CEE 371 Modeling of Structural Systems
Spring 2004
COURSE INFORMATION, OBJECTIVES AND POLICY
Lectures:
MWF 11:15 am –12:05 pm, Hollister 320
Sections:
1. M 2:30 - 4:25 pm 368 Hollister
2. T 2:30 - 4:25 pm 352 Hollister
Instructor:
Prof. John F. Abel
jfa5@cornell.edu
409 Hollister Hall
255-7582
Office Hours: Immediately following lectures, MWF 12:05-12:30 pm and
MW 1:00-2:00 pm, or by appointment
T.A.:
John Brigham, 354 Hollister, jcb65@cornell.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays 5:30 – 8:00 pm in 354 Hollister
Prerequisite:
ENGRD 202/T&AM 202 Mechanics of Materials
or permission of instructor
Website:
http://ceeserver.cee.cornell.edu/jfa5/cee371/
Required Materials:
1. J. M. Gere, Mechanics of Materials, Brooks/Cole, 6th Edition, 2004 (5th
Edition also acceptable, but be careful about page-number and problemnumber differences). Abbreviation: G.
2. Course Packet (excerpts of Fundamentals of Structural Analysis, by T. Au &
P. Christiano, Prentice-Hall, 1993, available from Campus Store for $22.68).
Abbreviation: AC.
3. R. D. Ziemian and W. McGuire, MASTAN2, John Wiley & Sons, 2000. This
is one of the two principal structural analysis software packages used in the
course.
4. Excerpts from R. N. White, P. Gergely & R. Sexsmith, Structural
Engineering, John Wiley and Sons, 1976 (copyright for this classic text,
authored by Cornell CEE faculty, has reverted to them, so we are able to
duplicate and distribute copies of the excerpts needed for this course free of
charge to students). Abbreviation: WGS.
Laboratory: ACCEL College Workstation Facilities - Carpenter Hall
Grading:
Problem Sets
2 Preliminary Exams
Final Exam
Class/Section Attendance and Participation
TOTAL
20%
40%
30%
10%
100%
Exams:
Evening Prelims: [Makeup exams for those with legitimate conflicts]
Prelim 1: Thursday, March 4, 7:30 - 9:00 pm, 352 & 368 Hollister
Prelim 2: Thursday, April 15, 7:30 - 9:00 pm, 352 & 368 Hollister
Final exam on Wednesday, May 19, 3:00 to 5:30 pm, 352 & 366 Hollister
CEE 371 Modeling of Structural Systems
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Spring 2004
Course Objectives and Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the Structural Modeling Process and the Elements of Structural Behavior:
Create idealized mathematical models of structural systems, their geometry, kinematics,
materials, boundary conditions, and loadings for structural analysis and simulation; sketch the
displaced shape of loaded structures and explain the significance of (reason for) the displaced
shape; identify the determinacy of structural systems; define and explain the significance of
equilibrium, compatibility and constitutive relations for structural analysis, mechanics, and
simulation; know what the effect is of varying stiffnesses of components of structural
systems; recognize the structural actions and rationale for various structural forms; and have
a rudimentary understanding of the objectives and approach to structural design.

Calculate Displacements and Stresses: Explain the significance of calculating
displacements for determining response of indeterminate systems; explain the relationship
between load, curvature and displaced shapes; compute displacements using direct
integration; explain the Principle of Virtual Forces and where it is usefully applied in
structural analysis; compute displacements using the Principle of Virtual Forces; compute the
stresses in beams; understand the applications and fundamentals of plane stress and plane
strain models of continuum systems; compute the principal stresses in 2D.

Perform Analysis for Statically Indeterminate Structures: Explain the difference between
stiffness and flexibility methods; compute reactions, internal forces and displacements of
simple indeterminate beam/column structures using the force and displacement methods.

Apply Finite Element Analysis to Beam/Column Structures, Trusses, and 2D Continua:
Describe the methodology for the direct stiffness method for structural analysis of
beam/column type structures; form element stiffness matrices for axial force and bending
members; understand the equilibrium basis for assembling global stiffness matrices for
structural systems; calculate reactions, internal forces and displacements of indeterminate
trusses and planar frames with various boundary conditions using programs that employ the
matrix stiffness method.
Course Policy:
1. Attendance at lectures and sections is expected. Grades may be adjusted by as much as 10%
for failure to attend lecture and section meetings regularly.
2. Lectures will generally follow assigned readings. You are expected to learn both the material
covered in class and in the readings. You are also responsible for completing the assigned
reading before lectures covering the relevant material. This will facilitate class discussion as
well as in-class group work. You will occasionally be asked to turn in questions about the
reading.
3. Section meetings will include answering of questions, discussion of example and homework
problems, demonstrations of computer programs, review, and supplementary lectures.
CEE 371 Modeling of Structural Systems
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Spring 2004
4. Problem Sets are due at Wednesday lecture and will be collected at the beginning of class on
the date they are due. Late Problem Sets will not be accepted. Exceptions to this policy can
be arranged only in special situations, such as illness.
5. Problem Sets should conform to guidelines of good engineering practice, which includes:

Problem Sets should be turned in on engineering computation paper.

Work should be done in pencil and on one side of the paper only.

Your name, the Problem Set number and date should be on the top of each page.

Work should be organized and neat. Assumptions should be clearly stated,
appropriate units should be noted on answers.

Answers should generally be called out (underlined or boxed).

Numerical answers should be given with an appropriate number of significant digits.

Where appropriate, small sketches should be included to help explain calculations.
To the degree possible, sketches should be drawn to scale and with a straight edge.
6. Your Problem Sets may occasionally include short (less than one-page) discussions of
particular problems. The purpose of these written assignments is to help you discover,
through writing, what you do and do not understand about the material you are learning, and
to help you learn to explain clearly and fully what you know.
7. Cornell's Code of Academic Integrity will be followed. This means that the student assumes
responsibility for every assignment and exam he/she submits. All violations of the Code of
Academic Integrity detected in any aspect of this course will be vigorously pursued and
addressed according to the Code. The Code is included in the "Handbook for Engineering
Students" published by the College of Engineering and available at the College's Advising
and Student Records Office, 167 Olin Hall, and is online at:
http://www.cornell.edu/Academic/AIC.html.