Structures - 2019 entry

This module builds on Mechanics (ECM1108) to further your understanding of mechanical behaviour of structures and its application to engineering design. You will enhance your mathematical analysis skills and develop ability to perform linear elastic analysis of beams and 2D frame structures. You will explore techniques underpinning structural analysis including strain energy, virtual work, and flexibility and stiffness methods. You will also investigate instability and plastic collapse mechanisms of simple structures. You will further develop your experimental skills and awareness of health and safety practice within engineering.

Prerequisite module: ECM1108 or equivalent
 

This module addresses topics that are essential to the design and understanding of the behaviour of civil engineering structures under static loading. The module provides mathematical basis for quantitative analysis (including calculating internal forces, reactions, deflections, rotations, buckling capacity and plastic collapse) and some qualitative analysis of beams and frames. It lays foundations for more advanced structure design modules.

This is a constituent module of one or more degree programmes which are accredited by a professional engineering institution under licence from the Engineering Council. The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V3).

This module contributes to learning outcomes: SM1m, SM2m, SM3m, SM5m, EA1m, EA2m, EA3m, D1m, EP3m, G1m

A full list of the referenced outcomes is provided online: http://intranet.exeter.ac.uk/emps/subjects/engineering/accreditation/

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

 Module Specific Skills and Knowledge: SM1m, SM2m, SM3m, SM5m, EA1m, EA2m
 

-explain and utilise strain energy methods,

-calculate the critical buckling load for struts under compression,

-evaluate the maximum plastic moment of beams with simple cross sections (rectangular or I-beams),

-estimate the plastic collapse load of simple 2D structures,

-determine the static and kinematic indeterminacy of beam and 2D frame structures,

-calculate the deflection in statically determinate and indeterminate prismatic and non-prismatic beams,

-use virtual work to find unknown reactions, bending moments, deflections and rotations in statically determinate 2D structures,

-employ the flexibility and stiffness methods to find bending moments in statically indeterminate 2D structures,

  - demonstrate an ability to make appropriate assumptions to model real-life engineering problems.


 

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge: D1m, EP3m

  - demonstrate improved experimental skills and awareness of health and safety practice in laboratory classes;

  - show increased ability with mathematical analysis and in particular its application to solving problems.

 

Personal and Key Transferable/ Employment Skills and  Knowledge: G1m

  - illustrate developed problem solving and presentation skills, (e.g. through submission of laboratory reports).

Linear elastic structural analysis of statically determinate and indeterminate beams and/or 2D frames:

-static and kinematic (in)determinacy,

-internal force/moment diagrams,

-moment-curvature relationship,

-calculating deflections of prismatic and non-prismatic beams: use of direct integration method (including Macaulay’s notation) and moment-area method,

-strain energy methods and Castigliano’s theorem,

-virtual work

-flexibility method,

-stiffness method.

Plasticity analysis:

-yielding,

-elasto-plastic analysis (yield moment, plastic moment, plastic modulus),

-plastic hinges and plastic collapse of beams,

-the uniqueness, the lower bound and the upper bund theorems,

-plastic collapse of 2D frame structures.

Instability and buckling analysis:

-stable and unstable equilibria,

-Euler’s buckling of a pin-ended strut,

-buckling of struts with other end conditions,

-effective length concept,

-effect of initial imperfections,

-introduction to other forms of buckling such as lateral-torsional buckling of beams.

Non-compulsory Progress Tests – there will be 5-8 question sheets issued at various points during the module delivery, to complete in own time shortly after issuing. Written feedback will be provided for each submission.

The referred/deferred assessments will be by formal examination.

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Reading list for this module:

Gere, JM, Goodno, BJ Mechanics of Materials, Cengage Learning, 2013, ISBN: 978-0495438076

Bhatt, P Structures, Longman, 1999, ISBN: 0582312221

Reading list for this module: