Each student must submit an individual technical laboratory report on the experiment they carried out. Please see ‘Laboratory Report’ handout for guidance on writing a laboratory report. You will be expected to consult the appropriate British Standards and comment on the accuracy of the work undertaken. In addition, your comments should include the potential applications of the test results in building and civil engineering practice. The use of spreadsheets and word processing in the calculation of the laboratory test results and the write up of the experiment will be actively encouraged. Each student will also have to include a Risk Assessment and Safe Working Procedure as part of their laboratory report.

The marks will be issued as follows:

1. A Laboratory Report – for Triaxial experiments:
   • See next page ‘Laboratory Report’ 80 marks

2) Key skills

• Safe Working Procedure and Risk Assessment 10 marks
• Presentation of report^# 5 marks
• Library use (reference to published results/BS)5 marks

^#Please ensure that you include the standard university coursework coversheet detailing your full name, ID, name of lecturer, name of the experiment, date, etc.

You must upload your laboratory work to Turnitin, via the icon for this module on My-Beckett, and obtain an ‘originality report’. This Turnitin originality report must be included at the start of your laboratory report. Failure to include it will result in a default mark of zero being awarded. NB you can only upload one document in a 24-hour period, i.e. to prevent you from ‘tweaking’ the report the night before it is due in. If a high percentage is returned in the ‘similarity index’ you will be investigated regarding plagiarism/collusion. NB the software can detect similarities between your report and your colleagues, as well as published literature (whether paperbound or web-based); hence do not copy!

Normal University rules regarding late submissions shall apply. An attendance Register will be taken at the Laboratory Sessions, and the Rule is: No Attendance – No Mark. Any work submitted by people who do not attend, will NOT be marked. The laboratory report must be submitted with the relevant lecturer’s name written clearly on the first page.

Failure to comply with this format could result in your work being marked late or even lost – students should always retain a copy of their submitted coursework until they have received their original piece of coursework back, which has been marked.

This work must be submitted by:

• Full-time students: 10/12/20 by 9.00am

• Part-time students:10/12/20 by 9.00am

Laboratory Report

Title Page (Part of presentation marks)

1. Title of Experiment
2. Name of student, ID no., course, module, level (BSc/BEng), & mode of study (e.g. PT/FT)
3. Group & Date of performing the experiment
4. Lecturer’s name

Turnitin originality report

Failure to include this report will result in a default mark of zero being awarded.

Abstract (10 marks)

Summarises essential aspects of the report:

1. The purpose of the experiment
2. Key findings
3. Significance
4. Major conclusions

Introduction (10 marks)

Explain very briefly the purpose of the experiment and important background/theory. The introduction should be more focussed than the abstract, stating the subject matter of the report clearly and concisely, in a few sentences.

Experimental procedure (5 marks)

Only note down anything that you did different than what is quoted in the laboratory handout and/or the corresponding BS (describe the process in chronological order). However, include a detailed hand sketch of the apparatus, which is fully labelled.

calculations and results (20 marks)

Show only one typical calculation on the data obtained from the experiment and then tabulate the results of your analysis – spreadsheets. Present the analysed data in figures or tables to indicate what knowledge has been gained from the experiment. Include a labelled hand sketch to show the failure of the sample(s) tested.

Discussion (20 marks)

Points to consider when writing the discussion (the most important part of your report):­

• Are your values of the right order of magnitude, i.e. are they in keeping with typical values in textbooks? What does your textbook say about the materials relevant to this experiment?

• Could the experiment be improved?

• According to theory, how should the material behave – how did it behave?

• What has the experiment taught you about the material you were testing?

• What have you learned?

Quotations from textbooks are perfectly acceptable provided that the whole report is not copied from a book and also provided that the source of the information is acknowledged.

Conclusions (10 marks)

Be brief. The conclusions should be concise statements, which arise from your discussion – they can be negative or positive.

References/Library USE (5 marks) -Harvard/Numeric style (including the date of accessing any website)

Appendix I (5 marks) – Raw data and calculations – no comments required.

Appendix II (5 marks) -Safe Working Procedure

APPENDIX III (5 marks) – Risk Assessment

Presentation (5 marks) – The laboratory report must be word processing and graphs produced on Excel and labeled correctly, and include a title page as detailed above, etc.

Notes on Laboratory Report

Note: write the report in the third person

Abstract

The abstract often also includes a brief reference to theory or methodology.  The abstract should be one or two paragraphs of 100-200 words. For example:

This experiment examined the effect of……………………. The test was to determine……………  Five samples were tested ……………. Each condition was ……………… Results showed that ……………………….. This last result is contrary to theory/expectations………………. . These results have important on……………

Introduction

Example: The purpose of this experiment was to identify …………………………. These were determined using the ????? method/machine.

Note:

• The experiment is already finished.  Use the past tense when talking about the experiment. “The objective of the experiment was…”
• The report, the theory and permanent equipment still exist; therefore, these get the present tense: “The purpose of this report is…”, “Newton’s Law is …” & “The triaxial produces…”

Experimental procedure

As noted above.

calculations and results

Note:

1. Number and Title tables and graphs (Table – title at top, Figure – title at bottom; both starting from 1.1, 1.2…, 2.1, 2.2…, etc. for each section)
2. Use a sentence or two to draw attention to key points in tables or graphs
3. Provide sample calculation only
4. State key result in sentence form

Discussion

Points to consider:

1. Compare expected results with those obtained – if there were differences, how can you account for them? Saying “human error” implies you’re incompetent. Be specific; for example, the instruments could not measure precisely, the sample was not pure or was contaminated, or calculated values did not take account of friction. 
2. Analyse experimental error – Was it avoidable? Was it a result of equipment?  If an experiment was within the tolerances, you can still account for the difference from the ideal. If the flaws result from the experimental design explain how the design might be improved.
3. Explain your results in terms of theoretical issues – Often undergraduate labs are intended to illustrate important physical laws. Usually you will have discussed these in the introduction. In this section move from the results to the theory. How well has the theory been illustrated? 
4. Relate results to your experimental objective(s) – If you set out to identify an unknown, state the answer.
5. Compare your results to similar investigations – In some cases, it is legitimate to compare outcomes with classmates, not to change your answer, but to look for any anomalies between the groups and discuss those.
6. Analyze the strengths and limitations of your experimental design – This is particularly useful to demonstrate your understanding of the experiment.

Conclusions

Note:

1. State what is known
2. Justify statement
3. State significance
4. Suggest further research

References

As noted above.

Appendix – I

Typically include such elements as raw data, calculations, graphs pictures or tables that have not been included in the report itself. Each kind of item should be contained in a separate appendix. Make sure you refer to each appendix at least once in your report.

APPENDIX – II

Safe Working Procedure

For example:

1. PRIOR TO STARTING WORK

1. Ensure that you have no loose clothing, jewellery, hair, etc.
2. etc
3. etc
4. etc

2. WHILST UNDERTAKING THE LABORATORY WORK

1. Before the laboratory equipment is switched on ensure that they are no foreign bodies within the area.
2. etc
3. etc
4. etc

3. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE OF THE LABORATORY SESSION

1. Ensure that the laboratory equipment and the surrounding area are left in a safe environment, e.g. no trip hazards are left on the floor.
2. etc
3. etc
4. etc

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Any accidents, injuries or unsafe conditions observed will be notified immediately to Martin Pritchard or Anthony Smith.
2. etc
3. etc
4. etc

APPENDIX – III

RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

For example:

	RISK*
TASK – HAZARDS/DEFICIENCIES	WCO	LIK	LVL	CURRENT CONTROLS	REMEDIAL MEASURES; CONTROLS, ACTION; COMMENTS. (including action date)
MACHINERY HAZARDS: TRAPS: The body or limb(s) become trapped between closing or passing motions of the machine. In some cases the trap occurs when the limb(s) are drawn into a closing motion.	MIN	LOW	LOW	Guards – difficult to bypass or disable, emergency shutdown, training in correct use, location allows the equipment to be used safely.	Training: for students to attend all lectures (Feb – May 16)
etc	etc	etc	etc	etc	etc
etc	etc	etc	etc	etc	etc

RISK ASSESSMENT FORM

RISK = WORST CASE OUTCOME X LIKELIHOOD OF OCCURRENCE		HAZARD LIKELIHOOD (LIK): THREE POINT SCALE
HAZARD SEVERITY WORST CASE OUTCOME (WCO): THREE POINT SCALE MAJOR (MAJ): Condition / Practice Likely to Cause: – permanent disability loss of life loss of body part (to one or more persons) major injury notifiable under Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurences		HIGH (HIG): MODERATE (MOD): LOW (LOW):	Likely to happen. Common, regular or frequent occurrence i.e. daily, several times per day, weekly, every few weeks Probable to happen. Occasional occurrence – loss/harm may occur, once a month or several times a year. Possible to happen. Not a frequent/regular occurrence – loss/harm may occur once a year, unlikely but cannot be ruled out
Regulations (RIDDOR) 1985
extensive loss of plant or equipment or building		HAZARD SEVERITY (WCO) THE RISK LEVEL (LVL)
dangerous occurences as specified under RIDDOR.		MAJOR	HIGH	HIGH	MED
		SERIOUS	HIGH	MED	LOW
SERIOUS (SER): Condition / Practice which may Result in: –		MINOR	MED	LOW	LOW
serious injury or illness resulting in temporary disability to one or more persons, in excess of 3 days			HIGH	MODERATE	LOW
damage to plant, equipment or buildings, which result in disruption to normal activities.			HAZARD LIKELIHOOD
MINOR (MIN): Conditions / Practice which may result in: –		THE RISK LEVEL – ACTION BY
minor/disabling injury or illness which may involve some lost time (of at least one hour but not more than 3 days)		HIGH	IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED, refer Head of School and cancel trip if risk too great
no injury or illness (near miss) but results in some minor disruptive damage to plant, equipment or building property.		MEDIUM	ACTION PRIOR TO TRIP to remove or reduce the risk
		LOW	Ensure appropriate safety briefing

Safe Working Procedure

Triaxial

As part of your laboratory experiment/report you MUST complete the following:

1. PRIOR TO STARTING WORK

1.

2.

3.

4.

2. Whilst Undertaking the LABORATORY WORK

1.

2.

3.

4.

3. PRIOR TO DEPARTURE of the laboratory session

1.

2.

3.

4.

4. RESPONSIBILITIES

1.

2.

3.

4.

Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary

RISK ASSESSMENT (RA) FORM

triaxial

	RISK*
TASK – HAZARDS/DEFICIENCIES	WCO	LIK	LVL	CURRENT CONTROLS	REMEDIAL MEASURES; CONTROLS, ACTION; COMMENTS. (including action date)

Please continue on a separate sheet if necessary