99632 - Principles of Structural Mechanics

Learning outcomes

To provide the elements of solid mechanics useful in determining the stress and strain status of beams subject to the main stress characteristics: axial stress, bending moment, torsion and shear. To provide the basic knowledge of the mechanical properties of materials, experimental methods and quality control procedures. To make the students able to solve hyperstatic structures and perform structural safety assessment.

Course contents

Requirements/Prior knowledge

A prior knowledge and understanding of Mathematics and Physicsis required to attend the course proficiently.

Course Content

1. Equilibrium and Reactions
2. Truss Structures
3. Statics of Beams and Frames
4. Deformation of Beams and Frames
5. Column Stability
6. The Force Method
7. Deformation and Element Methods for Frames
8. Stresses and Strains
9. Material Behavior
10. General Bending of Beams
11. Flexure and Torsion of Beams
    

The course content will be delivered through two teaching modules that run in parallel.

Readings/Bibliography

Learning Resource

• Instructors’ notes.
• Problem sets with solutions.
• Exams with solutions.

Class/lab notes, solved exercises, solved exams, are available to download in Virtuale: https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Suggested readings

• Statics and Mechanics of Structures, Steen Krenk, Jan Høgsberg, Springer Dordrecht, 2013.

Teaching methods

The course content will be entirely covered by the lectures. The course consists in lectures and on sessions devoted to exercises, which will cover the practical aspects of the lectures. The instructors will supervise students during the laboratory activities.

Assessment methods

The assessment of the "expected learning outcomes" is composed of:

• Exercises: 6 assignments during the course (given on Thu. to return the next Tue.) = 6 points
• Written exam: 3 exercises, 3 hour = 30 points
• Oral exam: 10 questions, multiple choice, discussion, 1 hour = +/- 5 points

The written and oral tests are closed book exams. To obtain a passing grade (minimum is 18 points) students are required to demonstrate a knowledge of the key concepts of the subject, some ability for critical application, and a comprehensible use of technical language. Higher grades (maximum is 30 points, cum laude) will be awarded to students who demonstrate an organic understanding of the subject, a high ability for critical application, and a clear and concise presentation of the contents. In case of failure students can take any next final term, generally there are 6 final terms per academic year.

Teaching tools

The teaching tools are tablet, projector and PC.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Marzani

See the website of Antonio Palermo