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Materials Engineering 1 Coursework 2025-26 (Part A)

Please submit your solutions in PDF by the 27 March 2026 (Target)

Extended deadline: 27 April 2026

Final deadline: 8 May

The allocation of marks within each question is stated in the right-hand margin.

Statement of good academic conduct

By submitting this assignment, I understand that I am agreeing to the following statement of good academic conduct.

▪ I confirm that this assignment is my own work and I have not communicated with others while preparing it.

▪ I confirm this assignment was written by me and is in my own words, except for any materials from published or other sources which are clearly indicated and acknowledged as such by appropriate referencing.

▪ I confirm that this work is not copied from any other person's work (published or unpublished), web site, book, or other source, and has not previously been submitted for assessment either at the University of Birmingham or elsewhere.

▪ I confirm that I have not asked, or paid, others to prepare any part of this work for me. This includes the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI-generated content) written by a third party.

▪ I confirm that I have read and understood the University regulations on plagiarism (https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/policy/conduct/plagiarism/index.aspx)

▪ I understand that if concerns are raised about my work I may need to participate in a viva (oral examination) of my work. I also understand that my progress and/or graduation may be delayed whilst these concerns are investigated under the Code of Practice on Academic Integrity or Code of Practice on Plagiarism.

INSTRUCTIONS

▪ Upload your solutions via Canvas by 27 March 2026

▪ This assessment is not intended to need the full period you have available.

▪ The submission deadline only indicates the timescale within which you need to complete this assessment.

▪ The available time automatically account for any adjustment for those students with Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP)

▪ Neatly written solutions should reflect a mathematical rigour with full justification and explanation of all key steps.

▪ Whilst you may use lecture notes and other materials available to you, submitted answers should be your own.

▪ University penalties apply to any individual found to be involved in any way of plagiarism.

ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS

Q1 You are a materials engineer responsible for specifying the concrete for a reinforced concrete bridge deck in a coastal environment (exposure class XS3 - tidal/splash zone).

The client requires a 100-year design life and has mandated a minimum 30% reduction in embodied carbon compared to a CEM I Portland cement baseline.

1 a) Propose a concrete mix design, specifying cement type(s), supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) [10]

b) Justify the materials used in the mix design [5]

2 a) Explain the curing regimes to be followed for the reinforced concrete [5]

b) Compare with laboratory-based curing for the concrete cubes in the long term [5]

3 a) Compare and discuss the difference between CEM I based concrete and SCM based concrete in terms of hydration and strength development of samples at early ages (7 days) and later ages (90 days strength) [5]

b) Discuss the effect of CEM I based concrete and SCM based concrete on durability properties at 90 days [5]

4 a) Identify and justify the key durability properties and mechanisms (minimum 3) to achieve the 100-year design life in this aggressive environment. [10]

b) Validate and discuss the service life achieved for the chosen mix using the Life365 software with the following assumptions:

CEM I:

Diffusion coefficient-15×10-10m2 /s; Chloride conc. 0.4% by weight of cement

SCM based concrete:

Diffusion coefficient-15×10-13 m2 /s; Chloride conc. 0.3% by weight of cement [10]

c) Explain any trade-offs between carbon reduction and durability performance in your design [5]