QCAA Engineering EA case studies
QCAA Engineering EA · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The QCAA Engineering External Assessment is the external written examination that contributes to a student's final result in the Queensland senior Engineering syllabus. It is aimed at Year 12 students who have studied the subject across four units, building knowledge of engineering fundamentals, materials, statics and structural analysis, mechanics and energy, graphics and CAD, design and manufacture, and the social, ethical and sustainability dimensions of engineering practice. The QCAA Engineering EA case studies are 5 cases and about 2,844 words.
1Choosing a Beam Section for a Mezzanine Walkway
A workshop mezzanine walkway spans 4.0 m between simple supports and must carry a uniformly distributed live load of 3.0 kN/m plus its own self-weight. Two candidate sections are available in stock: a 150×75 mm solid hardwood timber beam (E = 11 GPa, allowable bending stress 8 MPa, density 750 kg/m³) and a 200 mm deep × 100 mm wide glued-laminated section (E = 13 GPa, allowable bending stress 12 MPa, density 550 kg/m³).
554 words, about 3 min2Pin-Jointed Roof Truss Under Asymmetric Snow Load
A symmetrical pin-jointed roof truss has a 6.0 m span with five equal panels of 1.2 m along the bottom chord. The apex is 1.5 m above the supports.
590 words, about 3 min3Gearbox Output Shaft: Power, Torque and Heat
A small conveyor drive uses a 1.5 kW three-phase motor at 1440 rev/min geared down through a 12:1 reduction gearbox to drive a head shaft. The gearbox is 88% efficient.
541 words, about 3 min4Bracket Drawing: Tolerance Stack-Up and Fit
A steel mounting bracket is bolted to a frame through two 11 mm clearance holes, using M10 bolts. The mating frame has two tapped holes whose centrelines are dimensioned at 60 ± 0.2 mm.
567 words, about 3 min5Material Selection for a Marine Pump Housing
A coastal aquaculture facility needs a pump housing that will handle brackish water (about 15 g/L chloride) at ambient temperature and up to 40 °C. The current housing is cast grey iron and has failed by pitting corrosion after 18 months, with perforation through a 6 mm wall.
592 words, about 3 min