2021 Faculty Courses School of Environment and Society Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Graduate major in Civil Engineering
Introduction to Solid Mechanics
- Academic unit or major
- Graduate major in Civil Engineering
- Instructor(s)
- Anil Wijeyewickrema
- Class Format
- Lecture
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue / 5-6 Fri
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- CVE.A401
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2021
- Offered quarter
- 1Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 10, 2025
- Language
- English
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course focuses on the mechanics of solids. Topics include mathematical preliminaries – summation convention, Krönecker delta, alternating symbol, vectors and Cartesian tensors; stresses, traction vector, equations of equilibrium, strains, compatibility conditions, material symmetry and Hooke’s law, solution schemes in elasticity, elastostatic plane problems.
The fundamentals of solid mechanics is important and is essential for the study of engineering.
Students learn the basics of mechanics of materials and will be able to solve some problems in engineering.
Course description and aims
By completing this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand index notation used in equations in any subject area.
2) Understand stresses and strains.
3) Understand linear elasticity.
4) Understand how to formulate and solve some fundamental problems in mechanics of solids.
Keywords
Vectors and Cartesian tensors, stresses, traction vector, equations of equilibrium, strains, compatibility conditions, material symmetry and Hooke’s law, solution schemes in elasticity, elastostatic plane problems
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
Most of time in the class is devoted to fundamentals and the rest to advanced contents or applications. To allow students to get a good understanding of the course contents and practical applications, problems related to the contents of this course are given as homework assignments. Solutions to homework assignments are reviewed in the class.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | Introduction of the course. Index notation. Vectors. | Review section 0.1-0.2, 1.1-1.2 of class notes. |
| Class 2 | Cartesian tensors. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, vector and tensor calculus | Review sections 1.3-1.5 of class notes. |
| Class 3 | Cartesian tensors. Eigenvalues and eigenvectors, vector and tensor calculus | Review sections 1.3-1.5 of class notes. |
| Class 4 | Force distribution and stresses. Equations of equilibrium. | Review section 2.1-2.5 of class notes. |
| Class 5 | Principal stresses. Stationary shear stresses, commonly used definitions of stresses, and strains. Rigid-body displacements. | Review sections 2.6-2.10 of class notes. |
| Class 6 | Compatibility conditions and cylindrical coordinates | Review sections 2.11-2.14 of class notes |
| Class 7 | Compatibility conditions and cylindrical coordinates | Review sections 2.11-2.14 of class notes. |
| Class 8 | Midterm Exam | |
| Class 9 | Linear Elasticity. Isotropic elastic materials. | Review sections 3.1-3.4 of class notes. |
| Class 10 | Linear Elasticity. Isotropic elastic materials. | Review sections 3.1-3.4 of class notes. |
| Class 11 | Linear Elasticity. Isotropic elastic materials. | Review sections 3.1-3.4 of class notes. |
| Class 12 | Classification of two-dimensional elasticity problems. Isotropic elastic plane problems in cylindrical coordinates. | Review sections 4.0-4.3 of class notes. |
| Class 13 | Examples of infinite plane problems | Review sections 4.4 of class notes. |
| Class 14 | Examples of infinite plane problems | Review sections 4.4 of class notes. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Bower, A. F., 2010, Applied Mechanics of Solids, CRC Press.
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Class notes are available in the Instructor’s HP.
Barber, J. R., 2002, Elasticity, 2nd edition, Kluwer, Dordrecht.
Evaluation methods and criteria
Students' knowledge of linear elasticity and their ability to apply them to problems will be assessed.
Midterm exam 30%, Final exam 50%, exercise problems 20%.
In 2020, Midterm exam and Final Exam will be take-home exams (24 hrs) - Submit answers by e-mail.
Related courses
- CVE.A402 ： Advanced Course on Elasticity Theory
Prerequisites
None
Other
Class notes are available in the Instructor’s HP.
http://www.cv.titech.ac.jp/~anil-lab/