Structural Mechanics
Strukturmekanik

VSMA20, 6.0 credits, G1 (First Cycle)

Valid for: 2024/25
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering LTH
Decided by: PLED V
Date of Decision: 2024-04-17
Effective: 2024-05-08

General Information

Depth of study relative to the degree requirements: First cycle, in-depth level of the course cannot be classified
Mandatory for: IBYA2
Language of instruction: The course will be given in Swedish

Aim

The aim of the course is to give an introduction to structural mechanics with application to types of structures that are common in buildings and infrastructure.

The course is intended as basic general knowledge for a BSc in Civil Engineering and to give necessary prerequisites for further studies in structural engineering and geotechnical engineering.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to explain basic concepts and relations within structural mechanics, such as, force, moment, equilibrium, stress, strain and stress-strain relationship.
• Be able to describe the fundamental shape of the stress distribution caused by axial loading, bending or torsion in a beam.
• Be able to describe phenomena causing fracture in line-shaped structural elements under axial loading, bending or torsion loading.

Competences and skills
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to calculate section forces, stresses and deformations for bars, trusses, beams, simple frames, shafts and simple structures consisting of several elements.
• Be able to analyse columns with respect to buckling and second order theory.
• Be able to independently solve and present a clear written solution to a problem (given data, assumptions, calculations, results, conclusions)

Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must

• Be able to assess whether an obtained result is reasonable.

Contents

The course starts with a discussion of the concepts of force, moment, free-body diagrams and equilibrium, with application to trusses, and introduction of the concepts stress and strain.

• Force and moment. Free-body diagrams and equilibrium. Trusses. Stress, strain and stress-strain relationships.

After that follows a comprehensive treatment of Bernoulli-Euler's beam theory:

• Section forces in beams. Normal stress and shear stress for elastic bending of beams. Plastic bending of beams. Deflection of beams. Statically indeterminate beams.

Finally, some further subjects within structural mechanics are introduced:

• Columns; buckling and second order theory.
• Torsion of shafts with circular cross sections.

Examination details

Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5) - (Fail, Three, Four, Five)
Assessment: One hand-in assignment, one laboratory assignment and written examination.

The examiner, in consultation with Disability Support Services, may deviate from the regular form of examination in order to provide a permanently disabled student with a form of examination equivalent to that of a student without a disability.

Modules
Code: 0117. Name: Structural Mechanics.
Credits: 6.0. Grading scale: TH - (U, 3, 4, 5).

Admission

Assumed prior knowledge: FMAA50 Calculus AND FMAA55 Mathematics, Linear Algebra
The number of participants is limited to: No
Kursen överlappar följande kurser: VSMA05 VSMA10 VSMA11

Reading list

• Heyden, S., Dahlblom, O., Olsson, A., Sandberg, G: Introduktion till strukturmekaniken. Studentlitteratur, 2017, ISBN: 9789144084060.

Contact

Course coordinator: Henrik Danielsson, henrik.danielsson@construction.lth.se
Course homepage: https://www.byggmek.lth.se/utbildning/kurser/

Further information