Mastering Statics from Coursera

Course Overview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdom7zBIfkE

Statics is the most fundamental course in Mechanics.

In this course, you will learn the conditions under which an object or a structure subjected to time-invariant (static) forces is in equilibrium - i.e. the conditions under which it remains stationary or moves with a constant velocity-.

You will also learn how to calculate the reaction forces as well as the internal forces experienced throughout the structure so that later you can properly design and size the foundation and the members of the structure to assure the structure’s safety and serviceability.

This course is suitable for learners with interest in different Engineering disciplines such as civil engineering, architecture, mechanical engineering, aerospace.

Non engineering disciplines may also find the course very useful, from archaeologist who are concerned about the stability of their excavation sites to dentists interested in understanding the forces transmitted through dental bridges, to orthopedic surgeons concerned about the forces transmitted through the spine, or a hip or knee joint.

The content will be primarily delivered using light board. Prof. Katafygiotis is going to write and sketch with color markers directly on the board while facing you. You will have an exciting and interactive learning experience online!

What's inside

Syllabus

Understanding Forces and Moments

This module introduces the basic operations that learners need to know in order to solve statics problems, we will start by reviewing Newton’s Laws, then introduce Forces and Moments and provide an overview of the vector algebra that governs their operations.

Equivalent Systems of Forces and Equilibrium

We will study the effect of a system of forces and couples acting on a rigid body and will state the conditions of equilibrium for particles, rigid bodies and assemblies of rigid bodies. The number of independent number of equations that are necessary and sufficient for satisfying equilibrium will be clearly stated.

Stability and Static Determinacy

We will discuss the important notions of stability and static determinacy. These are concepts that often are not presented clearly enough in some of the textbooks, causing confusion to students.

Trusses

Trusses are in a sense the simplest structures to analyze, used widely in structures such as bridges, industrial roofs, and cranes. We are going to introduce two methods of analysis, namely the method of joints and the method of sections to determine the member internal forces. In addition, we will study a computer-aided method for analyzing trusses.

Area properties and Moments of Inertia

To be able to deal with more complicated structures and loading scenarios, we will learn how to replace a distributed loading with an equivalent concentrated one using its geometric properties, such as its area and centroid coordinates. We will also learn how to calculate moments of inertia about specific coordinate axes and how to calculate their corresponding values about another translated and rotated system of axes.

Internal Force Diagrams

We will get to the most important part, which is analyzing frames and beams to calculate their internal forces and to draw axial, shear and moment diagrams. Contrary to most textbook presentations, we will adopt a notation that is universally adopted by engineers when using moment diagrams.

Static Analysis of a Structure

In this module, learners will be presented two examples of complex frames for static analysis. Learners should be able to apply what they have learnt in the previous module, calculate and plot the internal force diagrams. By the end of this module. students will be able to correctly draw axial shear and bending moment diagrams of rather complicated frames.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches essential principles of statics, which underpin various engineering disciplines

Utilizes engaging lightboard presentations to make learning interactive and visually stimulating

Covers a range of topics, from force analysis to internal force diagrams, providing a thorough foundation in statics

Taught by an experienced instructor with deep expertise in statics and mechanics

Suitable for learners from diverse backgrounds, including engineers, architects, and students with interests in forces and structures

Reviews summary

Highly praised statics course

Learners say Mastering Statics is an engaging, educational course that is well worth your time. Students highlight its clear explanations, illustrative examples, and suitable difficulty level. There are a few minor issues, such as occasional quiz errors, but these do not detract from the overall positive experience.

Course is accessible for learners at varying levels.

"The course was amazing. I have only compliments to give."

"The course was good and at beginner level it is worth."

"I've really learned a lot from this course."

Concepts are clearly conveyed.

"Clearly explained the concepts."

"Excellent course for civil/mechanical engineers. The course material is really good and the Professor explains the concepts really well!"

"The lecture videos don't only focus on the advanced concepts but also helps us to grow from the very basics."

Some learners may desire more practice problems.

"What I wish this course had was more practice problems, so please know that going into this you only have the quizzes to do to test your knowledge of the concepts."

A few quizzes may have errors.

"Content is overall great and the teacher explains everything well, the main concern I have is that some of the quizzes need corrections (simply are wrong)."

"The quices are full of errors."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mastering Statics with these activities:

Tutor Fellow Students

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Solidify your understanding by assisting fellow students and answering their questions.

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Identify opportunities to assist other students, such as joining a tutoring center or participating in online forums.
Review your own understanding of the course material to prepare for tutoring sessions.
Provide clear and concise explanations to fellow students, addressing their specific questions and challenges.
Patiently guide students through concepts, fostering their understanding and problem-solving skills.

Review Prior Knowledge

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Complete this activity to refresh your understanding of the core concepts covered in this course.

Browse courses on Rigid Body Dynamics

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Revisit the concepts of force and moment using the provided resources.
Practice applying vector algebra to solve simple problems involving forces and moments.
Review the fundamentals of rigid body dynamics, including the equations of motion.

Solve Statics Problems

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Engage in regular practice to enhance your problem-solving abilities and deepen your understanding of statics.

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Find and utilize online resources or textbooks to access a collection of statics problems.
Choose problems that cover different concepts, such as equilibrium equations, truss analysis, and moment of inertia.
Solve the problems step-by-step, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
Check your solutions against provided solutions or consult with the instructor for feedback.

Four other activities

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Develop Visual Aids

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Enhance your understanding and engage in active learning by creating visual representations of statics concepts.

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Choose a specific concept or topic from the course that you want to explore visually.
Design and create visual aids such as diagrams, graphs, or animations that illustrate the concept in a clear and engaging way.
Present or share your visual aids with others, explaining the concepts they depict.

Design a Structure

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Apply your knowledge to a practical scenario by designing a structure that meets specific requirements.

Browse courses on Structural Analysis

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Identify the purpose and constraints of the structure you want to design, considering factors like load-bearing capacity and material properties.
Research different structural designs and select one that aligns with your requirements.
Perform structural analysis using software or manual calculations to ensure the design meets the required specifications.
Create detailed drawings or a 3D model of your design, including dimensions and material specifications.

Build a Model Structure

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Reinforce your theoretical knowledge by constructing a physical model of a structure and analyzing its behavior under various loading conditions.

Browse courses on Structural Engineering

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Design a structural model that represents a real-world structure or concept.
Select appropriate materials and construction techniques for your model.
Build the physical model with precision and accuracy.
Apply different loading conditions to the model and observe its behavior.
Analyze the results and compare them with theoretical predictions.

Attend Industry Workshop

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Gain exposure to real-world applications and connect with professionals in the field.

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Identify industry workshops or conferences relevant to statics and structural engineering.
Register and attend the event, actively participating in presentations and discussions.
Network with professionals, exchange ideas, and gather valuable insights into the industry.

Career center

Learners who complete Mastering Statics will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Architectural Engineer

The skills you will learn in this course are fundamental to the work of an Architectural Engineer. You will learn how to analyze the forces and moments acting on a structure, and how to design and build structures that can withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Architectural Engineer

Civil Engineer

The concepts covered in this course are fundamental to the work of a Civil Engineer. The ability to understand and calculate the forces and moments acting on a structure is essential for designing and building safe and efficient structures. This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed in this field.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Engineer

Structural Engineer

This course will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to succeed as a Structural Engineer. You will learn how to calculate the forces and moments acting on a structure, and how to design and build structures that can withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Structural Engineer

Nuclear Engineer

This course may be useful for Nuclear Engineers who are interested in designing and building nuclear power plants. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these plants, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nuclear Engineer

Aerospace Engineer

This course may be useful for Aerospace Engineers who are interested in designing and building aircraft and spacecraft. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these vehicles, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Aerospace Engineer

Robotics Engineer

This course may be useful for Robotics Engineers who are interested in designing and building robots. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these robots, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Robotics Engineer

Dentist

This course may be useful for Dentists who are interested in understanding the forces and moments acting on teeth and dental bridges. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand how to design and build dental bridges that can withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Dentist

Materials Engineer

This course may be useful for Materials Engineers who are interested in understanding the mechanical properties of materials. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on materials, and how to design materials that can withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Materials Engineer

Geotechnical Engineer

This course may be useful for Geotechnical Engineers who are interested in designing and building foundations for structures. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these foundations, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Geotechnical Engineer

Metallurgical Engineer

This course may be useful for Metallurgical Engineers who are interested in understanding the mechanical properties of metals. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on metals, and how to design metals that can withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Metallurgical Engineer

Automotive Engineer

This course may be useful for Automotive Engineers who are interested in designing and building cars. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these cars, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Automotive Engineer

Mechanical Engineer

This course may be useful for Mechanical Engineers who are interested in designing and building mechanical systems that are subject to static forces. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these systems, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Mechanical Engineer

Marine Engineer

This course may be useful for Marine Engineers who are interested in designing and building ships. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these ships, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marine Engineer

Petroleum Engineer

This course may be useful for Petroleum Engineers who are interested in designing and building oil and gas pipelines. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these pipelines, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Petroleum Engineer

Biomedical Engineer

This course may be useful for Biomedical Engineers who are interested in designing and building medical devices. The concepts covered in this course will help you to understand the forces and moments acting on these devices, and how to design them to withstand these forces.

See salaries and explore the career path for Biomedical Engineer