CE 29700 – Basic Mechanics I (Statics)

Credits and contact hours:

  • 3 credits
  • Lecture that meets 3 times per week for 50 minutes per meeting for 15 weeks

Specific course information:

  • Catalog description: This course provides students with the necessary tools to analyze and understand the conditions of equilibrium. These tools are indispensable in other courses that follow Statics such as Dynamics, Hydrostatics, Structural Mechanics, Geotechnical Engineering, Structural Analysis, as well as all courses on structural design.
  • Prerequisites: PHYS 17200 or equivalent
  • Course status: Required course

Specific Goals for the course:

  • Student learning outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course the student shall be able to:
    • Utilize fundamental vector mechanics concepts to understand, explain, and describe the behavior of particle and rigid-body equilibrium
    • Determine centroids and moments of inertia of areas
    • Analyze the behavior of typical engineering components using force and moment equilibrium
  •  Relationship of course to program outcomes
    • Outcome 1: An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics

Topics:

  • Introduction - Basic concepts and fundamental principles
  • Statics of particles
    • Addition and resolution of forces
    • Rectangular components
    • Equilibrium of a particles
    • Forces in space
    • Equilibrium in space
  • Rigid bodies. Equivalent systems of forces.
    • Moment of a force about a point
    • Moment of a force about an axis
    • Couples
    • Equivalent systems of forces
  • Equilibrium of rigid bodies.
    • Equilibrium in two dimensions
    • Indeterminate reactions, partial constraints
    • Two- and three-force bodies
    • Equilibrium in three dimensions
  • Centroids and centers of gravity
    • Centroids and first moments of areas and lines
    • Centroids by integration
    • Beams and submerged surfaces
    • Centroids of volumes
  • Analysis of structures
    • Trusses by method of joints
    • Trusses by method of sections
    • Frames
    • Machines
  • Friction
    • Laws of friction and applications
    • Wedges and screws
    • Belt friction
  • Moments of inertia
    • Moments of inertia of areas
    • Composite areas