Structural Mechanics
(Spring 2013)
Deng, Lu; 教授楼 310；denglu@hnu.edu.cn
Basic Course Information
Class Hour: 64 lectures
Credit: 4.0
Applicable Major: Civil Engineering
Prerequisite Course: Theoretical Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials
Aims
Through the study of structural mechanics, students will grasp the
principle and method of calculation in structure of bar system; understand
the mechanical property of all kinds of structures in order to lay the
groundwork for the learning of related professional courses, design and
scientific research of structure. This course aims at gradually developing
the ability of calculation (including calculating by hands, using brain, and
using computer), innovation (including the creation of the structure forms
and calculation method) and comprehensive application of structural
mechanics to analyze and solve practical engineering problems.
Contents and Objectives
1. Introduction
• Understand study objects and tasks of this course.
• Grasp selection principle of simplified structural diagram for
computation.
• Understand classification of structures and loads.
2. Geometrical Construction Analysis of Two Dimensional
Systems
• Understand the definition of geometrically stable system,
geometrically unstable system, and instantaneous unstable system.
• Understand the concept of rigid member, restrain, and degree of
freedom.
• Grasp basic construction rules of geometrically stable system and the
application of the rules to analyze the geometrical construction of
ordinary system and distinguish four kinds of systems: geometrically
stable system with or without superfluous restraint, geometrically
unstable system and instantaneous unstable system.
• Understand geometrical construction characteristic of statically
determinate structure and statically indeterminate structure.
3. Internal Force Calculation of Statically Determinate
Structure
• Understand the mechanics characteristic and calculation method of 5
common types of statically determinate structures (beam, arch, truss rigid
frame and composite structure).
• Proficiently master shape characteristics of internal force diagram of
straight-bar and superposition method of drawing the internal force
diagram.
• Proficiently master internal force calculation method of multi-span
statically determinate beam and be able to distinguish fundamental part
and accessory part and draw internal force diagram.
• Proficiently master internal force calculation method and diagram
drawing of cantilevered frame, simply supported frame, 3-hinged frame
and other associated frame.
• Grasp discrimination method for zero bars in truss and calculation of
internal force of simple truss and assigned member in associated frame
using method of joint and section. Understand differences of mechanical
property of all kinds of two dimensional trusses.
• Grasp calculation of support reaction of three-hinged arch and
internal force of assigned section and be able to draw internal force
diagram. Understand concept of optional centre line of the arch.
• Understand characteristic of statically determinate structure.
4. Virtual Work Principle and Structure Displacement
Calculation
• Understand concept of generalized force, generalized displacement,
virtual work and principle of virtual work of elastic system.
• Grasp unit load method and be able to establish virtual status
according to the position, direction and property of the displacement.
• Understand ordinary and practical formula of displacement
calculation.
• Proficiently master application of integral method to calculate
structure displacement and graph multiplication method to calculate the
displacement of beam and rigid frame. Memorize area and centroid
position of common graphs. (triangle and standard quadratic parabola etc)
• Understand calculation method of displacement caused by
temperature change.
• Understand calculation method of displacement caused by support
movement.
• Understand reciprocal theorem of work, displacement, support
reaction and reaction-displacement.
5. Force Method
• Understand concept of statically indeterminate structure.
• Grasp determination method of degree of indeterminacy and selection
of fundamental structure.
• Understand equation of force method and its physical significance
• Proficiently master internal force calculation of statically
indeterminate beam and rigid frame under loading and be able to draw
bending moment diagram.
• Grasp internal force calculation of statically indeterminate truss,
composite structure, framed bent and arch under loading.
• Understand calculation of statically indeterminate structure under
temperature change and support movement.
• Grasp application of symmetry to simplify calculation of symmetrical
fundamental structure in force method.
• Grasp displacement calculation of statically indeterminate structure.
• Understand characteristic of statically indeterminate structure.
6. Displacement Method
• Understand basic concept of displacement method.
• Grasp determination of the number of unknown joint rotation
displacement and independent joint translation displacement and
selection of fundamental structure.
• Understand equation of displacement method and its physical
significance.
• Memorize shape-constant and load-constant of common statically
determinate single-span beams with uniform section.
• Grasp calculation of statically indeterminate frame under loading.
• Grasp application of symmetry to apply half-structure to simplify
calculation in displacement method.
• Grasp principle and method of direct application of equilibrium to
establish equation of displacement method.
7. Influence Line
• Understand concept of moving load and definition of influence line.
• Grasp application of static method to draw influence line of certain
value.
• Grasp application of kinematics method to draw influence line of
certain value.
• Grasp application of influence line to acquire influence value under
given load.
• Grasp method to locate the most unfavorable load position of
statically determinate structure under moving load and solving method of
absolute maximum of bending moment and drawing of envelope diagram
of internal force of simply supported beam.
• Understand the most unfavorable load position and envelope diagram
of internal force of continuous beam under uniform load.
8. Matrix Displacement Method
• Understand basic concept of matrix displacement method and local
coordinate system of element and global coordinate system of structure.
• Grasp transfer matrix between two coordinate systems and memorize
element stiffness matrix of local coordinate system.
• Proficiently master forming principle and method of structure
stiffness matrix (pre-treatment method). Understand Post-treatment
method.
• Grasp processing method of non-joint load.
• Grasp procedure of calculation of all kinds of structures using matrix
displacement method.
9. Dynamical Calculation of Structure
• Understand significance of dynamical calculation, classification of
dynamic load, task of dynamical calculation and principle and method of
dynamical calculation. Grasp method to determine dynamical degree of
freedom of elastic system.
• Proficiently master free vibration and forced vibration of system of
single degree of freedom.
• Proficiently master free vibration of system of multiple degrees of
freedom. Understand orthogonality of normal modes.
• Understand forced vibration of system of multiple degrees of
freedom.
Arrangement and Pattern of Teaching
Structural Mechanics is a skill-based course. The priority of learning is
class-teaching. Exercise and discussion class must be no less than 8
lectures. The overall plan is 64 lectures for the first semester, covering the
first 6 chapters. (See specific plan below at Allocation of Lectures).
Student’s in-after class time spending ratio of 1:2 is recommended.
Allocation of Class Hour
Chapter 1. Introduction (2 lectures)
Chapter 2. Geometrical Construction Analysis of Two Dimensional
Systems (6 lectures)
Chapter 3. Internal Force Calculation of Statically Determinate Structure
(14 lectures)
Chapter 4. Virtual Work Principle and Structure Displacement
Calculation (12 lectures)
Mid-term Exam: covering the first 4 chapters (2 lectures)
Chapter 5. Force Method (14 lectures)
Chapter 6. Displacement Method (12 lectures)
Review: All materials in the 6 chapters (2 lectures)
Exam
All exams will be closed book.
Evaluation and Grade
Final grade of this course consists of the following elements:
• Attendance: 5%
• Homework: 15%. (NO credit will be given to homework submitted after
the due date)
• Mid-term Exam: 25%
• Quiz and Project: 15%
• Final Exam: 40%
Textbook
《Structural Mechanics》, 1st edition, Bao Shihua, Gong Yaoqing, Wuhan
University of Technology Press, 2006.
Reference Book
•《结构力学》
（上、下册）
（第四版）
，包世华，辛克贵编，武汉理工
大学出版社，2012。
•《结构力学》
（上、下册）
（第四版）
，杨茀康、李家宝编，高等教育
出版社，1998 年。
•《结构力学》
（上、下册）
（第三版）
，龙驭球、包世华编，高等教育
出版社，1994 年。