UnitLevel 6Postgraduate

CIV6888 Advanced computational methods

Faculty of Engineering

CIV6888 Advanced computational methods is a level 6, 0-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Engineering, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton and Suzhou (SEU). It has no prerequisites.

Credit points
0
Offered in 2026
Semester 2
Clayton, Suzhou (SEU)
Assessment
Exam 30%
and 4 other tasks
Workload
144 hours
per semester

This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.

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Requisites

Before CIV6888

Prohibitions

You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.

After CIV6888

No unit lists CIV6888 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.

Enrolment rules

You must be enrolled in the Engineering PHD program or with permission from the Faculty of Engineering. The unit assumes that you have the necessary foundational knowledge.

Equivalent units

The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.

Overview

This unit provides you with knowledge and skills in advanced numerical analysis and computational techniques for solving complex problems in infrastructure systems. The unit will begin with an introduction to the finite element method and then progress to more advanced topics in numerical modelling, focusing on geotechnical engineering. In addition to the essential theoretical concepts, the unit will include practical examples to provide hands-on experience in applying the concepts to engineering practice. Finally, the management, visualisation and analysis of large quantities of data will complete the necessary skillset for you to manage 21st-century infrastructure systems.

Offerings in 2026

Teaching periodCampusMode
Second semesterClaytonOn campus
Term 3Suzhou (SEU)On campus

Assessment

  • Assignment 1WrittenThreshold hurdle
    20%
  • Assignment 2WrittenThreshold hurdle
    20%
  • Assignment 3WrittenThreshold hurdle
    20%
  • QuizzesQuiz / TestThreshold hurdle
    10%
  • Final assessmentExaminationThreshold hurdle
    30%

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Learning outcomes

When you finish this unit, you should be able to:

  1. 1

    Analyse stresses in soils and solids using computational methods.

  2. 2

    Understand and apply suitable constitutive models for different material types.

  3. 3

    Explain the theoretical basis behind the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Smoothed-Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) method.

  4. 4

    Apply FEM and SPH methods to practical problems in soil and solid mechanics.

  5. 5

    Present, explain and interpret the computational analysis results to a technical audience.

  6. 6

    Explain the suitable techniques for managing and visualising large quantities of data typical of infrastructure systems.

Workload and teaching

  • Practical activities24 hours
  • Workshops24 hours
  • Teaching approachActive learning
  • Teaching approachProblem-based learning
  • Teaching approachResearch activities
  • Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
  • Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of 3-6 hours of scheduled learning activities and 6-9 hours of independent study per week. Scheduled activities may include a combination of teacher-directed learning, peer-directed learning and online engagement. Independent study may include associated readings, assessment and preparation for scheduled activities.

Contacts

Chief Examiners
Dr Thang Nguyen
Unit Coordinators
Dr Thang Nguyen
Dr Yangyang Li

Common questions

What are the prerequisites for CIV6888?

CIV6888 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.

When is CIV6888 offered?

In 2026, CIV6888 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton and Suzhou (SEU).

How much work is CIV6888?

The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.

Does CIV6888 have an exam?

Yes. The exam is worth 30% of the final mark, alongside 4 other tasks.

More details

Credit points
0
Level
6
Study level
Postgraduate
Faculty
Faculty of Engineering
Organisational unit
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Type
HDR
EFTSL
0
Student contribution
SCA Band 2
Study abroad
Not available