Undergraduate - UnitTRC2201 - Mechanics

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

Experimental mechanics: particle dynamics, experimentation, modelling. Kinematics: position, velocity and acceleration; analysis and applications; translational and rotational motion of free and constrained forces, their origin and significance; energy dissipation in mechanical systems; mass moment of inertia; linear and angular momentum. Analysis and synthesis of planar mechanisms. Fundamentals of mechanical vibrations. Strength of materials: stress and strain in 2D and 3D, Mohr circle. Equilibrium and compatibility equations; Hookes law. Simple failure criteria. Shear force and bending moments, moments of area, deflection of beams, buckling.

Outcomes

On completion of this units students should be able to:

1. understand how the observed phenomenon of motion can be analyzed mathematically

2. understand the concepts of position, velocity and acceleration as applied to the kinematics of particle and whole body motion and to be able to solve problems of translational motion

3. apply Newton's laws to the dynamics of motion

4. extend kinematics and dynamics to rotational motion and to be able to calculate mass moments of inertia for simple elements

5. understand the concepts of stress and strain and the Mohr circle as applied to structures

6. calculate bending moments and shear forces

7. understand Hookes law and failure criteria in elastic materials

8. calculate deflections in beams and buckling in columns using moments of area information

9. observe all of the above phenomena in the laboratory and to learn how to measure key variables.

Assessment

Test: 10%
Class work: 20%
Examination (3 hours): 70%

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chris Davies

Contact hours

3 hours lectures, 3 hours of practice/laboratory classes and 6 hours of private study per week

Prerequisites

Must have passed 42 credit points

Prohibitions

MEC2401