UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

This unit focuses on the relationship between stress and strain in solid, deformable, load-carrying structural and mechanical elements. Various types of loading such as tension, compression, bending, shear and torsion is considered as well as common failure modes and models. Design of structural and mechanical elements to withstand defined static loads is also covered. The objective of the unit is to develop an understanding of equilibrium, stress, strain, deformation and stability of 2D and 3D statically determinate and indeterminate structures, and to provide an introduction to the methods of analysis for design of structural and mechanical elements. The following major topics are covered: (1) concept of stress—tension, compression and shear; (2) stress and strain in 3D, generalised Hooke's law; (3) axially loaded members; (4) torsion; (5) shear forces and bending moments; (6) stresses in beams; (7) analysis of stress and strain; (8) applications of plane stress (pressure vessels, beams and combined loadings); (9) statically indeterminate beams; and (10) column buckling and stability.

Credit

6 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Semester 1	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) choose references and sources of information relevant to the unit activities and use them to find relevant examples/information; (2) understand equilibrium conditions as applied to the analysis of structural and mechanical elements; (3) calculate reaction forces on a loaded element and draw normal force, shear force, torque and bending moment diagrams; (4) understand the relationship between stress and strain (Generalised Hooke's Law) in two dimensions and three dimensions; understand the relationship between Poisson's ratio, Young's modulus, shear modulus and bulk modulus; (5) calculate the normal stress and shear stress in structural elements induced by multidirectional loading; (6) understand the effects of different boundary conditions on the stress distribution in a loaded element; (7) understand the concept of stress concentration and its application to design; (8) assess cross-sectional properties and their effect on structural response to loading; (9) understand the stress/strain transformation, represent it using Mohr's circles and apply these and understand (including the mathematical bases) the concept of principal stress/strain and determine principal stress/strain in simple components under various types of loading; (10) understand the difference between ductile and brittle materials, and the choice of appropriate failure models; (11) understand and apply ideal (Euler's) column buckling model and stability criteria; and (12) apply the above to analyse the stress/strain state in simple mechanical components and interpret the results in terms of risk of the component failure.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) quizzes; (2) lab reports; and (3) a final examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Professor Elena Pasternak

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

MJD-ENGSC Engineering Science

and Successful completion of

( ENSC1002 Material Behaviour from Atoms to Bridges
or ENSC2004 Engineering Mechanics

and

MATH1011 Multivariable Calculus
or MATX1011 Multivariable Calculus

and

MATH1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods
or MATX1012 Mathematical Theory and Methods

)

Incompatibility

GENG2004 Solid Mechanics

Contact hours

in-class lectures (including continuous assessment): 3 hours a week (total 39 hours)
practical classes: 24 hours (total)

Note

Enrolled students can access unit materials via the LMS (Learning Management System).

Recommended
reading

Beer, F. P. et al. Mechanics of Materials, 6th edn: McGraw-Hill 2012

Gere, J. M. and Goodno, B. J. Mechanics of Materials, 7th SI edn: Cengage Learning 2009