MEC 2401 - Mechanics of Materials I

Credits:   4 
Lectures/Tut.:   28 hrs
Labs:  9 hrs
Prerequisite:     MEC 1301
Leads to:      MEC 3403

Introduction to Mechanics of Materials – mechanical properties of materials, stress v.s. strain curves, direct stresses, average shear stress, factor of safety, stress concentrations;

Tension/Compression – normal stress, deformation, strain energy;

Torsion – the elastic torsion of circular cross-sections, torsion of solid noncircular members, torsion of thin walled members, shaft couplings, shear stress, deflection, strain energy;

Bending of beams – the simple theory of pure bending, second moment of area and section modulus of beam cross sections, beams with un-symmetrical cross section, composite beams, bending of initially curved beams, bending stress, strain energy;

Shear stress distribution in beams – the relationship between bending moment, shearing force and intensity of loading, vertical shear stresses in beams, horizontal shear stresses, shear centre;

Slope and deflection of beams, relationship between loading, shearing force, bending moment, slope and deflection.  Macaulay’s method applied to statically determinate and indeterminate beams;

Deflection of beams using energy methods – virtual work and Castigliano’s theorems;

Combined loads – the principle of superposition applied to bending stresses, direct stresses and shear stresses, skew or unsymmetrical bending, helical springs.

Assessment
Coursework - 10% 
Exam - 90%

Reference Texts

Strength of Materials, G.H. Ryder
Mechanics of Engineering Materials, P.P. Benham, R.J. Crawford, C.G. Armstrong
Mechanics of Materials, E.P. Popov
Advanced Strength and Applied Elasticity, A.C. Ugural, S.K. Fenster