Spring 2023 (January 17 - May 12)

Section 1 (MWF 8:50-9:40) Room 2200 Marston
Section 2 (MWF 11:00-11:50) Room 0308 Elings
Section 3 (MWF 12:05-12:55) Room 0308 Elings

This information is subject to change in extenuating circumstances. Changes will be provided in writing and announced via course-wide announcements.

Course Information

Course description (from ISU course catalog, 2022-2023)

(3-0), Cr. 3. Plane stress, plane strain, stress-strain relationships, and elements of material behavior. Application of stress and deformation analysis to members subject to centric, torsional, flexural, and combined loadings. Elementary considerations of theories of failure, buckling.

Course prerequisites and competencies

Engineering Statics (C E 274 or E M 274)

Prior to enrollment in E M 324, a student is expected to have mastered the abilities to:

• Perform vector analysis of forces and moments to determine:
  • components of a force or moment.
  • resultant force or moment.
  • moment of a force about a point and about a line.
  • equivalent force-couple systems.
• Sketch complete and correct free-body diagrams of structural members in static equilibrium.
• Analyze free-body diagrams of structural members in static equilibrium to determine:
  • reactions at supports.
  • reactions at connections.
  • internal forces and moments.
• Draw a diagram that represents the internal torque in a shaft.
• Draw diagrams that represent the internal axial force, internal shear force, and internal bending moment in a beam.
• Write equations that represent the internal shear force and internal bending moment as functions of position along a beam.
• Locate centroid and compute area moments of inertia (second moments of area) of the cross section of a structural member.

Instructor

Associate Teaching Professor Jenny Johannsen

Email jennyjo@iastate.edu any time; you'll be surprised how quickly you get a response! You may also email me if you'd like to request an in-person meeting; in your email, please include a few suggested times that you are available.

Student hours (formerly known as "office hours"): Check the most recent Announcement.

Course Format

This is an in-person course with a collaborative learning classroom environment. Students will:

• download Introduction to Mechanics of Materials, 2^nd Edition by Madhukar Vable for problem-solving practice in class and outside of class.
• practice problem-solving strategies and solidify conceptual knowledge of engineering mechanics principles during class every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• work independently or in groups to complete In-Class Learning Activities in Canvas on Wednesdays.
• work independently or in groups outside of class to complete weekly homework assignments; enter answers independently in Canvas.
• work independently to solve 3 mid-term Exams on the Wednesday evenings listed in the Course Calendar and also here: Spring Night Exams | The Office of the Registrar | Iowa State University (iastate.edu)
• Work independently to complete the Final Exam Wednesday, May 10 from 7-9pm, as announced in Special/Combined Group Final Exams schedule (scroll down to Special/Combined Final Exams). 
  

Course Goals and Learning Objectives

Enduring understanding

The purpose of this course is to develop the thought process and discipline of students to enable them to solve structural loading and deformation problems systematically, confidently, and competently, regardless of difficulty. Students will:

• Understand how the deformation (stretching, twisting, and bending) of structural members is related to the forces and moments in the members.
• Understand that the forces and moments in structural members are generated by normal and shear stresses distributed throughout the members.
• Distinguish between normal stress and shear stress.
• Report mechanical properties, section properties, stresses, strains, and deformations with appropriate U.S. customary units and SI units.

Emphasis

This course is intended to familiarize students with concepts of mechanical properties, stress, strain, deformation, design criteria, and failure theories as a basis for continued work in structural analysis and machine design.

Specific course learning outcomes

By successfully completing the course, students will be able to:

• Define each of the following mechanical properties: elastic modulus, shear modulus, Poisson's ratio, yield strength, ultimate strength, coefficient of thermal expansion; describe how each property characterizes the material response of a linear elastic, homogeneous, isotropic material.
• Compute section properties (area, first moment of area, second moment of area, polar moment of area, and radius of gyration) and apply them in the analysis of the stress, deformation, and stability of beams, shafts, and columns.
• Calculate and illustrate the normal stresses, shear stresses, normal strains, shear strains, and deformation of standard idealized elements such as shafts, beams, columns, and thin-walled pressure vessels due to axial, torsion, and transverse loads, pressurization, and/or changes in temperature.
• Calculate and illustrate the magnitudes and orientations of the principal stresses and maximum shear stresses at a given point within a structural member.
• Calculate and illustrate the normal stresses and shear stresses at a given point on a given plane within a structural member.
• Given strain gauge measurements at a point on a structural member, calculate and illustrate normal strains and shear strains and normal stresses and shear stresses at that point.
• Calculate and illustrate normal stress concentrations or shear stress concentrations resulting from a discontinuity in section geometry such as a hole, fillet, or groove.
• Assess the basic types of mechanical failure for ductile and brittle materials and buckling of columns; calculate the conditions which would result in yielding, fracture, or elastic instability and the factor of safety relative to such failures.

Educational outcomes

The course’s learning objectives, assessment methods, and instructional techniques are formulated to address ABET Student Outcomes.

Course Materials

Required course materials

Free download: Introduction to Mechanics of Materials, 2^nd Edition by Madhukar Vable

Optional: any equivalent mechanics of materials textbook (for example, Beer, Gere, Johnston, Philpot, Riley, Sturges, Timoshenko, and Zachary are excellent authors and experts in the field of engineering mechanics).

Chegg and similar "homework help" websites are prohibited for this course, because of numerous errors that misinform and confuse students.

Learning Activities and Assessments

Learning activities

• Practice solving engineering mechanics problems in a collaborative learning classroom environment every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
• Practice solving additional problems to master the learning outcomes for the course. Strengthen conceptual knowledge and problem-solving skills by troubleshooting each other’s solutions.
• Ask for clarification when needed by creating a post in the Discussions section of our Canvas course, by emailing your question to Jenny or our teaching assistant Jincheng, or by requesting an in-person meeting (email Jenny and include a list of times when you are available to meet).

Assessments

• In-Class Learning Activities guide students through the solution of a problem that applies course concepts.

Work independently or in self-selected groups to complete In-Class Learning Activities in Canvas during class on Wednesdays. You may use your favorite graphing/scientific calculator and any printed or handwritten resources.

Each student's best 10 of the 11 In-Class Learning Activity scores will be averaged, and the lowest score will be neglected.

• Mid-term Exams assess students' engineering problem-solving abilities.

Work independently to solve 3 graded mid-term Exams on the Wednesday evenings (8:15-9:45pm) listed in the Course Calendar and also here: Spring Night Exams | The Office of the Registrar | Iowa State University (iastate.edu). You must solve the problems independently; you may not communicate with anyone, live or through any media, during an Exam. Students should bring their own scientific/graphing calculators and pencils or pens (no red pens, please). An equation sheet identical to the one posted in Canvas will be provided at each Exam. Extra paper will be provided. A student may bring a straightedge or ruler if they wish. No other resources are allowed.

Make-up exams will be given for extenuating circumstances and/or approved medical excuses. For anticipated conflicts with a scheduled exam, email Jenny (jennyjo@iastate.edu) as soon as possible before the exam date to request and attempt to arrange an alternate exam. In the email, include a copy of your schedule and documentation that supports your request.

• A cumulative Final Exam assesses students' engineering problem-solving abilities at the end of the semester. 

The Final Exam is Wednesday, May 10 from 7-9pm, as announced in Special/Combined Group Final Exams schedule (scroll down to Special/Combined Final Exams). The procedure and guidelines will be the same as for the mid-term Exams.

Grading Policies

Grading schema

This course does not utilize a curve for assigning grades. Letter grades will be assigned only for the final course grade according to the following grade scale:

Course Letter Grade Assignment

Letter Grade	Course Percentage	Performance
A	91 - 100%	Excellent work
A-	89 - 90.9%	Mostly excellent work, some good work
B+	87 - 88.9%	Some excellent work, mostly good work
B	81 - 86.9%	Good work
B-	79 - 80.9%	Mostly good work, some acceptable work
C+	77 - 78.9%	Some good work, mostly acceptable work
C	71 - 76.9%	Acceptable work
C-	69 - 70.9%	Mostly acceptable work
D+	67 - 68.9%	Some acceptable work, many errors
D	61 - 66.9%	Many errors, some lack of conceptual understanding
D-	59 - 60.9%	Many errors, lack of conceptual understanding
F	< 59%	Unacceptable level of understanding and/or inability to complete course

Assessments are weighted for the determination of Course Grade, as follows:

Assessment Weighting

Participation area	Percentage of Course Grade
Outside-of-Class Quizzes (completed in Canvas)	17%
In-Class Learning Activities (completed in Canvas)	13%
Midterm Exams 1, 2, and 3	17% each (51% total)
Cumulative Final Exam	19%

Course Policies

Feedback

Exam scores will be posted in the Grades section of our Canvas course.

Missed and late coursework

It is important to keep up with the pace of this course. Late work will not be accepted except with documentation of extenuating circumstances.

Attendance

Attendance is mandatory.

Incomplete grades

A grade of I (Incomplete) may be offered in extenuating circumstances and must be arranged with the instructor.

Expectations

Students are encouraged to use electronic devices to the extent that they supplement (not distract from) their learning.

Refer to ISU’s Thielen Student Health Center’s webpage regarding illness and ISU's Class Excuse Policy. If illness prevents you from being able to take an Exam, contact me as soon as you are able to do so; include a copy of your class schedule from Access+ so that we can arrange a time and date for a make-up exam.

Student obligations:

• Meet prerequisites or disenroll from the course.
• To every class, bring a scientific/graphing calculator, paper (unlined paper or engineering paper preferred) and something to write with or laptop/tablet and stylus, and a positive attitude.
• Participate in class.
• Complete In-Class Learning Activities independently or in groups.
• Complete Exams independently, according to our course policies.
• Adhere to Iowa State University Code of Conduct.
• Ask for clarification when needed.

Instructor and teaching assistant obligations:

• Facilitate in-class learning activities.
• Post resources to Canvas.
• Post Exam scores to Canvas in a timely manner (it generally takes about a week to return scored exams).
• Respond to questions and feedback (in-person or via email or Canvas Discussions) in a timely manner.

Inclusiveness:

• Students are responsible for living the tenets established in ISU’s Principles of Community: Respect, Purpose, Cooperation, Richness of Diversity, Freedom from discrimination, and the Honest and respectful expression of ideas. Visit ISU’s Principles of Community website.
• I honor each student by using their preferred name and pronoun, so if these differ from the ones on the class roster, please advise me accordingly early in the semester so that I may make appropriate changes to my records.
• Iowa State University is committed to proactively facilitating each student’s well-being. We welcome and encourage students to contact the following on-campus services for their physical, intellectual, occupational, spiritual, environmental, financial, social, and/or emotional needs:
  • Student Wellness call 515-294-1099 or via website (http://studentwellness.iastate.edu);
  • Thielen Student Health Center call 515-294-5801 (24/7 Medical Advice) or via website (http://www.cyclonehealth.org);
  • Student Counseling Services call 515-294-5056 or via website (https://counseling.iastate.edu);
  • Recreation Services call 515-294-4980 or via website (http://recservices.iastate.edu);
  • Students dealing with heightened feelings of sadness or hopelessness, thoughts of harm or suicide, or increased anxiety may contact the ISU Crisis Text Line (Text ISU to 741-741) or contact ISU Police Department 515-294-4428.
• To learn effectively, you must have basic security: a roof over your head along with a reliable place to sleep and enough food to eat (view the Food Security at ISU Student Wellness webpage). If you’re having trouble with any of those things, please talk with me or the Dean of Students Office (email studentassistance@iastate.edu, phone 515-294-1020). Together we can work to meet those needs.
• Iowa State University is committed to creating an educational, work, living, and campus environment that is free from all forms of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and unlawful discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected class. As a responsible employee, I am responsible for reporting all incidents of prohibited sexual harassment, including sexual assault, stalking, and dating and domestic violence, to the university’s Title IX coordinator. Students can choose to discuss their experiences confidentially with the following resources: ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter and Support) at 515-292-0500; ISU Student Counseling Services at 515-294-5056; and Thielen Student Health Center at 515-294-5801.
• A green dot is any choice, behavior, word or attitude that promotes everyone’s safety and communicates utter intolerance for power-based personal violence in our Iowa State University community. A green dot is anything you do to make our community safer. What is your Green Dot? Visit the Green Dot – Student Wellness website (http://www.studentwellness.iastate.edu/greendot/).
• You are expected to treat your instructor and all other participants in the course with courtesy and respect. Your comments to others should be factual, constructive, and free from harassing statements. You are encouraged to disagree with other students, but such disagreements need to be based upon facts and documentation (rather than prejudices and personalities). It is the instructor’s goal to promote an atmosphere of mutual respect in the classroom. Please contact the instructor if you have suggestions for improving the classroom environment. It is preferable if students discuss issues directly with the instructor, however, students may also leave a note in the instructor’s mailbox.
• All university publications and communication, whether oral or written, shall use inclusive language and illustrations. Inclusive language refers to language that makes every attempt to include comprehensively all groups in the community. Whenever possible, selection of academic materials will also reflect efforts to uphold this university policy. Visit the Policy Library’s Inclusive Language (http://www.policy.iastate.edu/policy/language) website.
• I am committed to creating a course that is inclusive in its design. If you encounter barriers, please let me know immediately so that we can determine if there is a design adjustment that can be made or if an accommodation might be needed to overcome the limitations of the design. I am always happy to consider creative solutions as long as they do not compromise the intent of the assessment or learning activity. You may wish to contact the Student Accessibility Services (515-294-7220) to begin this conversation or to establish accommodations for this or other courses. I welcome feedback that will assist me in improving the usability and experience for all students.

Course Calendar

Schedule of topics and assessments

Dates	Topics	Assessment
Week 1: January 18, 20	Module 1: Average Normal Stress and Average (Direct) Shear Stress average normal stress, including bearing stress average shear stress in direct shear applications, including punching/tear-out shear stress
Week 2: January 23, 25, 27	Module 2: Average Normal Strain and Average Shear Strain Hooke's law for uniaxial stress Hooke's law for shear stress and shear strain Module 3: Mechanical Properties Young's modulus shear modulus Poisson's ratio yield strength as defined by 0.2% offset ultimate strength coefficient of thermal expansion	January 23: Quiz over Module 1 due in Canvas by 11:59pm January 25: In-Class Learning Activity #1
Week 3: January 30; February 1, 3 Week 4: February 6, 8 no class February 10	Module 4: Allowable Stress Design Module 5: Axial Loading centric axial loading of a statically determinate or a statically indeterminate structural member normal stress longitudinal strain lateral strain (transverse strain) elongation thermal effects	January 30: Quiz over Modules 2 and 3 due in Canvas by 11:59pm February 1: In-Class Learning Activity #2 February 6: Quiz over Modules 4 and 5 due in Canvas by 11:59pm February 8: Exam 1 8:15 - 9:45pm
Week 5: February 13, 15, 17 Week 6: February 20, 22, 24	Module 6: Torsion Loading torsion loading of a statically determinate or statically indeterminate circular shaft torsion shear stress torsion shear strain angle of twist power transmission perfectly meshed gears	February 15: In-Class Learning Activity #3 February 20: Quiz over Module 6 due in Canvas by 11:59pm February 22: In-Class Learning Activity #4
Week 7: February 27; March 1, 3 Week 8: March 6, 8 no class March 10 - 17	Module 7: Transverse Loading transverse loading of a statically determinate or a statically indeterminate beam flexure normal stress flexure shear stress beam slope and deflection	March 1: In-Class Learning Activity #5 March 6: Quiz over Module 7 (Flexure Stress) due in Canvas by 11:59pm March 8: Exam 2 8:15 - 9:45pm
Week 9: March 20, 22, 24 Week 10: March 27, 29, 31 Week 11: April 3, 5, 7	Module 8: State of Stress at a Point plane stress Mohr's circle stress transformation principal stresses maximum in-plane shear stress absolute maximum shear stress strain transformation generalized Hooke's law strain gauge rosettes failure theories	March 22: In-Class Learning Activity #6 March 27: Quiz over Module 7 Beam Slope and Beam Deflection due in Canvas by 11:59pm March 29: In-Class Learning Activity #7 April 3: Quiz over Module 8 due in Canvas by 11:59pm April 5: In-Class Learning Activity #8
Week 12: April 10, 12, 14	Module 9: Thin-Walled Pressure Vessels	April 12: In-Class Learning Activity #9
April 17, 19 no class April 21 April 24, 26, 28	Module 10: Combined Loading	April 17: Quiz over Module 9 due in Canvas by 11:59pm April 19: Exam 3 8:15 - 9:45pm April 26: In-Class Learning Activity #10
May 1, 3, 5	Module 12: Euler Buckling Module 13: Stress Concentrations	May 1: Quiz over Module 10 due in Canvas by 11:59pm May 3: In-Class Learning Activity #11
May 8 - 12	Final Exam week	May 10: Cumulative Final Exam 7:00 - 9:00pm

* There will be three dates when class will not meet, to compensate students for their time spent outside of class during the three midterm exams. Class will not meet on Fridays February 10, March 10, or April 21.

• Note the dates and times of the 3 midterm night Exams scheduled outside of class time.
• The date and time of the cumulative final exam is Wednesday, May 10 from 7-9pm, as announced here (scroll down to Special/Combined Final Exams).