Course Catalogue

View Specification Document | Reading List

This course is an introduction to engineering statics and will provide students with the ability to tackle real engineering solid mechanics problems by constructing and solving mathematical models based on the principle of equilibrium.  Students will be introduced to concepts such as forces, moments of forces, resultants and friction and these will be applied to simple solid mechanics problems, such as cable-pulley systems, trusses and beams.

2 lectures per week

3 tutorial sessions per semester

2 laboratory sessions per semester

Mandatory Entry Requirements

None

Recommended Entry Requirements

None

None

None

Assessment

70% Examination

30% Quiz

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

The aim of this course is to provide students with the ability to study forces (including moments and friction) and their effect on simple but realistic engineering problems (such as cable-pulley systems, trusses, beams) by constructing and solving mathematical models using the principle of equilibrium. The course will be delivered within the context of optimising structures to minimise material use, thereby reducing the overall carbon footprint of the analysed structures.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ identify different forces (including moments, friction, reactions);

■ combine forces to determine their resultant;

■ apply the principle of equilibrium to study forces and their effect on engineering structures (such as cable-pulley systems, trusses, beams);

■ develop and solve mathematical models to describe the relationship between applied forces, reactions and internal forces.

Students must attend the degree examination and submit at least 75% by weight of the other components of the course's summative assessment.

Students must attend the timetabled laboratory classes.

Students should attend at least 75% of the timetabled classes of the course.

Note that these are minimum requirements: good students will achieve far higher participation/submission rates.  Any student who misses an assessment or a significant number of classes because of illness or other good cause should report this by completing a MyCampus absence report.