E172: Structural Mechanics
Department of Engineering
Harvey Mudd College
Spring 2006
(Last edited by CLD on 25 April 2006)
Particulars:
Lectures: Tues/Thurs
from 9:35–10:50 in TG 101
Instructor:
Prof.
Clive Dym in P2376 at clive_dym@hmc.edu
Office Hours:
Grader: Rami
Hindiyeh '06, rami_hindiyeh@hmc.edu
Textbook: C.
L. Dym, Structural Modeling
and Analysis (Paperback
Edition), Cambridge University Press;
at Huntley Bookstore
My goals for this course are that you will:
· experience some sense of
how engineers think about structures;
· develop an understanding
of how structural models describe structural behavior(s);
· learn to obtain
approximate, closed-form, “back-of-the-envelope” estimates of structural stiffnesses
and deflections;
· learn the principles
that underlie the computational modeling of engineering structures;
· develop some sense of
and feel for how such computational models of structures are implemented; and
· reinforce and
strengthened your interest in structural mechanics!!
Course emphases:
Structural
mechanics is about developing useful and applicable models of real physical
structures. This introduction to structural mechanics will focus on:
· developing one- and
two-dimensional models of structural behavior;
· using minimum energy
principles to derive mathematical models of such structures;
· using minimum energy
principles to obtain approximate solutions to structural analysis problems;
·
developing physical intuition
about structural behavior in structural analysis and design; and
· using minimum energy
principles to introduce the finite element method (FEM).
Major topics:
1
Structural idealizations: Bars and two
force members; beams; trusses; frames; arches.
2
Discretization: Discrete models
of structural behavior.
3
Energy methods: The calculus
of variations; the Principle of Minimum Potential Engergy (PMPE); the Principle
of Minimum Complementary Energy (PMCE); Castigliano's First and Second Theorems.
4
Solving structures problems: Indirect and
direct energy approaches; discretization; finite element methods.
Course activities:
This
particular introduction to structural mechanics will involve your:
· active participation in
course discussions of the concepts and their application; and
· mastering the skills to
solve structures problems in homework and exams.
Materials posted online (I): Syllabus and miscellaneous readings
Materials posted online (II): Homework assignments
HW Number 7 Key - Extra Problem
Grading:
There will be
two 75-minute exam; one will be given just before Spring Break, the second
just before
the end of the semester. The exams will be closed-book and closed-notes, and
each will count for 35% of your final grade. The remaining 30% will be determined
by homework completion.
On reserve at Sprague Library:
T. Au and P. Christiano, Fundamentals of Structural Analysis
A. Chajes, Structural Analysis
C. L. Dym and I. H. Shames, Solid Mechanics: A Variational
Approach
R. H. Gallagher, Finite Element Analysis Fundamentals
J. E. Gordon, Structures: Or, Why Things Don’t
Fall Down
M. Levy and M. Salvadori, Why
Buildings Fall Down
M. Petyt, Introduction to Finite Element
Vibration Analysis
M. G. Salvadori, Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength
of Architecture
D. L. Schodek, Structures
I. H. Shames and C. L. Dym, Energy and Finite Element Methods in
Structural Mechanics
W. R. Spillers, Introduction to Structures
B. S. Taranath, Structural Analysis & Design of
Tall Buildings
S. P. Timoshenko and D. H.
Young, Theory of Structures
R. N. White, P. Gergely and R.
G. Sexsmith, Structural
Engineering: Determinate Structures
R. N. White, P. Gergely and R.
G. Sexsmith, Structural
Engineering: Indeterminate Structures