OVERVIEW

The course deals with the fundamentals and advanced concepts of solid and structural mechanics together with the related solution tecniques for the design of structures.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim is to supply advanced concepts and analytical, semi-analytical and numerical solution techniques to analyze the mechanical behavior of 3D and 2D models for structures 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 assumptions, governing equations, formulations and solution methods of analytical and numerical mechanical models for 3D and 2D deformable solid bodies and plates;

prove assumptions, governing equations, formulations and solution methods of analytical and numerical mechanical models for 3D and 2D deformable solids and plates;

solve equilibrium configurations of 3D and 2D solids and plates (loaded in and out of their plane);

describe fundamentals of the finite element method, as a prerequisite for a correct employment of commercial software;

determine critical loads for plates uniformly compressed;

recognize the most suitable mechanical models to analyze physical problems of structural engineering;

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

TEACHING METHODS

The module 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 with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

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

Solid mechanics:

reminders of statics and kinematics of a continuum (Cauchy continuum; stress and strain vectors and tensors; equilibrium and compatibility equations; virtual work theorem); elastic constitutive equations (theory of elasticity; general theorems; isotropy and orthotropy); linear elastic problem (governing equations; uniqueness of solution; formulations in terms of displacements or stresses; methods of solution; plane stress and plane strain problems).

Theory of plates:

Kirchhoff and Mindlin-Reissner plate theories; statics and kinematics; equilibrium, compatibility and elastic constitutive equations; stress distributions; Germain-Lagrange equation and related semi-analytical techniques of solution; buckling of plates uniformly compressed.

Finite element method:

kinematics and statics of a finite element; discrete model and assembly procedure; local and global stiffness matrices and equivalent node load vectors; solution procedure of a numerical model; conditions of accuracy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The notes taken during the classes and the material provided on the AulaWeb website, to support individual study of all students and those with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs in particular, are sufficient for the preparation of the exam.

The solutions of additional exercises, eventually proposed, will not be available: all students, and messi a disposizione per gli studenti con disabilità o DSA,  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:

Nunziante L., Gambarotta L., Tralli A. (2008). Scienza delle costruzioni, McGraw-Hill, Milano.

Timoshenko S., Goodier J.N. (1951). Theory of elasticity, McGraw-Hill, New York.

Corradi dell'Acqua L.(1992). Meccanica delle strutture - Le teorie strutturali e il metodo degli elementi finiti, vol. 2, McGraw-Hill, Milano.

Timoshenko S.P., Woinowsky-Krieger S. (1959). Theory of plates and shells, McGraw-Hill, Singapore.

Timoshenko S.P., Gere J.M. (1961). Theory of elastic stability, McGraw-Hill, New York.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

https://corsi.unige.it/8738/p/studenti-orario

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The final exam of the module consists in passing an interview.

The oral exam includes three questions addressing all subjects covered in the module (namely, mechanics of solids, plate theory, and the finite element method), as discussed during lectures and/or provided in the materials available on AulaWeb

Each question may take the form of: solving exercises; discussing practical examples; explaining concepts, theories, and formulations; or carrying out theoretical proofs.

Details regarding how to prepare for the exam and the expected depth of understanding for each topic will be provided during the lectures.

No formal prerequisites are required; however, basic knowledge of mathematics (arithmetic, algebra, and calculus), physics (mechanics) and mechanics of solids and structures (basic concepts learnt during the homonymous module at the previous level) is necessary for effective learning.

At least four exam sessions will be available during the 'winter' period (December, January and February), and three sessions during the 'summer' period (June, July, and September). No additional exam sessions will be offered.

Online registration is mandatory and must be completed at least 10 days before the chosen exam date.

The grade of this module will be averaged with that of the second module (Hydrodynamics), in which the teaching unit is structured. This average, rounded up, will constitute the final grade for the teaching unit (Structural Mechanics and Hydrodynamics). Honors will only be awarded if obtained for both modules.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The oral examination aims to assess the achievement of the learning objectives. To this end, students will be asked different types of questions:

explanation of concepts, theories, and formulations: to assess the ability to remember the theoretical foundations of the mechanical models studied;

proofs and derivations: to assess the ability to justify the theoretical foundations of the mechanical models studied;

problem-solving exercises, with justification required for each step: to assess the ability to apply and analyze the mechanical models studied;

discussion of case studies with practical relevance: to assess the ability to discriminate and critically evaluate the suitability of a mechanical model.

The final grade for the module will take into account the following criteria:

accuracy and completeness of the answers;

clarity and coherence of presentation and synthesis;

correct use of  the discipline’s technical and scientific terminology;

ability to engage in critical reasoning.

Although no formal prerequisites are required, the assessment will also consider any gaps identified in the student’s foundational knowledge of mathematics, physics and mechanics of solids and structures (basic concepts which are the objects of the homonymous module at the previous level).

FURTHER INFORMATION

Students with valid certifications for Specific Learning Disorders (SLDs), disabilities or other educational needs are invited to contact the teacher and the School's contact person for disability at the beginning of teaching to agree on possible teaching arrangements that, while respecting the teaching objectives, take into account individual learning patterns. Contacts of the teacher and the School's disability contact person can be found at the following link Comitato di Ateneo per l’inclusione delle studentesse e degli studenti con disabilità o con DSA | UniGe | Università di Genova.