TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY -- COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ENGR 214 – CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES IN CONTINUUM MECHANICS
Section 501, Fall 2002
SYLLABUS AND GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
INSTRUCTOR
TEACHING ASSISTANT
Dr. Walter E. Haisler
Reza Karimi
Office: 719C, H.R. Bright Building,
Office: 616A, H.R. Bright Bldg.
Phone: 845-7541 (receptionist) or 845-1640
Phone: 845-0729
Email: haisler@tamu.edu
Email: reza_us2002@hotmail.com
Office Hours: TR 2-4, F 9-11, additional office
Office hours: MW 8-9, MW 2-4
hours by appointment (phone or email me).
Web Page: http://aeromaster.tamu.edu/haisler/engr214
COURSE PREREQUISITES:
ENGR 211 and 212, MATH 308 or registration therein.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
To develop a fundamental understanding of how to model,
represent, and examine the behavior of engineering
systems in terms of basic physical laws that govern the
response of many mechanical and thermal systems which
behave as a continuum. Examples include: fluid flow,
stresses, Mohr’s circle for stresses, steady state 1-D heat
transfer, bars in tension and torsion, and bending of beams.
CLASS FORMAT:
A mix of formal lecture, discussion, problem-solving as appropriate for the topic being studied.
Active learning, teaming, and the use of technology in solving complex problems will be
encouraged and exploited to better achieve the course objective.
TOPICS TO BE COVERED:
The conservation of mass, linear momentum, angular momentum and energy for a continuum;
Kinematic and constitutive relations for a continuum; Applications to fluid mechanics, analysis of
stress in a body, heat transfer in a solid, deformation and stress analysis of bars in tension, bars in
torsion and beams in bending.
TEXT AND OTHER MATERIAL:
1) Introduction to Conservation Principles and Applications in Continuum Mechanics, D.
Lagoudas and W. E. Haisler, available from Copy Corner, 1404 Texas Avenue South.
2) Maple; Engineering Equation Solver (EES), MDSolids, Microsoft Office
GRADING: > 90
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
< 60
A
B
C
D
F
Exam 1, 2
Homework & Team Project
RATS
Comprehensive Final
1
40%
20%
15%
25%
GRADING PHILOSOPHY:
Except for open-ended design problems, the problems in this class and the textbook usually have a
unique answer (i.e., “the answer”). In grading problems, my philosophy is:
1) An engineer obtains a solution to a problem based on physical understanding of the problem and
the solution is substantiated through supporting engineering analysis,
2) An engineer should always try to have a “gut-feeling” for the solution, i.e., he should know
when the solution is obviously (or probably) wrong (because of math or other errors),
3) In most mechanics problems, the problem is dealing with forces, mass, temperature, area, etc.
Thus, a solution is not 3.26 but 3.26 something (something = N, kg, ft2, psi, etc.). Units are
essential to a complete solution!!
4) In problems dealing with forces and moments, free-body diagrams are part of the solution
process. Free-Body diagrams are essential to a complete solution!! Rule: NFBD, NC.
5) Incorrect or incomplete solutions may receive partial credit if it is clear to me that your solution
procedure is correct and you have satisfied 1-4 above.
RE-GRADING POLICY:
If you think your Exam was improperly graded, you have 5 days in which to submit your paper to
me for re-grading after it has been returned to you. Submit your paper to me along with a written
explanation of what you consider to be relevant information that I should consider. No paper will
be re-graded after this 5-day period. Homework or RATs should be submitted to the TA.
ATTENDANCE:
It is expected that you will attend all classes. Attendance will be taken periodically. RATS will
generally be given at the beginning of a class. If you are late for a RAT, you will not be given extra
time nor allowed to take a makeup RAT. Excused absences should be reported to me promptly
(before the missed class period or by the next class period).
TEAMING:
Group assignments will have the names of all participating team members on the finished product.
ONLY members who have contributed equally to the assignment may sign the product. Only those
members who sign will be given credit for the work. All members of the team are responsible for
preventing anyone who did not work on the project from signing it. Remember the buck stops with
you. I may, at my discretion, choose to quiz any member who signs the project to determine
whether I believe they contributed. If I feel that the signing person did not contribute, the entire
team will receive a zero on the project. If you choose to do so, you may assign people to become
"experts" in certain areas, but if you do, each "expert" must assume the responsibility of teaching the
other signing team members about their "field of expertise." In other words, the expert must teach
the others in the group how to survive a grilling by the prof about how that part of the solution was
obtained. If you divide the homework problems, you must meet together and teach each other how
the problems are solved.
2
HOMEWORK:
There will be three to four homework assignments per week. Homework will generally alternate
between an individual and a team assignment.
1) Homework will generally be due two days after the date of assignment and homework is to be
turned in at the beginning of class to the TA before I start lecturing. Late homework will NOT
be accepted. There will be NO exceptions.
2) Grading of homework – Generally, each assignment will consist of 3-5 problems. In some
cases, I may request that only a specific problem be turned in for grading. The problem to be
turned in will be randomly selected from the problem set. Homework solutions will be posted
on the class web page shortly after the homework has been turned in.
3) Homework must be complete with all steps shown. You may use computer software and/or
calculators to complete tedious calculations but you must describe what you did and show
computer output if computer software was utilized. Remember the grading philosophy above.
4) Work on one side of the paper only. Staple your work together. Submit all problems and work
in the order that they were assigned.
5) Your final answer must be easily identifiable (either boxed, highlighted, underlined, separate
from other work, etc.) and must appear with appropriate units.
6) Your group/team number must appear on all work. For group assignments, the signature of each
group member who worked on the project should be placed on the front page of the homework
assignment (if you want credit, make it legible!). No person who did not contribute to the
project is permitted to affix their name to the project - this is considered scholastic dishonesty,
and will be grounds for removal of the group from the class. PLEASE TAKE THIS
SERIOUSLY, WE DO.
READING ASSIGNMENTS:
You are responsible for reading and studying the text material that has been assigned for a particular
lecture. This is your responsibility whether I remind you or not. A detailed syllabus with reading
assignments is attached.
READINESS ASSESSMENT TESTS (RATS):
You may want to call these pop quizzes. RATs will be 5-20 minute closed book exams. In order to
be ready for a RAT, you must have read the material assigned during the previous lecture and
listened in class during the past hour. RATS may be individual effort, or sometimes you will be
required to work as a team. Note that it is your responsibility to make sure everyone in your team
understands how to work the RATs. Sometimes, the instructor may give two RATs back-to-back.
The first one could be solved as a team. The second one could be the same or very similar problem,
to be worked individually. At the instructor's discretion, the team score for both RATs could be the
lowest, highest, or average score of the team members on the individual RAT.
PROJECTS:
A major teaming project will be assigned. Each team will be assigned a grade based on their
solution to the problem, and will be required to submit a formal engineering report that includes the
contribution of each team member. Your individual grade will be based on the team grade and your
individual contribution. The grade will be based on both the technical engineering content of the
report, and the formal written presentation. Each member of the team will be required to document
which portion of the project and report they completed. The required format of the project report
will be provided with the project assignment.
3
MAJOR EXAMS:
The Major Exams will be closed book. You may bring one page of notes to use at the exam. There
will be NO make-up exams except with a university-approved absence. See exam coverage and
schedule on syllabus. Major Exams may be given as a team, individual or a combination effort
thereof. For a team plus individual exam, each portion will be weighted appropriately (as an
example; team portion of exam 20% and individual portion of exam 80%).
FINAL EXAM:
The final exam for this course will be given on Monday, December 16, 8-10 AM. It will be
comprehensive in that you will be responsible for all material covered during the course. There
will, however, be a slightly greater emphasis on material covered during the latter half of the
semester.
EMAIL ADDRESSES AND LISTSERV SUBSCRIPTION:
In order for me to easily communicate with you at times other than our class time, I need for each of
you to have a valid TAMU email address. Please note: HotMail, Yahoo, AOL, etc. addresses will
not always work. Why? They are down more than they are up, they allow limited attachments, your
mailbox is full, etc.
1) If you don't have a Neo address, get one immediately (you are already paying for it!). You are
urged to get a Neo email address since this mail is readable by any browser from anywhere. To
claim a Neo account, go to http://neo.tamu.edu/, Select Activate Account on the right side of the
screen, and follow the instructions. You may also set neo mail to be forwarded to any another
account.
2) Sign up for the ENGR214 newsgroup by sending an email to listserv@listserv.tamu.edu and in
the BODY of the email, put "SUBSCRIBE ENGR214 firstname lastname" WITHOUT the
quotes. Replace firstname and lastname by your name. Be sure you send the email when logged
on to YOUR TAMU account (not someone else's)!!! Note: it is listserv NOT listserve! You
can also go to http:\\listserv.tamu.edu and sign up for the ENGR214 listserv on the listserv
website.
3) Check your email once a day or so.
SOME THOUGHTS FROM THE INSTRUCTOR (on learning and life):
I cannot teach you everything or show you the solution to every
problem in the world; therefore, you must learn the basic
principles and procedures and not solutions to specific
problems.
Taking responsibility for your own actions, words and stationin-life allows you (forces you) to grow as a person.
4
ENGR 214 - Conservation Principles in Continuum Mechanics
Section 501, Fall 2002
Lecture/Recitation: MW 9:10-11:00 AM, ZACH 127B
Week
Date
Topic
Week 1
Sept. 2
Course Introduction, Vector Review, Matrix Algebra
Sept. 4
Chap. 1: Introduction; Macroscopic vs. Microscopic Analysis,
Concept of Continuum, Review of Vector Mechanics, Matrices
Week 2
Sept. 9
Chap. 2: Conservation of Mass
Sept. 11 Chap. 3: Conservation of Linear Momentum
Week 3
Sept. 16 Chap. 3: Conservation of Linear Momentum; Cauchy Formula
Sept. 18 Chap. 3: Conservation of Linear Momentum; Fluid Mechanics
Week 4
Sept. 23 Chap. 4: Conservation of Angular Momentum
Sept. 25 Chap. 5: Transformation of Stresses, Mohr’s Circle
Week 5
Sept. 30 Chap. 5: Mohr’s Circle, Principal Stress
Oct. 2
Chap. 6: Conservation of Energy
Week 6
Oct. 7
Chap. 7: Heat Transfer in a Solid
Oct. 9
Chap. 7: Heat Transfer Applications
Week 7
Oct. 14
Chap. 8: Kinematic Relations in Deformation of Solids
Oct. 16
Chap. 9: Constitutive Equations for Linear Elastic Solids
Week 8
Oct. 21
Major Exam I (Chapters 1-7)
Oct. 23
Chap. 10: Analysis of Linear Elastic Solids
Week 9
Oct. 28
Chap. 11: Analysis of Linear Elastic Bars in Tension
Oct. 30
Chap. 11: Analysis of Linear Elastic Bars in Tension
Week 10
Nov. 4
Chap. 12: Analysis of Linear Elastic Bars in Torsion
Nov. 6
Chap. 12: Analysis of Linear Elastic Bars in Torsion
Week 11
Nov. 11 Chap. 13: Bending Stress and Deflection in Beams
Nov. 13 Chap. 13: Centroids and Moments of Inertia
Week 12
Nov. 18 Chap. 13: Shear & Moment Distribution/Diagrams
Nov. 20 Chap. 13: Shear & Moment Diagrams
Week 13
Nov. 25 Chap. 13: Deflection Analysis for Beams
Nov. 27 Major Exam II (Chapter 8 – Nov. 18 topics)
Nov. 28 Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 14
Dec. 2
Chap. 13: Deflection Analysis for Beams
Dec. 4
Chap. 13: Shear Stress in Beam Bending
Week 15
Dec. 9
Redefined day - Attend Friday classes. No ENGR 214 class!
Dec. 11 No classes.
Dec. 12 No classes.
Optional Review for Final Exam, 9-11 am, 127B Zachry
Final Exam
Dec. 16
Reading*
Appendix 1
Chapter 1
Appendix 1
2-1 to 2-17
3-1 to 3-18
3-19 to 3-37
3-38 to 3-55
4-1 to 4-6
5-1 to 5-12
5-13 to 5-26
6-1 to 6-11
7-1 to 7-11
7-11 to 7-18
8-1 to 8-14
9-1 to 9-15
10-1 to 10-10
11-1 to 11-10
11-10 to 11-20
12-1 to 12-16
12-17 to 12-25
13-1 to 13-10
13-11 to 13-16
13-17 to 13-28
13-28 to 13-38
13-17 to 13-38
13-17 to 13-38
13-38 to 13-45
Final Exam (Monday, December 16, 8-10 AM)
*refers to Introduction to Conservation Principles and Applications in Continuum Mechanics Notes
5
ENGR 214 – CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES IN CONTINUUM MECHANICS
SECTION 501 -- FALL 2002
SOME USEFUL INFORMATION
EES - How to get it and how to use it
Get it from:
http://wwwmengr.tamu.edu/classnotes/index.asp (or see my 214 web page)
Hints on how to use it:
http://Lowery.tamu.edu/ees/howtoees/ees.htm
Teaming - What is teaming and how do you use teams effectively
http://Lowery.tamu.edu/teaming/morgan1
Other useful websites (links are included at bottom of my ENGR 214 web page)
http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/papers/student_handouts.html
http://www.howstuffworks.com
Some Do's and Don'ts
I.
USE OF VECTORS
Almost all mechanics equations are vector equations. You must be able to do vector algebra and
calculus to work mechanics problems. Vectors must be denoted clearly, e.g., with an overbar or an underbar.
Vector equations written using scalar notation are wrong. Equations which equate vectors to scalars, use
scalars where vectors are required (e.g., cross products), contain division by vectors, indicate vector
multiplication without a dot or a cross product, etc., are wrong.
II.
CONSISTENCY (OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD AND BAD HABITS)
There is an old saying that, "Practice makes perfect." This saying is incorrect; rather, "Practice makes
consistent." Perfect practice makes you consistently perfect. Bad practice makes you consistently bad.
Many people who don't use correct vector notation, etc., on homework say they will do it right on the exam.
Wrong! If you practice it wrong, that is how you will do it on the exam; under pressure you will revert to the
habits you have practiced, be they good or bad. The best way is to do it right all of the time.
III.
UNITS
The US unit of mass is the slug, not the pound. If you are given a weight in pounds (lbf), divide by
g = 32.174 ft/sec2 to get the mass in lbf-sec2/ft or slugs (m = W/g). Also remember that 1 slug is not equal to 1
lbm, when using that notation. To convert between mass and weight in SI units, use g = 9.807 m/sec2, not 32.2!
The easiest way to think consistently is to remember that the US units specify a force or weight in lbf (thus
making the mass have derived units of lbf-sec2/ft) while SI units specify mass in kg (thus making force or
weight have derived units of kg-m/sec2 = Newtons).
Always use units in evaluating an equation. If the units don’t match up in various terms of a long
equation; this is telling you something: the equation is wrong, you have mixed units that need conversion, or
something. For example, in dynamics problems, which can be worked by conservation of momentum and/or
energy principles, if your work results in terms that look like linear momentum (kg m/s) and energy (N m) and
you are trying to add them; then something is wrong!
IV.
SLOPPY MATHEMATICS
The language of mathematics is very precise, and the mathematics used for mechanics is very well
defined. You cannot ignore signs, equations, etc., because they don't agree with what you expect. For
example, if you have two scalar equations involving only one unknown you cannot arbitrarily solve one
equation for the unknown and ignore the other equation. Over determined systems are usually inconsistent; i.e.,
there is no value of the unknown that satisfies both equations. Inconsistent equations tell you that something is
wrong (the assumptions, equations, or mathematics which preceded the equations). Only by pure luck will you
get the correct answer by solving one of the equations and ignoring the other. If the math gives you
inconsistent equations, signs, etc., it is trying to tell you something; go back and find your error.
6
TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY -- COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
ENGR 214 – CONSERVATION PRINCIPLES IN CONTINUUM MECHANICS
SECTION 501 -- FALL 2002
SOME POTENTIALLY USEFUL INFORMATION FOR EXAMS
Tips on taking a test, discovering your learning styles and more at
http://www2.ncsu.edu/unity/lockers/users/f/felder/public/papers/student_handouts.html
STRATEGIES FOR TAKING AN EXAM; IN PARTICULAR, EXAMS IN ENGR 214
Quickly read all of the problems and note their point value before you start work on any
problem. Answer the problems you judge to be easiest first and the hardest problems last. Do not
spend more time on a problem than its point value justifies (unless you have already attempted all of
the other problems). If you can do the easier problems quickly you may have extra time for the harder
problems. Do not assume that the order in which the problems are presented is also the order of
increasing difficulty.
Make sure you pace yourself as you work through an exam. For example, let us say you have
roughly 100 minutes to earn 100 points. The time that you can spend on a particular page of the exam
is therefore about the same (in minutes) as the point value of that page. Do not get stuck on one page
-- move on! You can always come back later if you have time left over.
When you finish any engineering problem you should check your answers to see if they make
sense and are dimensionally correct. If you come up with an answer that you know is wrong but you
do not have time to find your error, write the grader a short note stating that the answer is wrong and
why, and that you could not find and correct your error in the available time. For example, if you
calculate that the tension in a cable is negative, then something is obviously wrong since you cannot
push on a rope. Write "Negative tension impossible. Out of time." on your paper so that the grader at
least knows that you realized your answer was physically impossible.
Study early and get plenty of sleep the night before the exam. You may be able to cram the
night before some exams and learn enough facts to do well; however, cramming does NOT work for
engineering courses. In these courses, there are a minimum number of facts (principles) that you
have to UNDERSTAND AND KNOW HOW TO APPLY to do well on an exam. To do well on an
exam you must be able to THINK during the exam (apply basic principles to problems you have not
seen before), NOT recite facts or PLUG NUMBERS INTO EQUATIONS. You will perform better
if you learn the principles/facts early and get a good night's sleep the night before the exam.
It is also not a good idea to try and digest a lot of information in the 3-4 hours just prior to an
exam. A cursory glance at notes or at examples in the textbook often results in your spending
precious time trying to recall what it was that you saw when you see a similar figure accompanying
an exam problem. You would be much better off focussing on the problem you have actually been
asked to do.
7
ENGR 214, Sec. 501, Team Information. I am requesting this information in order to form teams as
best as possible. Think of me as the chief engineer whose job it is to form a team in such a way that the
team has the best chance of success in solving difficult assignments. I will keep your information
confidential. If you have problems with completing any item, skip it (only exception is prerequisites).
Name: ____________________________
Email address: ____________________________
Major: ____________________________
GPA: _______________
Prerequisites:  Have you completed ENGR 211 and 212 with a C or better grade?
 Have you completed MATH 251 or 253 with a C or better grade?
 Are you currently registered for MATH 308?
(or completed MATH 308 with a grade of C or better)
YES
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
If your answer to any question is NO, see me immediately! You do not have the prerequisites for ENGR 214 as stated in the catalog and specified by your engineering
department. You must immediately see your advisor to determine the proper course
of action. Failure to meet pre-requisites will not only affect your performance in this
class, but will affect your ability to contribute effectively to your team.
List other classes are you taking this summer: __________________________________________
Sex:
F
M
Ethnic Group: __________________
Live on campus?
YES
NO
If YES,
NORTHSIDE or SOUTHSIDE
If NO, where? Put an X on the map below.
Do you work?
YES
NO
If YES, what hours? _______________________.
Do you need/want to sit at the front of the classroom (poor vision, hearing, or just prefer)?
YES
Rate your team experience in ENGR 211, 212 from 1 to 5:
8
(good)
(not good) 1
2
3
4
5
NO