Solid Mechanics

Course Description

Introduction to continuum mechanics, variational methods, and finite element formulations; application to bars, beams, cylinders, disks, and plates. E MCH (M E 560) 500 Solid Mechanics (3) This course introduces students to the fundamental principles and basic methods used in solid mechanics. Using indicial notation and integral formulations provides a foundation for more advanced study in continuum mechanics (E MCH 540) and finite element analysis (E MCH 560) specifically and in mechanics in general. The materials behavior is restricted to linear elastic and the emphasis is on stress analysis. Students are expected to have an understanding of elementary mechanics of materials (such as E MCH 013).The course objectives are to: 1) provide students with a firm foundation in solid mechanics. 2) introduce continuum mechanics concepts, variational methods, and the formulation used in finite element analysis. 3) enable students to formulate and solve the boundary value problems commonly encountered in the analysis of structures.The study of solid mechanics starts with the definition of stress and strain and how the two are related by material law. Field equations that relate strain to displacement, ensure a single valued displacement field, and the balance momentum are formulated. These are partial differential equations that can only be solved subject to known boundary and initial conditions. The field equations and boundary conditions comprise a boundary value problem that is usually difficult to solve exactly. Variational methods are used to bound or approximate the solution. The finite element method employs variational methods to formulate generic elements and is a computational tool for solving boundary value problems for complex geometries.

Code

EMCH 500

Credits

3

Subject

EMCH

Programs That Include This Course

• Master's Master of Science in Civil Engineering (Capital)