CE406 - Syllabus

Course Title: CE 406 - Structural Mechanics II

Catalog Description Bending of beams of non-symmetrical sections; shear center; energy concepts including
Rayleigh-Ritz method; use of classical and energy methods in the analysis of curved beams; torsion of prismatic
members; beams on elastic foundations; use of finite element methods in solid mechanics, including
introduction to use of FEM software; column buckling; introduction to beam-columns; failure theories and
fracture mechanics.

Prerequisite: CE 203

Course Content:

 Introduction to the course: Mathematica & review of structural mechanics I

 Principal stresses/planes & Mohr circle
 Generalized Hook’s Low; Strain Energy in bars and beams
 Un-symmetric bending
 Energy methods
 Curved beams
 Torsion
 Beams on elastic foundation
 Hands on tutorial on using FEM software “COMSOL Multiphysics”
 Column buckling & beam columns
 Failure theories & introduction to fracture mechanics

Textbook: Ugural and Fenster, Advanced Mechanics of Materials and Applied Elasticity, Prentice Hall, 2012.

Instructor: Husain J Al-Gahtani (Office Location: 16-133, Phone: 2769)

Office Hours: UT 10:00-10:50 AM & R 10:00-11:50 AM.

Goals: To prepare the students to the advanced level of structural mechanics on both the analytical and the
computational level.

Computer Usage:
Students are introduced to Mathematica and trained to use it for programming the finite difference method as well
as for performing symbolic computations related to all course topics. Students are also introduced to the use of
COMSOL (a finite element-based software).

Grade Distribution: HW (15%), Exam1 (20%), Exam2 (20%), Term Paper (15%) & Final Ex. (30%)