Learning outcome

After successfully completing the course, the candidate will have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence.

Knowledge

The candidate:

• Is familiar with the basic concepts within the field of statics and strength of materials
• Can explain the principles of statics and the strength of materials’ basic elements
• Has knowledge of the concepts of friction coefficient, frictional force and normal force
• Can determine location of the centre of gravity in composite bodies and surfaces
• Can determine static and axial area moment
• Can compute the reaction forces and draw a moment, shear and axial force diagram for a single structure or part of a structure
• Can determine stresses and strains caused by external loads
• Can determine stresses and strains on the basis of temperature changes
• Can explain the concepts of safety factor, partial coefficients and allowed voltage
• Can obtain information from relevant charts and tables relevant to the field

Skills

The candidate can:

• Calculate deformations, internal stress and strain on a structural member which is subject to specific loads
• Apply his/her knowledge of mechanics to solve statically determinate and indeterminate structural problems
• Dimension individual technical constructions and construction elements
• Critically evaluate technical constructions and construction elements

General competence

The candidate:

• Has knowledge of the relevant subject literature for stress analysis of engineering structures and structural elements
• Can carry out simple stress calculations to assess the design of engineering structures and structural elements of computer programs or other engineers’ calculations
• Is aware of the importance of safety when designing engineering structures and structural elements
• Has the basis for further development within his/her own discipline and for collaboration in multidisciplinary contexts

Course Description

The course in Mechanics deals with forces, moments, equilibrium and force vectors with diagrams. Beams, frames, complex structures, trusses, cables, pulleys and friction. Stresses and strains, Hooke’s Law, normal tension distribution, shear forces distribution, bending and mass geometry, torsion and buckling. Combined load effect, normal force and bending, bending and torsion. Plane-stress (main tensions, main stresses and maximum shear stress), Mohr’s circle. Dimensioning criteria, fracture criteria.

Statically indeterminate structures, general solution procedures.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Lectures, mandatory exercises, use of computer tools and tests.

Assessment Methods

The final course grade will be weighted as follows:

Final examination (which must be passed in order to pass the course) 70%.

Continuous assessment (exercises) 30%.

In order to take the final examination, students must have completed and had approved at least 80% of the exercises.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean