU; Leeds Beckett offers Civil Engineering Management A. The course instills practical experiences in planning and construction of public works and private projects among the students. The other difference is in Hydraulics, Water, and Wastewater. LJMU offers the course while Leeds does not provide the course in its modules. The course prepares the students to wastewater and drainage systems and production of energy. In addition, LJMU offers an only smaller number of the core modules compared to Leeds in construction practice. Finally, LJMU has large number of library buildings than Leeds. Apart from the usual reading areas in every library, the libraries have a discussion and research areas. Lecturer: DR CLARE BERNADETTE HARRIS The senior lecturer has taught in LJMU since 1994. He specializes on Hydrodynamic Vortex Separators. The lecturer is a School Quality Committee member, module leader in PT/FT HNC/HND Civil Engineering. PART C Structures and materials subject In construction, structure and the material subject are important. In civil engineering, the structure, and material subject entails the appropriate properties and shapes of the substances used in construction. Civil engineers refer to the structure and material subject as mechanics where the individual features of the materials used are analyzed (Peter & Roy 1989). The properties of the substances are significant in determining their right application during building. For instance, during bridge construction using steel, engineers have to consider the elasticity of the steel before it is used. Engineers carry out their development activities but putting in mind the expansion and contraction behavior of the materials. In addition, by measuring the properties of the substances in terms of strengths and weaknesses, engineers can come up with necessary support or supplements. The strength or weakness of the materials when subjected to frequent stress and other forces determines where the material should be used. Regarding the nature of the structure under construction, appropriate building materials will be selected. The material is another important element in construction that the engineers keenly observe. The primary focus of the material is usually the elasticity of the substances. Depending on the requirements of the building, engineers select materials that have the appropriate characteristics for the work undertaken. In material selection, engineers consider various factors. First, the engineers look into details the various properties of the material. For instance, it is necessary to establish the correct strength and weakness of the materials. In bridge construction, for example, stronger materials will be required. The cost of the material is the second consideration during development. For more durable structures, engineers go for the more active and durable materials. However, more durable materials cost more compared to weaker materials. Therefore, for a stronger and durable structure, more funds are required. However, the choice of the material will depend on the affordability of the material. The third consideration is the stability of the material. More durable materials stay longer than the less durable materials (John 1976). For lasting structures such as bridges and houses, engineers go for durable materials that do not wear out after a short period. The period is another factor influencing the material selection. The urgency of the construction determines the length periods to be taken. If the construction is urgent, engineers have to go for options that can be found easily and are adequately available. Finally, one needs to consider the availability of the material. While some construction materials are readily available, some materials are not readily available. In some cases, the construction material may not be available locally, therefore, has to be imported resulting in delays in the construction. Readily available materials ensure cheaper and efficient construction. Steel bridges Steel bridges are bridges that are made of steel. Steel refers to an iron alloy that contain more carbon compared to the proportion of the wrought iron in it (John 1976). In the urban centers, steel bridges are constructed to control the traffic congestion as well as to create enough working space in the congested environment, especially in the busy city centers. Discussion Steel bridges refer to the structures that are built to connect one end to the other by use of the iron alloys. In the construction of bridges, engineers use a variety of materials and structures. The most commonly used materials for bridges include steel, timber, and concrete. In some cases, engineers also use stones and plastics. Concrete bridges involve the mixture of sand, stones, and cement. Inappropriate combinations or proportions, concrete always from hard surfaces that harden and becomes waterproof. Concrete can be subjected to different designs or shapes before it finally dries up. Currently, concrete is used alongside steel in many circumstances in making bridges. In the construction of steel bridges, engineers use three categories of steels. The first category is the Carbon steel. Carbon steel is one of the cheapest types of steel. It is stiff while it remains weak compared to the other two categories. High strength steels are the second type of steel used in making bridges. They have additional alloying elements compared to the carbon steel (Peter & Roy 1989). The high proportion of alloy makes the steel stronger. The third category of steel is the Heat-treated carbon steels. They are the most reliable type of steels in construction. The steels usually undergo tempering, quenching and normalization that hardens them. Steels are mainly used in bridge construction due to their unique characteristics. For instance, steels are resistant to weathering, they are ductile, have a brittle fracture and are stable. The properties depend on the carbon amounts and proportion of alloying elements. In terms of structures, bridges may take different structures including Girder bridges, Rigid frame bridges and Arch bridges (John 1976). In arch bridges, the loads are moved to the foundations through the arches that act as a central structural element. Bridges are significant. There are various types of bridges depending on the materials used for construction. They range from steel to concrete. How strong the bridge depends on the properties of the materials used. Bibliography Choosing materials for construction projects - Level, 2015. http://www.level.org.nz/material-use/choosing-materials/#top http://www.steel-insdag.org/TeachingMaterial/chapter43.pdf John. H. S, 1976. The Guinness Book Of Structures. Peter. M. & Roy. T, 1989. Structural Engineering For First Year Student. Read More