KB4022 - Design and Materials

The module will include a range of learning materials such as presentations, notes, seminar questions for you to answer, and other resources such as video links, spreadsheets and specific software-related files. All these resources will be arranged in a convenient learning journey, giving you a clear expectation of the material to be studied and tasks to be completed on a week-by-week basis. You will be expected to complete the appropriate tasks in your weekly journey before programmed sessions. You will take part in lectures to develop your knowledge and understanding of the module material and in seminars, where you will learn to apply the concepts learned to engineering problems. During practical sessions, you will be able to gain practical experience of the relevant physical phenomena. There may be occasions within the semester where normal teaching will be suspended to allow your learning to be supplemented by a range of activities such as design workshops, guest presentations, professional body events, site visits and field work.

Support will include feedback from tutors during seminars, lectures, and practical sessions to clarify and deepen your understanding of the module material. In addition, tutors will use the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to provide electronic versions of module material. The University’s VLE offers remote access to materials and aids for reinforcing your learning. All of these support mechanisms and learning and teaching approaches will help to you to prepare for the assessments and prepare you for further learning in the programme.

The module and the wider programme teams will provide a supportive approach, enabling you to quickly and easily access and speak to any member of the programme team, as required.The University Library and other student services also offer a variety of academic skills training both online and face to face, which you can access as needed.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
The student will be able to:
1. Identify key properties of all commonly used civil engineering materials
2. Synthesise a solution for achieving enhanced sustainability with regard to low environmental impact and cost effectiveness
3. Explain the fundamentals of material performance and apply the learning to theoretical and practical design problems.




Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
4 Specify a suitable use for appropriate materials in a given design scenario, including all health and safety aspects including analysis of simple structural elements with regard to material properties.


Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
5 Work as a member of a small team in order to create materials for laboratory testing and respect the values of other team members.

Formative Assessments
You will be formatively assessed on module learning outcomes during the timetabled teaching sessions by the module tutor leading the session. Discussion with the module tutor and reflection on your performance will allow you to continuously monitor your ability to feed this forward for your improvement.

Summative Assessment
You will be summatively assessed by means of one Coursework task weighted at 100% of the module marks. The coursework has a maximum length of 4000 words or equivalent and will assess all MLOs.
The coursework will demonstrate your ability to characterise the engineering properties of materials and apply them to design and engineering practice and discuss the material use in an environmental context considering sustainability, environmental impact, and health and safety. Part of the coursework will require you to reflect upon your team effort and evaluate your own input during the practical workshop sessions.
You will receive individual feedback with marks and comments for this summative assignment. Your feedback will give general consideration of your work, highlighting those areas that you completed successfully and those not so successfully. The intention will be to clarify points of learning that have not been fully assimilated.

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This module aims to introduce students to a range of design and materials informed by the material component and technology systems. Basic engineering materials that are required within the civil engineering/construction industry are examined to enable the student to develop technical skills and a critical appraisal capability. You will be expected to read around the subject and use problem-solving skills to determine practical applications of the taught content. The module will introduce the engineering properties of materials and apply these principles to design and engineering practice. This will allow you to develop engineering judgement. The learning will be about material use in an environmental context, taking account of sustainability, affordability, environmental impact costs and health and safety. Discovery learning is a key aspect of the module and active engagement is required to enhance the learning experience. Assessment in this module is through a coursework task. Supportive individual feedback will be provided for assessment which will identify areas of merit and offer guidance for future improvement.