OVERVIEW

The teaching deals with the fundamentals of structural mechanics and related solution techniques for the analysis and design of beams, frames and trusses under the elastic regime.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the teaching is to supply the fundamentals and related solution techniques to analyze the mechanical behavior of beams, frames and trusses and to form the basis for their structural design under the elastic regime.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The attendance and active participation in the proposed training activities (frontal lessons, exercises and presentation of known solutions for problems of practical application), together with the individual study, will allow the student to:

describe fundamentals (basic assumptions, static and kinematic variables and governing equations in the framework of a linear theory) of mechanical models for deformable solid bodies and beams;

prove and justify fundamentals of the mechanics of solids and beams;

solve equilibrium configurations (determine displacements, stresses and/or internal forces) of solids and elastic beam structures subjected to simple loadings under simplifying assumptions of small displacements;

estimate the maximum stresses to compare with material strength in phase of check;

determine the critical load for compressed beams;

recognize physical problems of structural engineering which can be solved through the analysis of beam structures;

appropriately employ the technical and scientific terminology specific to the discipline.

PREREQUISITES

Formal prerequisites for third year students are required

For a successfull learning, basic knowledge of mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, and calculus) and physics (mechanics) is required and taken for granted.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching provides 60 hours of frontal lessons in the classroom.

The presentation of theoretical contents alternates with exercises and applicative examples.

The exercises and applicative examples, of the same type as those given in the exam, will be solved and discussed together with students, in order to encourage learning and employing of the appropriate technical and scientific termonilogy specific of structural engineering and to acquire transferable skills in terms of communication and independent learning ability.

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with the Polytechnic School's disability liaison.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

The programme of the teaching includes the presentation and discussion of the following topics:

Solid mechanics: Cauchy continuum; static problem and kinematic problem; linear elastic constitutive model and related limit of validity; linear elastic problem for deformable solids.

Structural mechanics of beams: kinematics and statics of constrained systems of plane beams; internal forces, deformations and displacements in beams structures; linear elastic problem for the plane beam; force solution method for statically indeterminate beam structures.

Design of beams: De Saint Venant problem and fundamental resultant loadings (normal force, bending moment and shear force); strength verifications; stability of equilibrium for beams.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The notes taken during the classes and the material provided on the AulaWeb website, to support individual study, are sufficient for the preparation of the exam.

The solutions of additional exercises, eventually proposed, will not be available: students are encouraged to show and discuss their solutions with the teacher, in order to check that the correct approach has been followed.

For those interested, the following books are suggested as supporting and deepening texts:

Hibbeler R.C. (2010). Meccanica dei solidi e delle strutture, Pearson - Prentice Hall (Edizione italiana);

Nunziante L., Gambarotta L., Tralli A. (2011). Scienza delle costruzioni, McGrawHill, Milano.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/10375/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam consists of a written test and, if passed, an oral interview.

The written test, with a maximum duration of 2 hours, consists of solving exercises that must be fully developed and properly justified in each step, as demonstrated in detail during the lectures.
During the written test, consulting notes or textbooks is not allowed, nor it is permitted to leave the examination room.

The oral exam includes questions covering all the topics discussed during the lectures.
Each question may take the form of: solving exercises; explaining concepts and theories; or carrying out theoretical proofs.

Details regarding exam preparation methods and the required depth of understanding for each topic will be provided during the lectures.

Two exam dates will be available in the ‘winter’ session (January and February) and three in the ‘summer’ session (June, July, and September).
During the teaching period (October, November, and December), at the professor’s discretion, two or three partial written tests may be administered, and/or individual homework assignments may be given. These are reserved exclusively for students attending the module and may allow direct access to the oral exam at the end of the lectures.
No additional exam dates will be offered.

Online registration is mandatory at least 10 days before the chosen date for the written test.
The date of the oral exam will depend on the number of students admitted and will be announced along with the results of the written test. If possible, the oral exam will be scheduled within 5 days of the written test.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The purpose of the exam is to assess the achievement of the learning objectives.
To this end, the student will be required to solve problems and answer questions of various types, including:

execution of exercises and problem-solving, where each step must be properly justified, in order to assess the ability to apply and analyze the mechanical models studied;

explanation of concepts, theories, and formulations, to evaluate the student’s ability to recall and justify the theoretical foundations of the mechanical models covered in the course.

The final grade for the module will take into account:
the correctness and completeness of the answers;
the clarity and conciseness of the exposition;
the correct use of the technical and scientific terminology of the discipline;
the ability to engage in critical reasoning:

These aspects will be evaluated both in the written test and during the oral interview.

The assessment will also consider any gaps identified in the student's foundational knowledge of mathematics and physics.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with particular needs are asked to contact the teacher (ilaria.monetto@unige.it) at the beginning of lectures.