AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The module aims to provide fundamental concepts on the equilibrium, deformability, and strength of structures, necessary for understanding the basic aspects of structural design. The student will acquire methodologies to describe the mechanical behaviour of beams and trusses, including principles for controlling strength and deformability in relation to the materials adopted. Significant examples drawn from built architecture will be referenced to achieve the objectives.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide fundamental concepts of equilibrium, deformability, and structural strength, necessary for understanding the basic aspects of structural design. The primary objective is to develop the ability to represent statically determinate systems and determine their equilibrium conditions in accordance with the principles of rigid system statics. The second objective is to acquire methodologies for describing the mechanical behavior of elastic systems, including the principles for controlling resistance and deformability in relation to the materials used. To achieve these objectives, significant structural examples will be examined. By the end of the course, students will have mastered the fundamentals of material strength and structural mechanics, described the behavior of rigid bodies under the action of external and internal forces, described the behavior of elastic structures from the perspective of stress and deformation analysis, and analyzed and solved structural analysis problems.

TEACHING METHODS

Teaching is delivered through theoretical lectures and practical exercises, conducted in classroom. Although students are not required to attend classes, attendance is strongly recommended.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

1. Review of geometry and linear algebra
   • Theory of vectors
   • Matrix algebra
   • Systems of linear equations
   • Derivatives and integrals
      
2. Fundamentals of rigid body kinematics
   • Rigid displacements
   • Restraints
      
3. Statics of rigid bodies
   • Systems of forces
   • Restraints
   • The static problem
   • Internal forces
   • Solution methods for the static problem in statically determinate systems
      
4. Material behavior
   • Strains
   • Stresses
   • Constitutive laws
   • Strength criteria
      
5. Cross-section properties
   • Area, static moments, and centroid
   • Moments of inertia, and transport and rotation formulas
   • Principal moments and central inertia ellipse
      
6. Beam theory
   • Beam kinematics
   • Beam statics
   • Constitutive law
   • Analysis of elementary stress states in beams

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Recommended books:

• P. Casini, M. Vasta. Scienza delle Costruzioni, DeAgostini CittàStudi, 4a ed., 2019.
• Gambarotta L., Nunziante L., Tralli A., Scienza delle Costruzioni, McGraw-Hill, 2011.

Other suggested books:

• C. Comi, L.C. Dell'Acqua. Introduzione alla meccanica strutturale, McGraw-Hill, 4a ed., 2016.
• A. Luongo, A. Paolone, Meccanica delle strutture. Sistemi rigidi ad elasticità concentrata, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 1997.
• E. Viola, Esercitazioni di Scienza delle Costruzioni, Vol. 1, 3a ed., Pitagora, 1993.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

STEFANIA DEGLI ABBATI (President)

PAOLO DI RE (President)

ELISA TOZZI (President)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Week of January 12, 2026

Class schedule: https://corsi.unige.it/corsi/11428/studenti-orario

Class schedule

ELEMENTS OF STRUCTURAL MECHANICS

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam includes a written test and an oral test.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exams are designed to assess the student's ability to solve applied problems related to the mechanical behavior of structures.

The written exam consists of solving application examples that simulate real-world structural problems. The oral exam consists of a discussion of the results of the written exam and a deepening of the student's theoretical knowledge. A successful written exam is required for admission to the oral exam.

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with a valid physical or learning disability certification and wishing to benefit from compensatory tools for lessons and exams must submit a request using the digital service available on the website https://unige.it/studenti-con-disabilita.