Course Description

Welcome to "Mechanics of Deformable Structures: Part 1," an intermediate-level engineering course offered by MITx. This course is the second installment in a three-part series designed to equip mechanical engineers with powerful analytical methods and practical calculation techniques for predicting structural behavior.

In this course, you'll delve into the fascinating world of structural assemblages, exploring how interconnected elements such as bars, shafts, and beams respond to various loading conditions. You'll master the art of using equations for static equilibrium, geometric compatibility, and constitutive material response to analyze complex structural systems.

What Students Will Learn

• Utilize Free Body Diagrams to formulate equilibrium equations in structural assemblages
• Identify geometric constraints and develop compatibility equations for structural assemblages
• Understand the formulation of thermo-elastic, elastic-perfectly-plastic, and linear viscoelastic material response models
• Analyze and predict mechanical behavior of both statically determinate and indeterminate assemblages with deformable bars under axial loading
• Introduction to plasticity and viscoelasticity concepts
• Application of analytical methods and "back of the envelope" calculations for structural behavior prediction

Prerequisites

• Multivariable Calculus (Derivatives, Integrals in 1D and 2D)
• Physics: Classical Mechanics (Vectors, Forces, Torques, Newton's Laws)
• Completion of 2.01x (Elements of Structures) covering axial loading, torsion, and bending

Course Content

• Static equilibrium analysis of structural assemblages
• Geometric compatibility in complex structures
• Constitutive material response models
• Statically determinate and indeterminate structures
• Axial loading of deformable bars
• Introduction to plasticity and permanent deformation
• Viscoelastic behavior and time-dependent structural response
• Analytical methods for predicting structural behavior

Who This Course Is For

This course is ideal for mechanical engineering students, practicing engineers, and anyone with a strong interest in structural mechanics. It's particularly suited for those who want to deepen their understanding of how structures behave under various loading conditions and learn to make accurate predictions about structural performance.

Real-World Applications

How learners can use these skills in the real world:

• Design safer and more efficient buildings and bridges
• Develop innovative materials for aerospace and automotive industries
• Optimize structural components in machinery and equipment
• Assess the integrity of existing structures
• Predict and prevent structural failures in various applications
• Contribute to the development of next-generation materials and structures
• Improve the durability and performance of consumer products

By mastering these concepts, you'll be equipped to tackle complex structural problems in various industries, from civil engineering to product design, making you a valuable asset in any engineering team.