INTRODUCTION TO MECHANICS

OF STRUCTURES
This chapter provides the basic knowledge of mechanics of structures in Civil Engineering

• applied mechanics that investigates

• form of shape such as buildings,
the behavior of structures under
bridges, dams and walls,
mechanical loads,
• designed to resist any loads
without losing its own strength
capacity

Mechanics
Structure of
structures
External and Internal Forces.

Forces that are

developed within a
suructure in response
to the external forces
system present in the
structure are W
described as internal A weight attached
to the end of rope

Forces that are

applied to a
structure are
described as
external

Force
Is what causes
mass to
W accelerate or
The tension in a rope become deformed
resulting from the pull
of an attached weight.
Types of external and internal forces
P
Axial force : applied along
the longitudinal or centroidal
axis of a structural member
M M
Bending Moment : The moment
of a force about any point equals the
value of the force multiplied by the
perpendicular distance between that
point and the line of action of the
force
Shear force : stress which is
parallel or tangential to a face of
a material, as opposed to a
normal stress which is applied
perpendicularly
Torsion : Is a twisting. Develop in a
member through the direct
application of a torque of twisting
moment.
Gravity, Pressure and Reaction

Gravity Pressure Reaction

• characteristics of falling • Pressure is an effect • Newton's third law states
objects by determining which occurs when a that forces occur in pairs,
that the acceleration of force is applied on a one called the Action
every object in free-fall surface and the other the
was constant and Reaction. Both forces
independent of the mass are equal in magnitude
of the object. and opposite in direction.

• M = mass
• G = gravity (m/s2)
Types of support, reaction and
direction
Types of support, reaction and
direction
Types of beams
Supports
Fixed support : Beam fixed in wall
Hinge support : Sydney Harbour Bridge
Roller support : one end of a bridge