Module Outline

Information current as of
31/10/2026 4:50 AM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Use basic structural analysis in engineering

Use basic structural analysis in engineering

Module
National Code
DCSBSA640
State Code
BD855
DTWD Status
Approved
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
21/09/2026
Field of Education
Nominal Hours
80
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to determine the internal actions of structural systems.

The unit of competency is applied by drafting personnel and technicians in a civil and structural engineering environment, operating as part of a design and/or construction team, to analyse structural integrity.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
General notes
No information
No information
Elements and Performance Criteria
Apply the limit state approach to design of structural members.
  • 1.1 Determine applied loads in accordance with Australian standards.
  • 1.2 Combine loads to establish design loads.
  • 1.3 Analyse the structural system to determine design internalactions.
Determine the ultimate flexural capacity of a member with a rectangular cross section.
  • 2.1 Construct a strain diagram.
  • 2.2 Construct a member stress diagram for a given range of loadintensities up to and including an ultimate load by using the material’s stress versus strain diagram.
  • 2.3 Utilise a stress diagram to apply equilibrium to establish ultimate flexural capacity.
Use an integration method to determine the deflection of structural members.
  • 3.1 Model a structural element showing all loads and restraints.
  • 3.2 Determine support reactions.
  • 3.3 Determine bending force using a moment equation.
  • 3.4 Integrate a moment equation to produce a slope equation then a deflection equation.
  • 3.5 Identify and use boundary conditions to establish the constants of integration.
  • 3.6 Determine deflection at designated points along a structural member.
Use the direct (matrix) stiffness method to determine internal actions of a loaded statically indeterminate structural system for a 2-span beam.
  • 4.1 Model a structural system showing all loads.
  • 4.2 Determine fixed end forces and moments and hence sketch solution 1.
  • 4.3 Remove loads and apply opposite to the fixed end forces and moments and solve to get solution 2.
  • 4.4 Combine solution 1 and 2 to get a final solution.
  • 4.5 Construct shear force and bending moment diagrams using the results.
Use a structural analysis computer program to determine internal actions of a loaded statically indeterminate structural system.
  • 5.1 Model the structural system showing all loads.
  • 5.2 Enter appropriate data into a structural analysis computer program.
  • 5.3 Interpret results from the computer analysis to verify the validity of the analysis.
  • 5.4 Construct axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams using the results of the computer analysis
Predict the behaviour of a compression member.
  • 6.1 Determine a Euler buckling load.
Associated Qual/Courses
State Code National Code Title Type
BHW56 52950WA Advanced Diploma of Civil and Structural Engineering Accredited course