Continuum mechanics

Learning objectives

The course has been recently conceived and organized in accordance with the didactic organization. Therefore, keeping in mind the primary need to create a self-contained course, but also complete in terms of training, the choices made have been directly suggested by the professional reality of the master's degree in civil engineering. The course intends to provide students with the principles and foundations of the theory of elasticity.

Expected learning outcomes

1. Knowledge and understanding.

The student must learn the basic concepts and issues of the Theory of Elasticity. In essence, he must understand and assimilate the basic concepts of state of deformation, state of tension and constitutive bond. In the same way, the student must assimilate the notions related to virtual works, to variational principles and to the formulation of the De Saint Venant problem.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student must be able to apply the concepts of the Theory of Elasticity. In particular, he must be able to formulate the elastic problem for a three-dimensional solid, however stressed, both in the context of infinitesimal elasticity and in that of finite elasticity.

3. Making judgments
Ability to autonomously evaluate and compare engineering solutions to a problem of limited complexity.

4. Communication skills
Ability to organize in working groups. Ability to communicate effectively in written and/or oral form also in English.

5. Learning skills
Ability to catalogue, schematize and rework the notions acquired.

Course content

The course of Continuum Mechanics is divided into the following topics: deformation analysis (12 h), stress analysis (10 h), virtual work (6 h), constitutive equations (4 h), linear elastic problem (8 h), variational principles (6), de Saint Venant problem (8 h). The hours of theoretical lessons and exercises planned for each individual topic are indicated in brackets. Course content

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites or propaedeutics. However, students are advised to at least have previously attended the following courses: Mathematical Analysis A, Geometry and Rational Mechanics.

Bibliography

Science of Constructions - Introduction to the Theory of Elasticity, Angelo Marcello Tarantino, Pitagora Editrice Bologna, pp. 248, 2005

Teaching methods and tools

The lessons are frontal and some practical exercises are planned. Tutoring is carried out regularly, also with the help of teaching assistants. Occasionally thematic seminars are organized, held by external professors or visiting professors.

Assessment methods and criteria

The exam will take place at the end of the course according to the official exam calendar. The learning assessment is carried out through the oral exam. The oral exam lasts about half an hour, in which the student is asked three/four questions. All the topics covered during the course are part of the oral exam. The individual questions may concern the illustration of concepts, but also the analytical demonstrations of the statements. The individual questions contribute equally to the attribution of the grade. To take the exam, the student is not required to bring any support material.