Related Course/s:

Aims & Objectives:

The aim of this unit is to introduce engineering students to the basic principles of equilibrium and the behaviour of structural members which includes beams, trusses, ties, shafts and bolts under appplied loads.  On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

• Recognise and estimate the magnitude of loads acting on simple structural members
• Demonstrate an understanding of rigid body equilibrium by:   Drawing free body diagrams showing the function of simple structural elements; Calculating the force(s) or moment required to maintain a structure in equilibrium; Calculating external reactions on structural members under applied loading; Drawing axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams for simple beams
• Demonstrate an understanding of the behaviour of structural material by: Calculating section properties for simple member cross sections; Calculating internal axial stresses, shear stresses, and bending stresses, in structural members, where members include beams, trusses, ties, struts, shafts and bolts

Teaching Methods:

Lectures (36 Hours), Tutorials and Laboratories (24 Hours)

Assessment:

Examination (70-80%), Lab Reports (5%),Test (15-25%)

Generic Skills Outcomes:

• Ability to apply knowledge of basic science and engineering fundamentals
• Ability to communicate effectively, not only with engineers but also with the community at large
• Ability to undertake problem identification, formulation and solution
• Ability to utilize a systems approach to design and operational performance
• Ability to function effectively as an individual and in a multi-disciplinary and multi-cultural teams, with the capacity to be a leader or manager as well as an effective team member
• Understanding of the social, cultural, global and environmental responsibilities of the professional engineer, and the need for sustainable development
• Understanding of the principles of sustainable design and development.
• Understanding of professional and ethical responsibilities and commitment to them
• Expectation of the need to undertake lifelong learning, and capacity to do so

Content:

• Forces and Equilibrium (20%):
  Scalars and Vectors, Addition of Vectors, Resultant Calculations, Moment of a Force, Conditions of Equilibrium, Free Body Diagrams (2D and 3D), Two and Three Force Members, Calculations of Simple External Reactions, Principles of Friction
• Structural Analysis of Trusses and Design of Simple Connections (20%):
  Free Body Diagrams and External Reactions Calculations. Analysis of Trusses by Method of Joints and Method of Sections, and Zero Force Members. Simple Analysis of Truss Connections by axial and shear stress, with an introduction in allowable stress vs. ultimate stress
• Internal Loadings - Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams (30%):
  Analysis of point loads, uniformly distributed loads, and non-uniformly distributied loads. Internal Actions of Beams: Axial Forces, Shear Forces and Bending Moments. Axial Force, Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams. Relationships between loads, shear and bending moments
• Section Properties of Structural Members (10%):
  Location of Centroids (Centre of Gravity or Area) for Composite Bodies/Areas. Second Moments of Area (Moments of Inertia) by Integration. Second Moments of Area (Moments of Inertia) by the Parallel Axis Theorem for Composite Areas
• Internal Stresses - Shear and Bending Stresses (20%):
  The Flexural Formula and Bending Stresses in Beams, Bending Stress distributions across Beam Sections. The Shear Formula and Shear Stresses in Beams, Shear Stress distributions across Beam Sections

Textbooks: