Introduction:
In the Engineering & Stress Analysis module, students
observe how severe weather, excessive weight, and other forces affect the integrity of structures, such as bridges and buildings.
Students apply scientific principles that establish strength and endurance in construction projects, and explore educational
and career opportunities in engineering and construction.
Module Details:
Students begin by learning the types of structures and
their components, and the forces that act upon them. They also study the principles of size, shape, strength, and deflection
of construction beams under load. For one of the hands-on experiences, students use a stress analyzer to test the stress and
deflection of a structure. They also design objects, build them with balsa wood, and test the efficiency of these creations.
In the later segments of this module, students design,
build, and test more complex structures. These activities help them realize their design skills and their abilities to put
engineering principles to work. As a result, they look at buildings, bridges, and other structures with a much more knowledgeable
perspective.
Topic Coverage:
Concepts of equilibrium, stress, strain and deflection,
Hooke’s Law, tension and compression, elongation and shortening, shear and torsion, beam bending and deflection, fatigue
and buckling, the Finite Element Method (FEM) as applied to the construction of buildings and bridges
Types and parts of structures and the forces that act
upon them
Principles of size, shape, strength, and deflection of
construction beams under load
