MAE 231: STRENGTH OF MATERIALS

Spring 2009

Instructor: Dr. Edward Berger

Office: A-122 Thornton Hall
E-mail: berger@virginia.edu
Phone: 924-6326
Office Hours: Thursday 2-4
Course Blog: http://people.Virginia.edu/~ejb9z/Weblog

Teaching Assistants: Arun Kailasan ak5xc@virginia.edu

Office Location: 117 ME Building
Office Hours: M, W 2.30 - 5

Class meets: MWF 12.00-12:50 PM, MEC 339

Review Session: Occasional, location and time TBD

Catalog Description
Stress and strain definitions: Normal stress and strain, thermal strain, shear stress, shear
strain; transformations of stress and strain; Mohr’s circle for plane stress and strain;
stresses due to combined loading; axially loaded members; torsion of circular and thin-
walled closed sections; deformation, strains and stresses in beams; deflections of beams;
stability of columns; energy concepts in mechanics. Cross-listed as MAE 231.

Detailed Description
Strength of materials teaches us about the behavior of materials and solid structures under
a variety of load conditions. In this course we will learn and apply the three fundamental
keys of mechanics to the study of any solids analysis—EQUILIBRIUM, STRESS-
STRAIN RESPONSE and STRAIN-DISPLACEMENT RELATIONS. The course topics
will provide the foundation for you to:
• Predict the mechanical performance and lifetime of materials and structures
whose functions can range from aircraft and bridges to microelectronics and
biomedical devices.
• Serve as the cornerstone for advanced courses and research into the behavior of
materials and structures.
We will examine and describe how materials stretch, bend, twist, shake, buckle and
break. We will consider the behavior of different materials (ductile vs. brittle). The
stress-strain response of different materials will be examined. The stress within
externally loaded bodies will be determined at a point. We will cover beam theory with
applications to beam deflections and design.

Course Objectives and Outcomes

By the end of this course you will be able to accomplish the following:

E. J. Berger A-122 Thornton Hall berger@virginia.edu

MAE 231 Syllabus Spring 2009

1. Understand the stresses, strains, and deformation response of elastic solids in the
presence of external loading.
Outcomes:
a. define shear and normal stresses and strains
b. understand the meaning and use of stress – strain diagrams
c. define elastic modulus, shear modulus, and Poisson’s ratio
d. describe St. Venant’s Principle
e. identify a state of plane stress
f. understand the concept of stress transformation

2. Calculate stresses within an elastic solid subject to individual and combined

external loading.
Outcomes:
a. calculate average normal stress and average shear stress
b. calculate deflection and reactions for statically determinate and
indeterminate:
• axially loaded bars
• torsionally loaded circular bars
c. construct shear and bending moment diagrams for beams subject to
bending moments and transverse shear loads
d. calculate the normal stress and strain distributions in symmetric beams
under pure bending
e. calculate the shear stress distribution in a built up beam subject to shear
loads
f. calculate the deflection of beams from the moment – curvature
relationship
g. calculate the stress at a point using superposition for the case of simple
combined loadings

3. Transform the state of stress in one coordinate system to another.

Outcomes:
a. construct a Mohr’s circle diagram from a given state of plane stress
b. understand the concept of principle stresses and planes
c. calculate (from the stress transformation equations or Mohr’s circle) the
principle stresses for plane stress
d. calculate the maximum in-plane and out-of-plane shear stress for plane
stress

Prerequisite Courses and Materials

APMA 212: Multivariate Calculus (integration, differentiation, vector concepts)

CE 230: Statics ( FREE BODY DIAGRAMS , force and moment summation and vectors, truss
analysis, point loads and distributed loads, body forces,)

E. J. Berger 309 ME Building berger@virginia.edu

MAE 231 Syllabus Spring 2009

Textbook

Required: Mechanics of Materials, (7th Edition) by R HIBBELER ISBN:

0132209918. Please note all homework problems and reading assignments are from this
book.

Useful supplement: Schaum’s Outline on Strength of Materials, William Nash

(Amazon).

Course Grading

Homework (15%): problems and due dates will be announced in class

Quizzes (10%): there will be approximately 5 quizzes this semester, announced in
advance
Project (10%): details will be announced soon
THREE midterm exams (15% each): dates, locations, and detailed exam format will
be announced prior to their administration
Final exam (20%): covers the entire course, Tuesday May 5, 2-5 pm, location TBA

Course Policies
a. Communication: Check the course homepage on Toolkit as well as the blog
page frequently for announcements, handouts, solutions, podcasts, and other
downloads. Materials will be updated regularly, so I urge you to subscribe to
the RSS feed so that you do not miss any important information.

b. Homework: In each homework set, several problems from the text will be
assigned but not more than two (2) will be graded in detail. Only the
problems to be graded will be collected—you will not hand in each and
every problem. Solutions to all homework problems will be posted on the
course website. Homework is due AT THE BEGINNING OF CLASS on
the stated due date—your homework must be in my hand BEFORE
CLASS BEGINS or it is considered late! Late homeworks receive a
grade of zero. We have many homework assignments in this course, so we
will drop the lowest homework grade from your grade calculation. Note:
homework is NOT pledged.

c. Attendance: Class attendance is imperative, because we will do many

problems and live demos which contribute strongly to your understanding of
the material. However, there is no penalty for not attending class (although
assignments must be turned in on time, regardless of whether you attend or
not). Anecdotally, there is a strong correlation between class attendance and
course grade. Moreover, virtually all academic research shows that class
attendance is positively correlated with course grade.

E. J. Berger 309 ME Building berger@virginia.edu

MAE 231 Syllabus Spring 2009

d. Quiz format: each quiz will consist of one question, with a 15-minute time
limit. Each will be graded on a 10-point scale. We will NOT drop the
lowest quiz grade for the semester from the grade calculation.

e. Neatness of Work: success in engineering requires a clear thought process

and well-organized problem solving. Your grade will suffer if your
assignments are difficult to grade due to sloppiness, scribbles, cross-outs, and
an otherwise disorganized and difficult-to-follow solution.

f. Grade Appeals: Grade appeals for assignments must be submitted within

one week of the return date of the assignment, and must be submitted in
writing. You must clearly describe the reason you are requesting a regrade.
Requests submitted later than one week after the return date or not submitted
in writing will not be honored.

g. Emergency Circumstances: Only under unusual, emergency circumstances

will late assignments be accepted. You will have plenty of time to complete
the assignments, so do not procrastinate. Single-day commitments (i.e.,
interviews) do not excuse you from the responsibilities of this class. If
necessary, you can email your assignment to me.

h. Honor System: All exams and quizzes will be administered under the
University of Virginia honor system. Students are assumed to be familiar
with the honor system and will be bound by it. Homework is not pledged;
feel free to work collaboratively. Here is a general statement from SEAS HQ:

The Honor System and the School of Engineering and Applied Science

The School of Engineering and Applied Science relies upon and cherishes its community of trust.
We firmly endorse, uphold, and embrace the University’s Honor principle that students will not lie,
cheat, or steal, and we expect all students to take responsibility for the System and the privileges
that it provides. We recognize that even one Honor infraction can destroy an exemplary reputation
that has taken years to build. Acting in a manner consistent with the principles of Honor will
benefit every member of the community both while enrolled in the Engineering School and in the
future.

If you have questions about your Honor System or would like to report suspicions of an Honor
offense, please contact Thad Darden (tad7b@virginia.edu) or Erin Kallman (enk4d@virginia.edu).

i. Cell Phones: Please turn off your cell phone while in class.

j. Consultation: I am available during posted office hours, and you can make
an appointment with me via email if you cannot attend office hours. Our TA
will also be available for consultation, during office hours or by appointment.

E. J. Berger 309 ME Building berger@virginia.edu

MAE 231 Syllabus Spring 2009

k. Problem Sessions: Our T.A. will conduct periodic review and problem
sessions every throughout the semester at times and locations TBD.

l. Course Project: The course project is going to engage you in the creation of
learning materials to share with your peers. Details will be forthcoming, but
in the past this project format has been a great success and very popular with
students.

m. Blogging. All students are encouraged to register a login name on the course
blog so that you can post comments and questions about the course, about the
homework, or about a specific lecture. You are not compelled to do this, but I
strongly encourage you to take advantage of this approach to interaction with
the course materials. If you wish to remain anonymous, we can set up
confidential screen names.

n. University Holidays. MLK Day (Jan. 19), Spring Break (Feb. 28 – March 8),
Reading Day (April 29).

o. Drop and Withdrawal. The last day to drop the course is Feb. 24, and the
last day to withdraw is April 10.

E. J. Berger 309 ME Building berger@virginia.edu

MAE 231 Syllabus Spring 2009

Detailed Course Agenda:

Date Topic Reading Due

1 1/13 Introduction
Equilibrium of a Deformable Body 1.1 – 1.2
2 1/14
Stress 1.3
Average Normal Stress in an Axially Loaded Bar 1.4
3 1/16 Average Shear Stress 1.5
Allowable Stress 1.6
Deformation 2.1
4 1/21
Strain 2.2
The Tension and Compression Test 3.1
The Stress – Strain Diagram 3.2
5 1/23
Stress – Strain Behavior of Ductile and Brittle 3.3
Materials
Hooke’s Law 3.4
6 1/26 Strain Energy 3.5
Poisson’s Ratio 3.6
7 1/28 The Shear Stress – Strain Diagram 3.7
Saint – Venant’s Principle 4.1
8 1/30
Elastic Deformation of an Axially Loaded Member 4.2
Principle of Superposition 4.3
9 2/2
Statically Indeterminate Axially Loaded Member 4.4
The Force Method of Analysis for Axially Loaded 4.5
10 2/4 Members
Thermal Stress 4.6
Thermal Stress 4.6
11 2/6
Stress Concentrations 4.7
Torsional Deformation of a Circular Shaft 5.1
12 2/9
The Torsion Formula 5.2
Power Transmission 5.3
13 2/11
Angle of Twist 5.4
Statically Indeterminate Torque – Loaded Members 5.5
14 2/13
Solid Noncircular Shafts 5.6
Thin – Walled Tubes Having Closed Cross 5.7
15 2/16 Sections 5.8
Stress Concentrations
16 2/18 Shear and Moment Diagrams 6.1
**** TEST #1 on Chapters 1 – 5 (date TBA)
17 2/20 Bending Deformation of a Straight Member 6.3
18 2/23 The Flexure Formula 6.4
19 2/25 Unsymmetric Bending 6.5
20 2/27 Composite Beams 6.6

E. J. Berger 309 ME Building berger@virginia.edu

MAE 231 Syllabus Spring 2009

21 3/9 Shear in Straight Members 7.1

22 3/11 The Shear Formula 7.2
23 3/13 Shear Stresses in Beams 7.3

24 3/16 Shear Flow in Built – up Members 7.4

25 3/18 Shear Flow in Thin – Walled Members 7.5
26 3/20 Combined Loading in Thin – Walled Vessels 8.1
27 3/23 State of Stress Caused by Combined Loadings 8.2
Plane – Stress Transformation 9.1
28 3/25 General Equations of Plane – Stress 9.2
Transformations
Principal Stresses and Maximum In – Plane Shear 9.3
29 3/27 Stress 9.4
Mohr’s Circle – Plane Stress
30 3/30 Mohr’s Circle – Plane Stress 9.4
Stress in Shafts Due to Axial Load and Torsion 9.5
31 4/1
Absolute Maximum Shear Stress 9.7
32 4/3 Absolute Maximum Shear Stress 9.7
33 4/6 Plane Strain 10.1
34 4/8 General Equations of Plane – Strain Transformation 10.2
**** TEST #2 on Chapters 6 – 9 (date TBA)
35 4/10 Basis for Beam Design 11.1
36 4/13 Prismatic Beam Design 11.2
The Elastic Curve 12.1
37 4/15
Slope and Displacement by Integration 12.2
38 4/17 Slope and Displacement by Integration 12.2
39 4/20 Method of Superposition 12.5
40 4/22 Method of Superposition 12.5
41 4/24 Statically Indeterminate Beams and Shafts 12.6
42 4/27 Final Review
5/5 FINAL EXAM 2-5 pm (location TBA)

E. J. Berger 309 ME Building berger@virginia.edu