Course Details
Course Information Package
Course Unit Title | STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS | ||||||||
Course Unit Code | CES200 | ||||||||
Course Unit Details | |||||||||
Number of ECTS credits allocated | 5 | ||||||||
Learning Outcomes of the course unit | By the end of the course, the students should be able to:
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Mode of Delivery | Face-to-face | ||||||||
Prerequisites | AMAT111,APHY111 | Co-requisites | NONE | ||||||
Recommended optional program components | NONE | ||||||||
Course Contents | Introduction: Understand vectors and define the relation of vectors forces. Comprehend that the properties of the vectors can be used to model and manipulate forces. Define the different support types such as the free, the roller, the pin and the fixed support. Understand the physical meaning of each support and therefore reason the development of the reactions that are developed in each support.
Equilibrium: Present the Beams: Present “beams” in terms of their behaviour, their response to the application of the loads and the presence of the supports. Show the different types of externally applied loads (concentrated loads, distributed loads) and relate to real scenarios. Explain the concept of determinate structures. Create determinate beam configurations, apply the external loads and analyze to calculate the reactions at the supports.
Trusses: Present “trusses” in terms of their element behaviour and interconnection, their response to the application of the loads and the presence of the supports. Discuss the different truss configurations (simple truss, compound truss, complex truss). Explain the importance of the connection between the elements and discuss tension and compression. Present the methods of truss analysis (method of joints and method of sections (Ritter)). Analyze trusses to calculate element forces and support reactions.
Centroids (Center of Mass): Calculate the centroids of different shapes and sections using first principles or alternatively when possible calculate the centroids of sections by dividing them into simpler subsections with known geometrical properties.
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Recommended and/or required reading: | |||||||||
Textbooks |
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References |
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Planned learning activities and teaching methods | The course will be presented through theoretical lectures in class. The lectures will present to the student the course content and allow for questions. Part of the material will be presented using visual aids. The aim is to familiarize the student with the different and faster pace of presentation and also allow the instructor to present related material (photographs etc) that would otherwise be very difficult to do. The learning process will be enhanced with the requirement from the student to solve exercises. These include self evaluation exercises which will be solved in class. These exercises will not be graded. Exercises will also be given as homework (final project) which will be part of their assessment. Besides from the notes taken by students in class, all of the course material will be made available through the class website and also through the eLearning platform. Finally the instructor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide any necessary tutoring. | ||||||||
Assessment methods and criteria |
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Language of instruction | English | ||||||||
Work placement(s) | NO |