Building science

Learning outcomes

The course has been recently designed and organized in accordance with the new teaching regulations, as provided for by the university reform. 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 new professional reality of the engineering graduate. The course aims to offer students the basic knowledge for the sizing and verification of structures

Expected learning outcomes

1. Knowledge and understanding.
The student must learn the concepts and fundamental issues of solid mechanics. In other words, he must understand and assimilate the concepts of deformation state, the stress state and constitutive laws. Likewise, the student must assimilate the basics of structural mechanics, such as the definition of a beam, the methods for the kinematic and static structural analysis.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
The student must be able to apply the concepts of solid mechanics, in particular, he must be able to determine any scalar component of the deformation and stress in a three-dimensional body in any way loaded. As for the mechanics of structures, the student must be able to classify a labile, isostatic and hyperstatic structure. For isostatic structures, using the Cardinal equations of Static, he must know how to calculate the reactions and interactions of constraints, and must be able to determine the diagrams of the internal actions. Particular emphasis is given to the correct plotting diagrams of bending moment and shear force. He should also be able to apply the PLV for solving hyperstatic structures. Once solved structures, it is then necessary to know how to apply various methods of checking safety.

3. Making judgments
Ability to assess and compare independently the engineering solutions of a problem with limited complexity.

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

5. Learning skills
Ability to catalog, schematize and elaborate the knowledge gained.

Course contents

The course consists of two parts: the first devoted to Solid Mechanics and the second to Structural Mechanics. Therefore, strain, stress and constitutive laws are dealt with within the first half, whereas constraints, kinematical and statical analysis of structures take place in the second half. Saint Venant problems and the principle of virtual works complete the course.

Prerequisites

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

Reading/Bibliography

Introduzione alla Meccanica delle Strutture. Angelo Marcello Tarantino. Pitagora Editrice Bologna, 2009, pp.252

Teaching methods

The lessons are of the frontal type and a large number of practical exercises are held in classroom. The tutoring is done regularly, even with the help of teaching assistants. Occasionally, seminars are organized and taught by external academics or visiting professors

Assessment methods

The exam will take place at the end of the course according to the official exam calendar. The learning assessment is carried out through a first written question, which generally involves the resolution of a hyperstatic structure or the calculation of displacements using the PLV. If the student satisfactorily solves the first question, then the second part of the exam takes place, which is oral. The texts of the written tests are different from each other and the correction takes place immediately after delivery. The time allowed for the written test is approximately one hour, while the oral test lasts approximately half an hour. All the topics covered during the course are part of the oral interview. The individual questions may concern the illustration of concepts, but also the analytical demonstrations of the statements. For the attribution of the grade, the written test and the oral test have the same weight. No material is recommended for the written test, however the student can use texts, handouts and calculators