Course Overview
This page focuses on the course 2.080J Structural Mechanics as it was taught by Prof. Tomasz Wierzbicki in Fall 2013.
This course teaches students fundamental concepts of structural mechanics with applications to marine, civil, and mechanical structures.
Course Outcomes
Course Goals for Students
- Use the one-dimensional and two-dimensional structural idealizations of beams, columns, columns, rods, and shell beams to determine stress and deformation states
- Apply such structural idealizations to model general structural configurations under specified loading in order to determine the stress and deformation states
- Assess the applicability of such structural idealizations and judge the errors introduced in their use
Curriculum Information
Prerequisites
2.002 Mechanics and Materials II
Requirements Satisfied
This course is designed to provide substantial coverage of material required for the doctoral qualifying exam in structures.
Offered
Every fall semester
Assessment
The students’ grades were based on the following activities:
- 25% Problem sets
- 20% Quiz 1
- 20% Quiz 2
- 35% Quiz 3
Student Information
Enrollment
48 students
Breakdown by Year
This is a graduate-level course, but advanced undergraduates may also enroll.
Breakdown by Major
Students from the mechanical engineering and the civil engineering departments took this course.
How Student Time Was Spent
During an average week, students were expected to spend 12 hours on the course, roughly divided as follows:
Lecture
- Met twice per week for 1.5 hours per session; 24 sessions total
- Prof. Wierzbicki introduced new material to the class
Recitation
- Met once per week for one hour per session; 12 sessions total
- Teaching assistants reviewed lecture material
Out of Class
- Work on the problem sets
- Study for the quizzes
