Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Road Stability: Play-Doh Beam Study

Description

This lecture by the instructor delves into the study of road stability using a Play-Doh beam to determine the maximum length before buckling, through experiments and theoretical calculations, showcasing the alignment between experimental and theoretical results.

Official source

Related concepts (11)

Applied mechanics

Applied mechanics is the branch of science concerned with the motion of any substance that can be experienced or perceived by humans without the help of instruments. In short, when mechanics concepts surpass being theoretical and are applied and executed, general mechanics becomes applied mechanics. It is this stark difference that makes applied mechanics an essential understanding for practical everyday life.

Structural mechanics

Structural mechanics or mechanics of structures is the computation of deformations, deflections, and internal forces or stresses (stress equivalents) within structures, either for design or for performance evaluation of existing structures. It is one subset of structural analysis. Structural mechanics analysis needs input data such as structural loads, the structure's geometric representation and support conditions, and the materials' properties. Output quantities may include support reactions, stresses and displacements.

Structural analysis

Structural analysis is a branch of solid mechanics which uses simplified models for solids like bars, beams and shells for engineering decision making. Its main objective is to determine the effect of loads on the physical structures and their components. In contrast to theory of elasticity, the models used in structure analysis are often differential equations in one spatial variable. Structures subject to this type of analysis include all that must withstand loads, such as buildings, bridges, aircraft and ships.

Continuum mechanics

Continuum mechanics is a branch of mechanics that deals with the deformation of and transmission of forces through materials modeled as a continuous mass rather than as discrete particles. The French mathematician Augustin-Louis Cauchy was the first to formulate such models in the 19th century. A continuum model assumes that the substance of the object completely fills the space it occupies. This ignores the fact that matter is made of atoms, however provides a sufficiently accurate description of matter on length scales much greater than that of inter-atomic distances.

Structural engineering

Structural engineering is a sub-discipline of civil engineering in which structural engineers are trained to design the 'bones and muscles' that create the form and shape of human-made structures. Structural engineers also must understand and calculate the stability, strength, rigidity and earthquake-susceptibility of built structures for buildings and nonbuilding structures. The structural designs are integrated with those of other designers such as architects and building services engineer and often supervise the construction of projects by contractors on site.

Related lectures (37)

Mechanics of Continuous Media: Torsion and Traction

Explores stress and deformation in torsional structures under loading conditions.

Bespoke Elasticity: Designing Architectured Materials with Nonlinear Properties

Covers the design of architectured materials with elastic energy approximating specified continuous functions using concentric helical lattices and their implications in nonlinear elasticity.

Structural Mechanics Introduction

Introduces structural mechanics for civil engineers, covering key principles, course logistics, assessment methods, and various structural supports.

Structural Mechanics Fundamentals Log in to Mediaspace to watch this video

Covers the fundamentals of structural mechanics, including materials, mechanics vocabulary, the Eiffel Tower, and the collapse of the Quebec Bridge.

Mechanics of Slender Structures: Elasticity & Buckling Log in to Mediaspace to watch this video