The aim of the module is to enhance students' knowledge of the principles of mechanics and some essential mathematics and show how they can be used to solve problems.
1. Syllabus
Vectors (including dot product), kinematics – displacement, velocity and acceleration
Newton's laws of motion: momentum (including collisions) and force (including friction)
Work, power, kinetic and potential energy
Centre of mass
Motion in a circle – kinematics, centripetal force, torque (including cross product of vectors), moment of inertia (including the parallel & perpendicular axis theorem)
Conditions for equilibrium, including applications to simple machines
Mechanics of materials – stress, strain, elastic moduli, strain energy, introduction to torsion of shafts & bending of beams (including second moment of area), yielding
Section analysis (centroid, first and second moment of area)
Analysis of structures – statically determinate & statically indeterminate (principle of superposition; including thermal stresses)
Truss structures (stability, joints, sections)
Analysis and design of beams – external and internal forces (distributed loads: including both uniformly distributed and linearly varying)
Bending moments and stress (including neutral plane, and respective diagrams)
Deflections of beams
Shear forces and shear stress (including diagrams, deformation)
Regarding practical work, students will be expected to:
Demonstrate the ability to use the results of mechanical analysis to solve engineering problems and to recommend appropriate action.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of principles of mechanics and methodology necessary to underpin their education in mechanics, to enable appreciation of its scientific and engineering context and to support their understanding of future developments and technologies.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of principles of mechanics, including calculations, necessary to underpin their education in mechanics, and to enable them to apply mathematical methods, tools and notations proficiently in the analysis and solution of mechanics problems
(40%) 2-hour written unseen exam held during Main summer assessment period
Reassessment:
Reassessment will be via a single 3-hour closed book centrally timetabled exam in Supplementary assessment period (replaced by online assessment if closed book exam not possible).