"POLITEHNICA" UNIVERSITY OF TIMISOARA
SYLLABUS
for the course:
“MECHANICS”
(“MECANICA”)
FACULTY OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
DOMAIN CIVIL ENGINEERING
Year of study: I
Semester: 2
Course coordinator: Assoc. Prof. Raul ZAHARIA
Collaborators:
Drd. eng. Ioan BOTH
Number of hours / Examination / Credits
Course
Seminar
Practical works
Project
28
28
Fundamental  In the domain  Speciality 
Course
status
Compulsory: Imposed 
Optional 
Examination Credits
E
4
Complementary 
Facultative

A. COURSE OBJECTIVES
The course aims to provide the students with fundamental knowledge of Newtonian mechanics,
including the topics of kinematics and dynamics. The course contains the fundamental notions of
classical mechanics that are used further in the “Mechanics of materials” and “Structural
analysis” courses. After completion of the course, the student should be able to calculate the
geometrical characteristics of cross-sections, to compute the reactions of a given statically
determined structure, to determine the axial forces within a truss, to determine the displacements
within a plane mechanism and to apply the principle of virtual work
B. COURSE TOPICS
1. Introduction
2. A little bit of history
3. Basic notions and principles of theoretical mechanics
4. Statics (4.1 Statics of the particle; 4.2 Statics of the rigid body; 4.3. Statics of systems of rigid
bodies; 4.4 Geometrical characteristics of the cross-sections for linear elements; 4. 5. Trusses)
5. Kinematics (5.1 Kinematics of the particle. 5.2 Kinematics of the rigid body)
6. Dynamics (6.1 Priciples; 6.2 Dynamics of the particle; 6.3 Dynanics of the systems of
particles)
7. Principle of virtual work apllied in the analysis of civil engineering structures (7.1 Plane
mechanisms with 1 DOF; 7.2 Principle of virtual work applied in the Structural Analysis)
C. APPLICATIONS TOPICS
1. Dimensions, quantities and units of measurement
2. Operations with vectors
3. Equilibrium of a particle
4. Equivalent force system
5. Couple of forces
6. Static equilibrium for a plane structure (Types of forces, reactions, Simple supported beam,
Cantilever, Frames, Calculation of internal forces in trusses)
7. Geometric properties of simple and composed Cross-sections (Centre of gravity, First moment
of area, Second moment of area, Polar moment of inertia, Product of inertia of a cross-section,
Position of principal axis)
8. Circular motion
9. Plane parallel motion. Motion of a rigid solid body with a fixed point
10. Application of the virtual work principle in the computation of the reactions for a statically
determinate structure
D. EDUCATIONAL METHODS EMPLOYED
 Course: lecturing, conversation, explication, demonstration
 Seminar: explication, example
E. EVALUATION PROCEDURE
Written exam. Two internal examiners. Five applications and three-five theoretical subjects.
Mark 5 is given if all subjects are 50% covered. The exam covers 60% of the final mark, while
the activity during the semester covers 40% of the final mark.
Activity: Students are expected to attend and participate in every class session. The attendance
will be monitored.
Homework: There will be approximately one homework assignment every two weeks.
F. REFERENCES
1.Beer F.P., Johnston E.R. Jr., Vector Mechanics for Engineers, McGRaw-Hill Shames I.H.,
Engineering Mechanics-Statics, Prentice – Hall, 1959
2. BuildRight Toolbox, BCG03 General Construction Training Package, BCG40106 Certificate
IV in Building and Construction (Building), Australian Flexible Learning Framework
Toolbox project developed by Holmesglen Training and Development, Holmesglen
Institute of TAFE, Australian Gouvernment, Department of Education, Science and
Training, Commonwealth of Australia 2007
3. Dragulescu D., Toth-Tascau M., Mecanica, Ed. Orizonturi Universitare, Timisoara, 2002
4. Feynman R., Leighton R., Sands M., Feynman Lectures on Physics: The Definitive and
Extended Edition, Publisher Addison Wesley, 2005
4. Hibbler R. C., Engineering Mechanics: Statics and Dynamics, 11th Edition, Peason Prentice
Hall, 2006
5. McLean W. G., Nelson E. W., Theory and problems of Engineering Mechanics, McGraw-Hill
Book Company, Second edition, 1962
G. INTERNATIONAL COMPATIBILITY
1. Technical University of Liege
HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
Prof. Dr. Ing. Dan DUBINĂ
COURSE COORDINATOR
Assoc. Prof. Raul ZAHARIA