Pedestrian Bridge Application in a Fundamentals of Structural Analysis Course Inside an Architecture Bachelor Program

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v11i5.20151

Keywords:

Structural Analysis, PBL, Architecture bachelor program, Pedestrian bridge

Abstract


The paper presents an application of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) methodology in a structural analysis course taught in English of the third year Architecture bachelor program at Politecnico di Torino (Italy). This experimentation regards a class which is composed mostly of international students, that is, a heterogeneous audience with different background. In general, students struggle with the technical aspects typical of structural analysis course. PBL has been found as a possible solution to this problem in Engineering programs. The aim of redesigning the course is to support students’ learning while evaluating the PBL application in a non-technical context with an international audience. This article describes the structure and the results of the PBL implementation. In particular, the participation has increased compared to the previous academic year in terms of presence during the lectures, interest in the subject, interaction between the lecturer and the students, and exams’ results. These results are encouraging and confirm the validity of the PBL methodology as actually applied.

Author Biographies

Maria Giulia Ballatore, Department of Mathematical Sciences of the Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Maria Giulia Ballatore is a Research Fellow at the Department of Mathematical Sciences of the Politecnico di Torino, Italy. In the meantime, she is a PhD student in Engineering Education at School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Technological University Dublin, Ireland. Her research interests lie in the fields of engineering education, development and standardisation of learning technology, spatial abilities and gender issue.

Fabrizio Barpi, Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino

Fabrizio Barpi is Associate professor of Structural Mechanics at the Department of Structural, Geotechnical and Building Engineering, Politecnico di Torino. He received the PhD in Structural Engineering at Politecnico di Torino in 1996 with a thesis on the numerical models for the study of cracking phenomena in dams. In 2014 was appointed by the Italian Minister as a member of the Advisory Commission of the Technical Standards for Dams. His research interests are continuum mechanics, computational mechanics, nonlinear finite element method, fracture mechanics, dam behaviour and snow avalanches dynamics. Recently, he started to work on the field related to education, in particular on Engineering Education. He is author of several publications on international journals.

Dan Crocker, DC Structures Studio, Cambridge

Dan Crocker has over 15 years’ experience designing bridges in Australasia, Europe, South America, and Asia. Dan is a Chartered Engineer (CEng) of the Institution of Civil Engineers (UK) and a Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng) with the Institution of Professional Engineers NZ (IPENZ). Dan has designed over 50 bridges ranging from concept all the way through to construction and including the majority of materials and structural forms including prestressed concrete beams, post-tensioned concrete beams, long-span steel composite beams, and glutamylated timber beams. Dan has also led the design of sophisticated bridges forms such as cable stayed bridges, suspension bridges, and tied arch bridges. Dan is well respected and has previously held the role of Chairman for the Auckland Structural Group (ASG) with its plus 1,000-strong membership of structural engineers. Dan is passionate about design and construction of bridges and working with clients and constructors to create great infrastructure that communities can be proud of.

Anita Tabacco, Department of Mathematical Sciences of the Politecnico di Torino, Italy

Anita Tabacco is a full professor since 2002 at the Department of Mathemati-calSciences of the Politecnico di Torino. She received the Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1986, at Washington University in St. Louis (MO) USA. Her mathematical research activities are related to real and complex analysis, functional analysis, harmonic anal-ysis with particular interest in interpolation theory, theory of wavelets and applica-tions to PDE’s and integral equations. Moreover, she is working in the field of Engi-neering Education. Her research activities include the organization of conferences, workshops and graduate schools, the participation to numerous prestigious research projects both national and international. She is authors of numerous papers and has given many invited seminars and lectures both in Italy and abroad.
Cover iJEP Vol. 11 No. 5 (2021)

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Published

2021-10-05

How to Cite

Ballatore, M. G., Barpi, F., Crocker, D., & Tabacco, A. (2021). Pedestrian Bridge Application in a Fundamentals of Structural Analysis Course Inside an Architecture Bachelor Program. International Journal of Engineering Pedagogy (iJEP), 11(5), pp. 4–18. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijep.v11i5.20151

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 5 (2021)

Section

Papers