Overview

The aim of this unit is to introduce engineering students to the basic principles of equilibrium and the behaviour of structural elements and systems which include beams, struts, shafts and trusses under applied loads. Examples used in this unit cover a broad range of engineering applications in Civil, Mechanical, Biomedical and Mechatronics to name a few.

Requisites

Prerequisites

Assumed Knowledge
VCE Mathematical Methods Units 3 and 4

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
03-March-2025
01-June-2025
Last self-enrolment date
16-March-2025
Census date
31-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
24-April-2025
Results released date
08-July-2025
Semester 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
04-August-2025
02-November-2025
Last self-enrolment date
17-August-2025
Census date
31-August-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
19-September-2025
Results released date
09-December-2025

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Discern and determine the magnitude of loads acting on simple structural members (K1, K2, K3, S1)
  • Analyse rigid body equilibrium including a. Construct free body diagrams showing the function of simple structural elements b. Analyse the force(s) or moment(s) required to maintain a structure in equilibrium c. Analyse external reactions on structural members under applied loading d. Construct axial force, shear force and bending moment diagrams for simple beams (K1, K2, K3, S1)
  • Analyse the behaviour of structural members including a. Analyse section properties for simple cross sections b. Analyse internal axial stresses, shear stresses and bending stresses in structural members such as beams trusses, ties, struts, shafts and bolts (K1, K2, K3, S1)

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
On-campus
Lecture		1.00 12 weeks 12
Live Online
Lecture		2.00 12 weeks 24
On-campus
Class		2.00 10 weeks 20
On-campus
Class		2.00 2 weeks 4
Online
Learning activities		2.50 12 weeks 30
Unspecified Activities
Independent Learning		5.00 12 weeks 60
TOTAL150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULO's
Applied Project Individual  40 - 50%  1,2,3 
Assignment Group 30 - 50%  1,2,3 
Laboratory Report Individual  5 - 20%  1,2,3 
Final-Semester Test Individual 15 - 30% 1,2,3

Content

  • Forces and Equilibrium: Force Vectors, Force System Resultants and Equilibrium of a Rigid Body
  • Analysis of Trusses by Method of Joints and Method of Sections
  • Analysis of Beams – Shear Force and Bending Moment Diagrams
  • Section Properties of Structural Members: Centre of Area (Centroid) of a Section and Second Moment of Area (Moment of Inertia) of a Section
  • Stresses in Beams – Average Axial Stress, Average Shear Stress, Transverse and Longitudinal Shear Stress and Bending Stress

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.