CIV E 779 Advanced Topics in Structural

Engineering
Fall 2018 - September 04 to December 07

Class time: Wednesday 14:00-16:50 Location: NRE 1 143

Instructor:

Ying Hei Chui, PhD, PENG

(780)248-1176
yhc@ualberta.ca
Donadeo Innovation Cntr for Engineering 7-304
Office Hours: Appointment by email or drop in

Course Description:
*3 (fi 6) (either term, 3-0-0)

Prerequisites: Structural engineering background at the BSc level.

Course Objectives & General Content:

The objective of this course is to provide students with a solid understanding of wood as a structural
material, an overview of structural wood products and systems, and an in-depth review of the design
provisions for bending, and axially loaded members, connections, shear walls and diaphragms. This course
will help prepare students for graduate thesis research in a timber engineering topic and for performing
structural design of timber structures.

The contents to be covered include basic wood characteristics, physical and mechanical properties of wood,
a review of traditional and modern engineered wood products, and design of timber members subjected to
bending and axial loads, connections and lateral load resisting systems.

Marking Scheme:

This course is a Credit (CR) or Fail (F) course. Requirements for a student to earn credit:
A minimum of Grade C- is required for credit. The following marking scheme will be used to determine the
final grade:
95%-100% A+
85%-94% A
80%-84% A-
75%-79% B+
70%-74% B
65%-69% B-
60%-64% C+
55%-59% C
50%-54% C-
45%-49% D+
40%-44% D

CIV E 779 - Fall 2018 Page 1

 <40% F

The final course grade will be calculated based on the following:

Assignment 1 15%
Mid-term test 30%
Final examination 55%
Total 100%

Additional Notes
The Wood Design Manual has a lot of exercises for students to practice design calculations. The Instructor
may provide additional exercises.

Calculator Policy
Approved programmable or approved non-programmable calculators are permitted in examinations. Any
calculator taken into an examination must have a sticker identifying it as an acceptable programmable
calculator (green sticker) or non-programmable calculator (gold sticker). Students can purchase calculators
at the University Bookstore with the stickers already affixed. Calculators purchased elsewhere can be
brought to the Dean's Office where the appropriate sticker will be affixed to the calculator.

Text and References (Mandatory):

Wood Design Manual (contains CSA O86 Engineering Design in Wood) - can be purchased from Canadian
Wood Council on-line with a student discount of 40% ($225 original price)
http://cwc.ca/publications/manuals/

Wood Handbook published by the US Forest Products Laboratory - free download from
http://www.woodweb.com/Resources/wood_eng_handbook/wood_handbook_fpl_2010.pdf

Text and References (Recommended):

Introduction to Wood Design - can be purchased from Canadian Wood Council on-line with a student
discount of 40% ($50 original price)

Course notes in the form of presentation files are available for download in eClass prior to the lectures.
Additional handouts will be distributed through eClass.

Website:
eClass

Previous Examples of Evaluative Materials:

They will be posted on eClass.

University Policies:
Policy about course outlines can be found in Course Requirements, Evaluation Procedures and Grading of
the University Calendar.
The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students
are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of
the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of
the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.governance.ualberta.ca) and avoid any behaviour which

CIV E 779 - Fall 2018 Page 2

 could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation
in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the
University.
Audio or video recording, digital or otherwise, of lectures, labs, seminars or any other teaching environment
by students is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved
accommodation plan. Student or instructor content, digital or otherwise, created and/or used within the
context of the course is to be used solely for personal study, and is not to be used or distributed for any
other purpose without prior written consent from the content author(s).
Only those items specifically authorized by the instructor may be brought into the exam facility. The use of
unauthorized personal listening, communication, recording, photographic and/or computational devices is
strictly prohibited. Students should refrain from bringing any unauthorized electronic device into an
examination room, including cell phones, high tech watches, high tech glasses or other such devices.

Faculty of Engineering Statement on Safety During Learning Activities:

In all Faculty of Engineering courses, labs, seminars or other learning activities, safety is of paramount
importance. In some cases, laboratory work in a program requires high standards for risk management to
keep potential hazards safely under control. Anyone found to be unable to function safely, due to
intoxication, behavior, or other reasons, in the class, lab, seminar or other learning activity may be asked to
leave or be removed for their and the safety of other participants and instructors. As members, or
prospective members, of the engineering profession, it is your responsibility to identify and inform the proper
authorities of an unsafe work/learning environment.

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. To recognize features visible by a magnifying glass that provide clue to the species and properties of
wood

2. To understand how wood would respond under different types of applied stresses

3. To understand how physical and mechanical properties are affected by environmental factors and
growth characteristics in wood

4. To predict certain physical and mechanical properties of wood based on its specific gravity

5. To design timber members under bending, axial load and their combined action

6. To design light and heavy timber connections

7. To design shear walls and diaphragms

8. To predict load-carrying capacity of heavy timber members under fire

Did you know that the University of Alberta has various low-to-no-cost services to help students succeed? Visit
http://www.deanofstudents.ualberta.ca/ for information about the academic, wellness, and various other support
services available to U of A students. It's never too early or too late to seek help!

CIV E 779 - Fall 2018 Page 3



CIV E 779 (A3) - Advanced Topic in Structural Engineering:

Structural Timber Design

Class schedule
Wednesday 2:00pm - 4:50pm, NREF 1-143

Week Lecture Notes

1 - Sept 5 #1 Wood anatomy and species identification Assignment 1 distributed
#2 Physical properties of wood
2 - Sept 12 Mechanical testing demonstration at I. F. Morrison
Lab (Assignment 1)
3 - Sept 19 #3 Mechanical properties of wood
4 - Sept 26 #3 Mechanical properties of wood
5 - Oct 3 #4 Structural wood products
6 - Oct 10 #5 Structural wood systems
#6 Design principles and loading
7 - Oct 17 #7 Design of bending members
8 - Oct 24 Mid-term test (1.5h)
#7 Design of bending members (1.5h)
9 – Oct 31 #8 Design of axially loaded members
10 - Nov 7 #9 Design of connections - I Assignment 1 due
11 – Nov 14 Fall term reading week No class
12 - Nov 21 #10 Design of connections - II
13 - Nov 28 #11 Design of lateral load resisting systems
14 - Dec 5 Final exam
Note : Topics may be adjusted slightly depending on schedule and interest of students.

August 25, 2018

CIV E 779 - Fall 2018 Page 4