60
Construction Science
REGGIO DI CALABRIA
Overview
Date/time interval
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The Course pursues the following objectives through educational activities and independent student work:
- qualifying educational objectives: basic knowledge of the theoretical-scientific as well as methodological-operational aspects of Statics to understand the static behavior of structures in the context of architectural design;
- specific educational objectives: knowledge of structural design problems related to the design of buildings (Art. 2 Teaching Regulations).
Course Prerequisites
Knowledge acquired during the Course of “Mathematical Institutions” (preparatory): elementary algebra, differential and integral calculus, and functions. Basic knowledge of geometry, trigonometry, and matrix analysis.
Teaching Methods
COURSE STRUCTURE AND TEACHING
Frontal lectures (hours/year in class): 36
Practical classes (hours/year in class): 24
Optional guided practical classes outside of class time (hours/year in class): 10
Calendar of teaching activities
Week 1-4: Theoretical topics
Week 5: Practical classes
Week 6: Theoretical topics
Week 7: Practical classes
Week 8: Theoretical topics
Week 9: Practical classes
Week 10: Theoretical topics
Week 11: Practical classes
AUTONOMOUS LEARNING OF THE STUDENT
Student's independent work will consist of the following activities (90 hours):
- in-depth study, using textbooks, of the topics covered during the frontal lectures and practical classes;
- solve practical examples concerning statically determinate beam systems, truss structures, and geometry of areas;
- carry out homework assigned by the Lecturer and mandatory for admission to the final exam.
Assessment Methods
Learning will be assessed at an intermediate and final stage.
The intermediate assessment consists of:
-mandatory homework for admission to the final verification phase; the homework can only be handed in by students who have achieved an attendance of not less than 70 percent (Art. 14 of the Didactic Regulations);
-an intermediate written test that aims at verifying the student's ability to solve statically determinate beam systems (constraint reactions and diagrams of internal forces) and truss structures as well as to determine the main geometric properties of plane figures (centroid, second moments of area, central ellipse of inertia and central core of inertia); the intermediate test can be undertaken only by students who have achieved an attendance of not less than 70 percent.
The final assessment (profit exam) consists of a written test and an oral test.
The written test consists of 2 exercises, to be solved in 3 hours, and is aimed at verifying the student's ability to solve statically determinate beam systems (constraint reactions and diagrams of internal forces) and truss structures, as well as to determine the main geometric properties of plane figures (centroid, second moments of area, central ellipse of inertia and central core of inertia).
The oral examination is aimed at discussing the methodologies applied in solving the problems assigned in the written test, as well as verifying knowledge of the theoretical topics covered in the Course (see Course Programme).
The written test and the oral examination will be held in the same session unless otherwise advised. For students who have passed the intermediate written test, the final verification will consist of the oral examination only.
The grade, expressed in thirtieths, will be awarded considering the homework (intermediate verification), as well as the outcomes of the written test and the oral examination, evaluated based on the level of achievement of the expected results according to the Dublin indicators.
Texts
Theory:
- Paolo Casini, Marcello Vasta, Scienza delle Costruzioni. Quarta edizione. Città Studi, Novara, 2019.
- Elisa Guagenti, Fernanda Buccino, Elsa Garavaglia, Giorgio Novati, Statica. Fondamenti di meccanica strutturale, Terza Edizione, McGraw-Hill, Milano, 2009.
- Giuseppe Muscolino, Giovanni Falsone, Introduzione alla Scienza delle Costruzioni. Statica e cinematica delle travi. Pitagora Editrice, Bologna, 1991.
Applications:
- Erasmo Viola, Esercitazioni di Scienza delle Costruzioni. Vol. 1: Strutture Isostatiche e Geometria delle Masse. Terza edizione, Esculapio, 2023.
- Solved exercises: personal web page.
Contents
1_DESCRIPTION
The aim of the Course of Statics is to provide theoretical knowledge and analytical tools for understanding the static behaviour of structures.
The Course concerns: the Statics and Kinematics of rigid bodies; the analysis of plane beam systems idealized as assemblages of constrained rigid bodies. The presentation of theoretical material is always accompanied by practical examples to provide methodological-practical tools as well as to show the relationship between analytical models and real structures. The techniques and methods used in the Course are specific to physical and analytical modeling and are aimed at the analysis, interpretation, and solution, including design, of the problems addressed (SDS CEAR-06/A declaratory).
The students must acquire basic knowledge of theoretical-scientific and methodological-practical aspects of Statics. Such knowledge will enable students to identify the load-resisting mechanism of a structure, represent it through a suitable mathematical model (Art. 5 of the Teaching Regulations), and then analyze its static behaviour. The specific educational objective of the Course is to acquire knowledge of structural design problems (Art. 2 of the Teaching Regulations) related to the design of buildings, which is essential to carry out the design activities of the Laboratories, making conscious and appropriate choices with reference to the resistant organism.
2_COURSE PROGRAMME
Introduction to the Theory of Equilibrium
Introduction to Statics as the branch of Classical Mechanics that studies the Theory of Equilibrium; notions of force, action, structure, constraint, and reaction.
Fundamentals of vector theory
Elementary operations on vectors: sum, difference, scalar product, vectorial product. Moment of a force. Couple. Equivalent force systems. Graphical decomposition of forces and couples: decomposition of a force along two directions, decomposition of a force along three directions, and transport of a force parallel to itself.
Statics and kinematics of rigid body
Definition of rigid body. Degrees of freedom of rigid bodies and generalized displacements. Infinitesimal rigid displacements. Principle of superposition. In-plane rigid displacements. Rotation centre. Virtual work principle. Cardinal equations of Statics.
External constraints: definition, kinematic and static classification. Kinematic classification of a rigid body. Systems of rigid bodies. Internal constraints: definition, kinematic and static classification. Centre of relative rotation among rigid bodies. Kinematic classification of rigid bodies. Fundamental theorems of kinematics.
Classification and modeling of structures. Mathematical modeling of external loads. Plane straight beams. Statically determinate structures. Determination of constraint reactions by analytical and graphical methods. Internal forces (axial force, shear force and bending moment) in plane beams. Differential equilibrium equations for beams. Diagrams of internal forces by analytical and graphical procedures. Analysis of truss structures by the method of joints (graphical and analytical procedures) and the method of Ritter’s sections.
Geometry of areas
Centroid of an area. First moment of area. Second moment of area. Parallel-axis theorem. Principal inertia axes. Central ellipse of inertia. Central core of inertia (graphical construction).