Year Two, Semester One

How's my second year first semester going, you might ask? Okay, here's a summary:

COMPUTER AIDED ENGINEERING (CIVIL)

This unit is split into two: one which focuses on AutoCAD, and another which focuses on computer applications. AutoCAD so far is simple. We have to draw architectural drawing by arranging shop houses, living houses and car parks and roundabouts in a drawing plan. Quite simple but consume lots of time. Civil3D to begin soon.

Computer applications began with Spacegass, a computer programme that greatly simplifies all structural analysis. Best computer programme so far, eases our lives in university so much by allowing us to verify our hand calculated answers. Microsoft Excel comes next. I don't like Excel much but I must admit it's quite fun. Interesting unit so far.


SUSTAINABLE DESIGN

As stipulated in the name of the unit, anything in this unit has the theme of "sustainable". Swinburne is taking EWB project as a project for us. Quite annoying actually, because I hate doing research and I certainly do not like digging out information from internet when I do not know what is there to dig. Has a strict lecturer who has high expectations from students. Tutorials are downright annoying and Reflective Journals are boring.


FLUID MECHANICS

Has a foreign lecturer whose accents none of us can truly catch. Fluid subject itself is confusing and quite difficult to fathom but so far so good. Perhaps it's because I didn't have time to really study it to understand it. Why, you might ask? Here comes the last subject


DESIGN OF CONCRETE STRUCTURES

I must say I think it's a bit unfair to ask a second year student to take such a technical subject. In this unit basically we learn about concretes, and the calculations needed when solving a structure. Flexibility method is easy but extremely annoying. Moment Distribution Method by Hardy Cross simply makes everybody's lives a living nightmare. To solve statically indeterminate structures is just a pain in the a*s.

This unit contains a big project: we are required to analyse a bridge. Basically, we have to analyse the slabs, girders and piers by finding all the reactions, shear force diagram, bending moment diagram and their deflections. We have a lecturer who greatly overestimates her students' intelligence by teaching only one example (and a very simple one) for every theory and expect them to solve questions that are beyond what computer can accurately analyse. This is why engineering students have no lives.

It's late. I'm off to sleep. Tired day.