Classroom Card #4126
The "Bridge" between Statics and Strength of Materials
Summary
This card aims to bridge the gap between pencil-and-paper calculations for Shear Force and Bending Moment diagrams and the ultimate design process
Course
This card is more suited toward Engineering Statics and Strength of Materials course.
Time
Three weeks
Materials
The estimated time required is somewhere between 3 to 4 weeks, including instruction, project work, and presentations. In terms of materials, students are recommended to know the following:
- Shear Force Analysis
- Bending Moment Analysis
- Basic knowledge of any programming language. MATLAB or Python
- Case Study Material (Baltimore Bridge)
Prerequisites
Engineering Statics, MATLAB or Microsoft Excel, SOLIDWORKS
Description
In undergraduate solid mechanics courses, statics, mechanics of materials, and design of machine elements hold paramount importance. These courses delve into internal loadings, such as normal and shear forces, and bending moments, dedicating significant time to their determination and the plotting of Shear Force and Bending Moment diagrams for various loadings. Bridge design, a complex concept involving fundamental principles and rigorous simulations, revolves around analyzing internal loadings within supporting structures. These structures may range from truss assemblies to simply supported beams, all meeting cost, strength, reliability, and durability criteria. This card aims to familiarize students with real-life loading scenarios on bridges, illustrating how different loadings—such as point loading, uniformly distributed loading, or linear loading—affect construction and overall loading geometry.
This class-based project has the potential for students to build on the contextual and experiential learning to design scenario based problems, analyze data, and apply engineering judgment. Its significance in the strength of materials class lies in presenting a design-oriented challenge.
Connections
- Integrate information from many sources to gain insight
The Baltimore Bridge serves as a recent example, but numerous other historical disasters offer valuable insights for students. Researching potential forensic analyses can illuminate the causes behind these events. By studying these sources, students can refine their skills beyond visualizing and calculating internal loadings. They can also harness advanced software tools to apply appropriate boundary conditions, simulate scenarios, and mitigate potential future disasters.
Creating Value
- Identify unexpected opportunities to create extraordinary value
It all begins with pencil and paper. Whether tackling a problem like this or one with more complex loadings and composite cross-sections, only students capable of designing and executing experiments, analyzing and interpreting data, and ultimately applying engineering judgment can draw meaningful conclusions.
- Persist through and learn from failure
Problems like this could also be iterative, fostering a comprehensive understanding of shear force and bending moment diagrams. This enables students to grasp the significance of these concepts and to design, test, validate, and manufacture engineering structures that meet compliance standards.
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