Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Define the Civil Structural Problem and Loading
1–2 weeks (2–3 hrs/week)
Define a civil structural analysis problem: a reinforced concrete beam or slab, a steel portal frame, a masonry wall, a retaining wall, or a bridge girder. Specify the geometry (span, section dimensions), material properties (concrete grade, reinforcement, steel grade), and loading to Eurocode or equivalent: permanent loads (self-weight), variable loads (imposed floor load, wind, snow), and the relevant load combination. State which failure mode governs the design check: bending (ULS flexure), shear (ULS shear), deflection (SLS), or cracking (SLS). Civil structural analysis is load-combination-driven — a single load case without the governing combination is incomplete.
Proof required
Submit your problem definition document (≥500 words): structural description with geometry and material grade, permanent and variable loads with Eurocode load combination applied (e.g. 1.35G + 1.5Q), and the governing failure mode stated for the design check.
What gets checked
- Load combination is applied using the named standard (e.g. Eurocode EN 1990 combination 6.10 or equivalent)
- Geometry and material grade are stated specifically — not 'a typical beam'
- Governing failure mode is identified before calculation — yield, shear, or serviceability
Common mistakes
- Loading defined without applying a code load combination — structural design is not based on characteristic loads alone; the factored combination (ULS) or unfactored (SLS) must be explicitly applied
- Material grade omitted — 'concrete' and 'steel' are not material specifications; C30/37 and S275 are
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Confirm load combination cites the standard and applies the correct factors — flag unfactored loads used for ULS check.
- Confirm material grade is specified — flag 'concrete' or 'steel' without a grade.
- Confirm governing failure mode is identified before M2 analysis begins.
Perform Section Design and Verify Capacity
3–4 weeks (4–5 hrs/week)
Design the critical section to resist the governing failure mode at ULS and check a serviceability limit state. For a reinforced concrete beam: calculate the required tension reinforcement area using the rectangular stress block method (EC2), then check shear capacity and deflection. For a steel beam: calculate the design moment resistance (plastic or elastic), check shear, and verify lateral-torsional buckling. For a retaining wall: check sliding, overturning, and bearing capacity. Show all calculations with the design code equation references and material partial factors applied.
Proof required
Submit your section design calculations: design equation cited with EC2/EC3 clause number (or equivalent), all material partial factors applied, required reinforcement area or section size, and a ULS check plus one SLS check with utilisation ratios.
What gets checked
- Design code clause number is cited for each design equation — not just the formula without attribution
- Material partial factors are applied correctly (γc = 1.5 for concrete, γs = 1.15 for reinforcement in EC2)
- Both ULS and one SLS check are performed — not just the ultimate limit state
Common mistakes
- Using characteristic material strength without applying the partial factor — EC2 uses design strength fd = fk/γm; using fk directly in the design equation is unconservative
- Checking ULS but not SLS — serviceability (deflection, crack width) is always required for civil structures and often governs residential and light-commercial floor design
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Confirm design code clause number is cited for each equation — flag any equation used without a code reference.
- Confirm material partial factors are correctly applied — flag characteristic strengths used as design strengths.
- Confirm both ULS and at least one SLS check are performed.
Write the Structural Design Report
2–3 weeks (2–3 hrs/week)
Write a complete civil structural design report (1,500–2,500 words plus calculations appendix) covering: structure description and loading, applied load combinations, design method and code references, section design results (reinforcement area, section size, or wall dimensions), utilisation ratios for ULS and SLS, and a construction note (what information would a contractor need from this report to build the element). Have the report reviewed by a structural engineer or civil engineer and respond to Q&A on the design decisions and code compliance.
Proof required
Submit your structural design report (1,500–2,500 words plus calculations appendix) and review record: reviewer name, role, ≥3 challenge questions about design decisions or code compliance, and your responses.
What gets checked
- Report includes a construction note specifying what a contractor needs — reinforcement arrangement, cover, concrete grade, or equivalent
- Utilisation ratios for both ULS and SLS are reported — not just a pass/fail statement
- Reviewer has structural or civil engineering experience and challenged the design decisions or code compliance specifically
Common mistakes
- Report without a construction note — a structural design report is not complete until it contains the information a contractor needs to build the element; 'provide adequate reinforcement' is not a construction instruction
- Reviewer without structural engineering experience — EC2/EC3 Q&A on partial factors, load combinations, and SLS checks requires domain knowledge
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Engineering Design Triad check: M1–M3 together produce a design artifact (section design + construction note), an analysis artifact (ULS/SLS calculations with code equations and utilisation ratios), and a documentation artifact (structural design report + review record) — confirm all three types are present.
- Confirm construction note is present and specifies contractor-actionable information.
- Confirm utilisation ratios for both ULS and SLS are reported numerically.
- Confirm reviewer has structural or civil engineering experience.
- The Proof Accessibility Rule applies — MIT OCW (free), Eurocodes portal (free excerpts), Concrete Centre free guides, Steel Construction Institute free resources, and ICE free materials are all accessible without commercial licence.