Continuum Mechanics
Code
10436
Academic unit
Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia
Department
Departamento de Engenharia Civil
Credits
6.0
Teacher in charge
João Carlos Gomes Rocha de Almeida, Mário Jorge Vicente da Silva
Weekly hours
5
Total hours
100
Teaching language
Português
Objectives
Basic notions of Continuum Mechanics will be presented to students, namely concepts of continuum substance, stress, strain and constitutive relations will be introduced. Geometrical and physical linearity, principle of superposition, classical formulation of boundary-value problem and methods of its resolution will be explained in view of firm preparation of students for Mechanics of Materials and other related fields of study. Strain energy and principal of virtual work will also be explained, in order to establish basis for variational principles and consequently prepare students for further courses of Numerical Methods and especially of Finite Element Method.
Prerequisites
Students have to have basic notions of Statics, namely they have to know concepts of concentrated force, distributed force load, equilibrium, mass centre and geometrical object centre - centroid. Not much knowledge is required from Mathematical Analyses, except of graph of functions, integral of polynomial forms, matrix calculus and methods of linear algebraic equation system solution, when homogeneous and equally when non-homogeneous.
Subject matter
1. Cartesian tensors, tensor calculus
2. Concepts of continuum matter, objectives and restrictions of Continuum Mechanics
3. Stress
4. Strain
5. Material behavior
6. Boundary-values problem: definition and methods of solution
7. Yielding and rupture laws
8. Principle of virtual work
Bibliography
V. Dias da Silva, "Mechanics and Strength of Materials", 2006, Springer
Teaching method
Teaching involves lectures and problem-solving sessions. There are also office hours available to clarify some concepts and students’ doubts. Lectures intend teaching of fundamental theoretical concepts, illustrating their application on simple problems relevant for comprehensive understanding. Lectures are given in PowerPoint presentations, prepared by instructors. Students have printed version available during the respective lecture. Problem-solving sessions complement theoretical concepts. Active students’ participation is stimulated.
Additional supporting documentation will be provided on the CLIP webpage:
• PowerPoint lectures presentations
• Problems specification for problem-solving sessions
• Solved problems relevant for the subject
• List of supporting formulae needed for problems resolution