48221 ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONS 2026


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48221 ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONS 2026

Instructions for Assessment Task One

Rationale: This assessment task provides students with an opportunity to consolidate their knowledge of Excel through the design of a spreadsheet that performs beam deflection calculations for a range of beam geometries, material types and loading configurations. This task is intended to mirror the delivery of industry projects where sometimes the client specifically requests an Excel spreadsheet as a deliverable for executing the requested calculations.

A higher-level summary of the requirements for this assessment task is presented in the table below.

Project tasks
Mark allocation
Project task release
Type of project
 Submission deadline
Project 1 - Excel
(individual project)
40/100
 Week 2
 Individual work
 23:59 Friday 3 rd April

Research requirements for this task: Background research will be required to successfully complete this assessment task. This is especially the case for identifying the correct beam deflection formulae as well as material properties relevant to this problem. The UTS library https://www.lib.uts.edu.au/ has an excellent collection of books and databases that provide access to peer-reviewed journal articles that will be useful for this purpose. Reputable websites (e.g. from universities that teach engineering mechanics) can also be used for this purpose as well.

Statement on group work: Assessment Task One is an individual submission but I give permission for students to discuss (but not show) their progress with other class members.

In-class assistance: Computer laboratories for this subject commence in week 2 of the semester. Students are strongly encouraged to discuss their progress with the teaching team for this assessment task during tutorials.

Overall task requirement: You are required to create an Excel spreadsheet that will allow the user to calculate the deflection of a simply supported beam based on inputs provided by the user.

PART 1

The initial part of this project requires your Excel spreadsheet to calculate the cross-sectional properties (i.e. centroid, 2nd moment of area) of a beam based on inputs provided by the user such as the shape and dimensions of the cross section. The user interface will allow the user to choose a cross-sectional shape from a cell (i.e. it has a drop-down menu). Cross-sectional shapes should include a circle, rectangle and tube. Additional beam cross-sections, such as T-section and I-section beams, will be considered innovative designs.

Once all the parameters of the cross-sectional properties are entered, Excel will automatically calculate all cross-sectional properties, including the centroid and 2nd moment of area, which will be used for the second part of this assignment. Students must use INDEX function to connect images to the drop-down list in Part 1 & 3.

PART 2

This part will require your Excel spreadsheet to assign material attributes to the beam. The user interface will allow the user to choose a type of material from a cell (i.e. it also has a drop-down menu).

Examples should include steel and concrete. Additional materials e.g. timber can be considered as well.

PART 3

This part of the assignment builds upon the information obtained from part 1 and part 2. Different types of loading configurations should be available to the user such as a: 

  • Uniformly distributed load,
  • Point load at any given location,
  • Uniformly varying load.

The user will also be able to define the length and loading positions for their beam in the Excel spreadsheet. Once all this information is entered, Excel will automatically compute the deflection along the the deflection of a simply supported beam and present the results of the maximum beam deflection and deflection at any point.

Submission of the Project

Students are required to submit their own individual work on Canvas before the due date. The project must use the provided template (downloadable from Canvas).

Marking Criteria

Criteria
Mark distribution
Remark
Functionality
 20/40
 Correct results, workable, debugged, robust, crash proof. For example, robust against incorrect input values, consistent unit calculations
Innovation
 10/40
 Applying skills/knowledge innovatively, additional features. For example, deflection graphs, additional materials & geometries
Presentation
 10/40
 Logical, clear, concise and user-friendly interface. For example, consistent unit labels, values for materials and shapes must be provided

Assumptions:
Part one:
1. The dimensions of geometric shapes may be inferred or adopted from historical exemplars.
2. Determining the centroid of these shapes can be accomplished through consultation with authoritative textbooks or online search engines such as Google.
3. The fundamental geometric shapes required in Part One encompass circles, rectangles, and tubes. Additionally, students can consider cross-sectional configurations such as T-sections and I-sections.

Part two:

1. Material densities, essential for this part, can be sourced from textbooks, online search engines like Google, or the existing exemplar file.
2. In Part Two, concrete and steel materials are mandatory choices. Nevertheless, students can incorporate additional materials, such as timber, as permissible options.

Part three:

1. The mathematical expressions essential for deflection calculations can be found in the provided deflection formula sheet.

General:

1. Utilize the provided Excel template as the foundational tool for undertaking this task.
2. Ensure that your complete name and identification number are included in the designated fields within the template sheet.

2026-04-06