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 Architectural Mechanics

Changwen MI, PhD

Department of Engineering MechanicsSchool of Civil Engineering

Southeast University

Sipailou 2#, Civil Engr. Rm. #811

Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096

(phone) 8379-2248, (email) mi@seu.edu.cn

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Instructor:  Changwen MI Associate Professor of Engineering Mechanics 

Contact Info:  Office: Yifu Architectural Bldg. Rm. 811

Phone: 025-8379-2248

Email: mi@seu.edu.cn 

Office Hours:  by appointmentClass Schedule  Tuesday 0850-1125,中山院408 

Text: Not required.

References:  1. Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics, by F. P. Beer, E. R.

Johnston and E. R. Eisenberg, 8th Ed., 2007, McGraw Hill

(ISBN: 007297687X)2. Mechanics of Materials, by by F. P. Beer, E. R. Johnston and J.

T. Dewolf, 5th Ed., 2009, McGraw Hill (ISBN: 0073529389)

3. Structural Mechanics, by Bao Shihua and Gong Yaoqing,

Wuhan University of Technology Press, 2007.

Course Webpage: http://em2.yolasite.com 

Architectural Mechanics (Spring 2016, 3 credits)

A. General information

mailto:mi@seu.edu.cnhttp://em2.yolasite.com/statics.phphttp://em2.yolasite.com/statics.phphttp://em2.yolasite.com/statics.phpmailto:mi@seu.edu.cn

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B. Catalog Course Description

• Introduction to architectural mechanics

• Statics of particles• Rigid bodies: equivalent systems of forces

• Equilibrium of rigid bodies

• Internal forces of determinate structures

•  Axial loading of prismatic bars; concept of stresses & strains

• Shearing & Bearing

• Torsion of circular shafts

• Bending internal forces & stresses

• Bending deflections

• Stress states and strength theory• Combined loading

• Column buckling

• Force Method

• Displacement method

• Moment distribution method

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Present work in a comprehensive, neat, and orderlyfashion to receive full credit.

Work must be turned in by the due date unless prior

arrangements are made.

The assignments are weighted as follows:

 Assignment category Percentage

Homework 50%Final exam 50%

Course total 100%

C. Grading Policy

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Architectural Mechanics is to analyze the

response of rest bodies and structures to

forces.

Statics, Mechanics of Materials and Structural

Mechanics are parts of

the Architectural Mechanics

§1 Objectives of Architectural Materials

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Mechanics can be defined as that science which describes and predicts

the conditions of rest or motion of bodies under the action of forces. It is

divided into three parts: mechanics of rigid bodies, mechanics of

deformable bodies & structures, and mechanics of fluids.

The mechanics of rigid bodies is subdivided into statics and dynamics, the

former dealing with bodies at rest, the latter with bodies in motion. In this

part of the study of mechanics, bodies are assumed to be perfectly rigid.

 Actual structures and machines, however, are never absolutely rigid anddeform under the loads to which they are subjected. But these

deformations are usually small and do not appreciably affect the conditions

of equilibrium or motion of the structure under consideration. They are

important, though, as far as the resistance of the structure to failure is

concerned and are studied in mechanics of materials, which is a part of the

mechanics of deformable bodies. The third division of mechanics, the

mechanics of fluids, is subdivided into the study of incompressible fluids 

and of compressible fluids. An important subdivision of the study of

incompressible fluids is hydraulics, which deals with problems involving

water.

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Mechanics is a physical science, since it deals with the study

of physical phenomena. However, some associate mechanics

with mathematics, while many consider it as an engineeringsubject. Both these views are justified in part. Mechanics is

the foundation of most engineering sciences and is an

indispensable prerequisite to their study. However, it does not

have the empiricism found in some engineering sciences, thatis, it does not rely on experience or observation alone; by its

rigor and the emphasis it places on deductive reasoning it

resembles mathematics. But, again, it is not an abstract  or

even a pure science; mechanics is an applied  science. Thepurpose of mechanics is to explain and predict physical

phenomena and thus to lay the foundations for engineering

applications.

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Then, what is the Body  anyway?

(1) Particle: Point Mass

(2) Rigid Body: Mass + Volume, but No Deformation

(3) Deformable Body: Mass + Volume + Deformation

(4) Deformable Structure: Structure + Deformation

(c.f.) This course does not deal with Bodies/Structures in Motion.

Statics: The Analysis of Bodies at Rest

Dynamics: The Analysis of Bodies in Motion

Mechanics of Materials: The Analysis of Deformable Bodies

Structural Mechanics: The Analysis of Deformable Structures, often

are statically indeterminate

Mass Points Rigid Bodies Deformable Solids Deformable Roof Trusses

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Structures Composed of Prismatic Bars

1. Space (3-D) Structures: Bars/loads don’t belong to the same plane 

2. Plane (2-D) structures: Bars/loads belong to the same plane

Classification of Plane Structures Composed Prismatic Bars

1. Bar

2. Beam

3. Curved Beam (arch) 

4. Plane Frame

5. Truss

6. Suspended-cable structure 

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§2 Loads & Restraints and Free-body Diagram

Concept of Loads:

• force: action of one body on another;

characterized by its point of application,

magnitude, line of action, and sense.

• Moment M O  of a force F  applied at the

point A  about a point O ,

 F r  M O

• Scalar moment M OL about an axis OL  is

the projection of the moment vector M O  

onto the axis, 

 F r  M  M  OOL

    

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Classification of Loads:

Criteria Classification

Exerting Objects Active/restraint Loads

Size of Acting Scope Concentrated/Distributed Loads

Dimensions of Distributed Loads Volume/Surface/Line Loads

 Acting Period Instantaneous(Live)/Constant Loads

Constancy w.r.t. Time Static/Dynamic Loads

Characteristics External Loads → Internal Forces 

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Restraints:

① Fixed support

② Hinged or pinned supportF Ry

F Rx

③ Roller support F Ry

M R

F Rx

F Ry

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Space Diagram vs. Free-Body Diagram

Space Diagram: A sketch

showing the physicalconditions of the problem.

Free-Body Diagram: A sketch

showing only the forces on theselected particle.