BSC103C

Unit Description and General Aims

The objective in presenting this unit is to provide students with an in-depth study of the fundamentals of mechanics of materials and structures.

The subject matter covered in this unit will include: all relevant physical properties and fundamental laws governing the behaviour of materials and structures; the concepts of equilibrium and application of these to various structures; free body diagrams; forces, moments, and centres of mass; the forces of friction and rigid body dynamics; stress-strain analysis; shear force and bending moment diagrams; and, the effects of torsion.

Successful completion of this unit will serve as a key prerequisite for subjects involving mechanics of machines, and design of mechanical systems.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students are expected to be able to:

1. Interpret and solve engineering problems based on the laws of mechanics and force and equilibrium concepts.
   Bloom's Level 3
2. Perform calculations related to mass moment of inertia.
   Bloom's Level 3
3. Evaluate forces of friction and the principles of rigid body dynamics.
   Bloom's Level 5
4. Perform stress-strain analysis and deformation calculations.
   Bloom's Level 3
5. Determine shear force, bending moment, and deflection in beams.
   Bloom's Level 5
6. Evaluate the effects of torsion in shafts and springs.
   Bloom's Level 5
7. Determine stresses in cylinders and spheres.
   Bloom's Level 5

Student assessment

Prescribed and Recommended readings

Suggested Textbook

• J. Bird, C. Ross, Mechanical Engineering Principles, 3rd Ed. Routledge, 2015 - ISBN: 9781138781573

 Reference Materials

• R. Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics, 16th ed. Pearson, 2016 - ISBN: 1292088788

• R. Hibbeler, Engineering Mechanics: Statics, 12th ed. Pearson, 2009 – ISBN: 9780136077909

• Gere, J. M., Goodno, B. J., 2003, Mechanics of Materials, 6th Edition – ISBN: 9780534417932

• R. Hibbeler, 2013, Mechanics of Materials, 9th Edition – ISBN: 978-0133254426

• EIT eLibrary

• IDC Technologies publications

• Other material and online collections as advised during the lectures

   

Unit Content

Topic 1

 Introduction to Dynamics and Mechanics 1

1. Distance, time and mass measurements
2. Fundamental constants and dimensional analysis
3. Position, displacement, velocity, speed, acceleration and SUVAT
4. Scalars, vectors and forces
5. Velocity and acceleration in two dimensions

Topic 2

Introduction to Dynamics and Mechanics 2

1. Force and mass
2. Laws of mechanics 
3. Newton’s First Law
4. Newton’s Second Law
5. Reaction Forces
6. Newton’s Third Law
7. Torque

Topic 3

Equilibrium of Rigid Bodies

1. Lami’s theorem, parallelogram and triangular law of forces
2. Equilibrium of a particle
3. Equivalent systems of forces 
4. Principle of transmissibility 
5. Free body diagrams
6. Types of supports
7. Action and reaction forces
8. Moments and couples
9. Varignon’s Theorem
10. Equilibrium of rigid bodies in two and three dimensions

Topic 4

Properties of Surfaces and Solids

1. Centroids and centre of mass, lines and areas
2. Rectangular, circular, triangular areas
3. T-section, I-section, angle section, hollow section
4. Parallel axis theorem and perpendicular axis theorem
5. Principal moments of inertia
6. Mass moment of inertia

Topic 5

Friction and Rigid Body Dynamics

1. Friction force 
2. Laws of sliding friction 
3. Wedge friction
4. Rolling resistance 
5. Translation and rotation of rigid bodies 
6. General plane motion of simple rigid bodies

Topic 6

Stress, Strain, and Deformation of Solids

1. Properties of materials 
2. Rigid bodies and deformable solids
3. Tension, compression
4. Stress and strain
5. Hardness, Modulus of Elasticity and Failure 
6. Deformation of simple and compound bars 
7. Hooke’s law
8. Poisson’s ratio
9. Thermal stresses, elastic constants, volumetric strains
10. Stresses on inclined planes 
11. Lab testing for tension, compression and shear

Topic 7

Bending Moment and Shear Force in Beams

1. Types of beams
2. Loading conditions and types of reactions
3. Shear forces and bending moments
4. Shear force and bending moment diagrams for beams subjected to concentrated loads, uniformly distributed loads (UDL), uniformly varying loads (UVL), and couples

Topic 8

Bending, and Shear Stresses in Beams

1. Theory of simple bending
2. Bending stress equation
3. Relationship between bending stress, bending moment, and radius of curvature
4. Buckling
5. Shear stresses in beams
6. Shear stress across rectangular, circular, symmetrical I and T sections (excluding composite and notched)

Topic 9

Deflection in Beams and Stresses in Trusses

1. Deflection of Beams by superposition
2. Equations for deflection, slope, and bending moment
3. Trusses

Topic 10

Torsion and Springs

1. Deformation in circular shaft due to torsion
2. Torsion equation
3. Angular deflection
4. Hollow and stepped circular shaft
5. Extension and Torsion Springs
6. Spring constant
7. Stresses in helical springs
8. Deflection of helical springs, carriage springs
9. Lab testing for torsion

Topic 11

Principal Stresses and Strain

1. Transformation of plane stresses
2. Principal stresses and strain
3. Maximum shear stresses and strain
4. Mohr’s circle for plane stresses and strain
5. Components subjected to bending, torsion, and axial loads

Topic 12

Thin and Thick Cylinders, Spheres

1. Stresses in thin cylinders
2. Deformation in thin and thick cylinders
3. Spherical shells subjected to internal pressure
4. Deformation in spherical shells
5. Lame’s theorem
6. Exam revision

Software/Hardware Used

Software

• Software: SolidWorks

• Version: 2016 x 64

• Instructions: N/A

• Additional resources or files: N/A

Hardware

• N/A