Twelve weeks. One load path.

From definition to destructive testing, each week isolates one condition that determines whether a sandwich holds.

Phase IDefineEstablish the structure.Weeks 1–3
Phase IIExpose the ForcesIntroduce load and environment.Weeks 4–6
Phase IIIAssemble and TransportBuild, move and stress the system.Weeks 7–10
Phase IVDiagnose and ProveFind failure. Prove the limit.Weeks 11–12

Phase I — Define
01
Teaching week commencing 22 FEB22 February 2027
What Counts as a Sandwich?
Is the boundary defined by shape, materials, function, or use?
No assessment milestone this week.
Classification Field Note
Open week
02
Teaching week commencing 01 MAR1 March 2027
Bread Is a Beam
How does the outer layer bear, distribute and recover from load?
No assessment milestone this week.
Compression Record
Open week
03
Teaching week commencing 08 MAR8 March 2027
Grip, Friction and Slip
Why do individually stable materials move once assembled?
Sandwich Field Log 15% due 12 March 2027
Interface Comparison
Open week
Phase II — Expose the Forces
04
Teaching week commencing 15 MAR15 March 2027
Moisture Is a LoadLecture deck
How does liquid progressively compromise a boundary?
No assessment milestone this week.
Absorption Observation
Open week
05
Teaching week commencing 22 MAR22 March 2027
Load-Bearing Fillings
Which layers support the assembly, and which only add load?
No assessment milestone this week.
Load-Path Annotation
Open week
06
Teaching week commencing 05 APR5 April 2027
Sauce at the Interface
When does an interface layer change from binder to lubricant?
Component Test 20% due 9 April 2027
Interface Incident Report
Open week
Phase III — Assemble and Transport
07
Teaching week commencing 12 APR12 April 2027
Thermal Conflict
How does temperature change one assembly's behaviour over time?
No assessment milestone this week.
Thermal Comparison
Open week
08
Teaching week commencing 19 APR19 April 2027
The Order of LayersLecture deck
Why does the same material set behave differently when reordered?
No assessment milestone this week.
Assembly Rationale
Open week
09
Teaching week commencing 26 APR26 April 2027
Cutting Geometry
How does a cut change support, grip and exposed boundaries?
No assessment milestone this week.
Geometry Analysis
Open week
10
Teaching week commencing 03 MAY3 May 2027
Packaging Is Part of the Structure
Does packaging protect the assembly or impose a new load?
No assessment milestone this week.
Transport Test
Open week
Phase IV — Diagnose and Prove
11
Teaching week commencing 10 MAY10 May 2027
Failure Autopsy
How can a failure sequence be reconstructed from limited evidence?
Failure Autopsy 25% due 14 May 2027
Failure Autopsy
Open week
12
Teaching week commencing 17 MAY17 May 2027
The Final Stress Test
Can a design remain coherent under a declared use condition?
The Sandwich Must Hold 40% due 28 May 2027
Defended Final System
Open week

Reading the load path

Station: One teaching week on the load path. Twelve stations, in chronological order, which is also the keyboard order.
Assessment milestone: A submission falls due at the end of this week. The weight is printed beside it; the four together total 100%.
Lecture deck: The week carries a full slide deck as well as its page. 2 of the twelve do.
Artefact: The evidence that leaves the session, drawn as the instrument that produces it. No two weeks produce the same artefact.

Where the weeks lead: the four assessments, the participation policies.

SLOP2895 / semester load path / Semester 1 2027

Semester status: load path continues.

Twelve weeks. One load path.

The twelve teaching weeks

Moisture Is a LoadLecture deck

The Order of LayersLecture deck

Reading the load path