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Solid Mechanics (ECM2114)

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Module status - Active
Module description status - Inactive
Credits - 15
College code - EMP
Academic year - 2014/5

Module staff

Professor Christopher Smith (C.W.Smith@exeter.ac.uk) - Convenor

Duration (weeks) - term 1

Duration (weeks) - term 2

Duration (weeks) - term 3

Number students taking module (anticipated)

150

Module description

Engineers designing machines and structures are often required to balance competing demands such as the requirement to be cheap to manufacture/assemble, to have low weight, and yet be strong and safe. Such demands require Engineers to master a set of analytical skills, many of which are tackled in this module.

Structures fail when they are overloaded and calculating the internal stresses and strains within solid objects allows you to design safe, efficient structures. On this module, building on the first year introduction to mechanics, you will explore how static and dynamic forces act within solid bodies.

In Statics you will look at ‘indeterminate’ structures, plasticity, and power transmission systems.

In Dynamics you will look at vibrations; exploring the response of structures to dynamic forces such as those generated by wind loading on buildings, traffic on bridges and potholes in roads on cars.

Completing this course will enable you to calculate the stresses and strains within a static object, determine failure loads for some structures, and the behaviour of systems subjected to fluctuating forces.

Prerequisite module: ECM1102 or equivalent

Module aims

To extend the students' knowledge of solid mechanics and dynamics. The concepts are fundamental to engineering and should be understood by all engineers. The level here is sufficient for students studying Engineering and Management, whilst leading into further work in later semesters for students studying Civil and Mechanical Engineering.

ILO: Module-specific skills

1. analyse internal stresses in solid members, incl around stress concentrations, members in torsion, pressure vessels and beams;
2. understand shear within solids under load, the conditions of plane stress and plane strain;
3. analyse systems exhibiting Simple Harmonic Motion, compare damped and undamped, forced and naturally oscillating systems;
4. solve the motion of simple and non-linear vibrating systems and of coupled oscillating systems.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

5. demonstrate increased abilities in the mathematical analysis of engineering problems;
6. apply eqilibrium and compatibility techniques to unfamiliar problems.

ILO: Personal and key skills

7. demonstrate improved critical thinking and problem solving skills.

Syllabus plan

Solid Mechanics (CWS):

1. Revision of solid mechanics, (stresses on inclined planes/strain energy);

2. Stress concentrations, (St Venants principle);

3. Torsion, (Power Transmission/statically indeterminate torsion members/strain energy in torsion and shear);

4. Stress and strain, (plane stress/principle stresses/Mohrs circle/Hookes law/triaxial stress/plane strain);

5. Applications of plane stress, (spherical pressure vessels/cylindrical pressure vessels/maximum stresses in beams). Dynamics (PGY): 1.Simple Harmonic Motion in damped/undamped/forced systems; 2. Vibrational modes of coupled systems up to 3 d.o.f.; 3. Non-linear vibrating systems.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
36	114	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	24	Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities	12	Example classes
Guided independent study	114	Lecture and assessment preparation; wider reading

Formative assessment

Form of assessment	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Not applicable

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
30	70	0

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Written exam closed book	70	2 hours	1-6	Exam result
Coursework two assessed exercises (one test on Statics and one test on Dynamics)	30	2 in-class tests	1-6	Marked worksheets returned; Tests returned and solutions worked through in class

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
All above	Written exam (100%)	All	August Ref/Def period

Re-assessment notes

If a module is normally assessed entirely by coursework, all referred/deferred assessments will normally be by assignment.
If a module is normally assessed by examination or examination plus coursework, referred and deferred assessment will normally be by examination. For referrals, only the examination will count, a mark of 40% being awarded if the examination is passed. For deferrals, candidates will be awarded the higher of the deferred examination mark or the deferred examination mark combined with the original coursework mark.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Mechanics of Materials,Gere, JM, Goodno, B J,7th SI edition,Cengage Learning,2008,620.1123 GER,978-0495438076,

Module has an active ELE page?

Yes

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

ELE – http://vle.exeter.ac.uk

Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

ECM1102

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

Available as distance learning?

Origin date

19/11/2012

Last revision date

19/11/2012

Key words search

solid mechanics, mechanics, statics, dynamics, vibrations