MEEM 2150 Mechanics of Materials

MEEM 2150 – Mechanics of Materials
Department of Mechanical Engineering - Engineering Mechanics
Michigan Technological University
Spring 2008

Instructor: Dr. Gregory M. Odegard
Office: 930 MEEM Building
Phone: (906)487-2329
Email: gmodegar@mtu.edu
Classroom: 112 MEEM Building
Time: T, R 8:05-9:20 am
Office hours: M: 9-10 am, W: 11 am-12 pm, F: 10-11 am in the Learning Center Room 201. Please do not email me questions about specific homework problems. Use the office hours for these types of questions.

Course description:

Introduction to mechanical behavior of materials, including stress/strain at a point, principle stresses and strains, stress-strain relationships, determination of stresses and deformations in situations involving axial loading, torsional loading of circular cross sections, and flexural loading of straight members. Also covers stresses due to combined loading and buckling of columns.

Prerequisite courses:

Please be mindful of and respectful to each other by extending certain courtesies. These courtesies include being on time to class and not leaving early, not reading newspapers or doing other work during class, and turning off your cell phones during class. Simple respect to both instructor and other students requires that you do not talk during class except to join in class discussion or to ask a question. The topics of each lecture and corresponding book sections will be posted on WebCT.

Homework assignements will be posted on WebCT and are due at the beginning of lecture on the listed due date. No late homework will be accepted, however, the lowest homework score will be dropped. Homework assignments must be stapled together for credit (no paper clips or fold-overs). The reading assignments are part of your homework and you will be responsible for this material on exams whether covered in class or not. Solutions to most of the homework problems can be found in the text or on Prof. Vable's website (also check the errata). For each problem, the following items are required for full credit:

Each homework problem must start at the top of a new page
Complete problem statement
Complete free-body diagram
Clear step-by-step solution with necessary diagrams
Neat, legible handwriting
Answers with appropriate units must be boxed

The homework problems will not be rigourously graded. Students are encouraged to work with others to complete homework assignments, however, all work turned in must be original, not a simple copy of someone else’s work. Such copying with be considered as a breach of academic honesty and appropriate action will be taken.

The two in-class exams and the final exam will cover material from the homework problems, assigned reading, and from the lectures. The in-class exams will be designed for one hour, the extra time is to remove test anxiety. Exams are closed-book, although a formula sheet (the one on back cover of the book) will be attached to each exam. A complete free-body diagram is required for each problem to get full credit. Samples of old exams can be found on Prof. Vable's website. Exams missed due to documented medical problems and other (very) exceptional circumstances will be made up either by oral or written examination on an individual basis. Final exams will only be given at the scheduled time. Students need to check the final exam schedule before planning return flights or other events at the end of the semester.

Final grades for the course will be computed using a hybrid criterion- and norm-referenced approach. Grades will be assigned based on the the students' score relative to the average scores of the top 10% of the class. Therefore, student performance plays a role in determining the final grade and the number of students who can earn each grade is not limited. Letter grades: A (90-100%), AB (85-89%), B (80-84%), BC (75-79%), C (70-74%), CD (65-69%), D (60-64%)