2.

01x Elements of Structures − Fall 2017

Course Overview

2.01x introduces principles of structural analysis in applications to essential load-bearing
elements, such as bars in axial loading, axisymmetric shafts in torsion, and symmetric
beams in bending.
We will not use a textbook in this course: all of the material will be presented in lecture
videos, recitation videos, and example problems.

Schedule Overview
The course will run for 10 weeks. Materials for each of these weeks will be released on
Wednesday and will include interactive learning sequences, recitation and/or example
problems, and a graded problem set. We will have three quizzes. Quiz 1 (on Axial Loading)
will be in week 4, Quiz 2 (on Torsion) in week 7, and Quiz 3 (on Bending) in week 10. No
Problem Sets will be assigned on quiz weeks.
• Week 1 is introductory, and covers preliminary material and prerequisites.
No homework is assigned for the first week.
• Weeks 2 and 3 cover topics on bars in axial loading.
• Weeks 5 and 6 cover topics on shafts in torsion
• Weeks 8 and 9 cover topics on beams in bending

Homework
We will post 6 problem sets over the 10 weeks of the course. Each new problem set for the
week will be released on a Wednesday and it will be due by the next Tuesday, 11:59 PM
(UTC) the following week. The lowest problem set grade will be dropped, and will not
count towards your final grade. All problem sets carry the same weight, regardless of the
“points” you see per problem.

Quizzes
For the weeks of the quizzes, on Wednesday we will release review material and practice
problems to help you prepare for the exams. These practice problems do not contribute to
your overall grade. We will also release and an “equation sheet” that you will be allowed to
consult while you work on your quiz. Except for the provided equation sheet, you are not
allowed to consult any other source while taking the quiz. The actual quiz will be released
on Friday and will be due the Tuesday, 11:59 PM (UTC) of the following week, but
must be completed within 3 hrs from start to end. More details on this topic will be
posted as the date of the quiz approaches.

The first quiz will cover topics in axial loading, the second quiz will cover topics in torsion
and the third quiz will cover bending. Remember that you sign an honor code to enroll in
2.01x. Your answers on exams should only reflect your own work.

Grading
Each quiz is worth 25% of your total grade, and the 5 Problem Sets with the highest score are
cumulatively worth 25% of your total grade (5% each). We will grade the course on a
pass/fail scale. You need a total score of 65% or above for a passing grade in 2.01x.

Certification
Online learners who are enrolled in the Verified Certificate track and demonstrate mastery
of 2.01x course materials with a passing grade (of 65% or higher) will earn a 2.01x
Certificate. The deadline to switch to the Verified Certificate track is November 22 2017.

Assignment Schedule
Assignment Covers Released Due % weight

Problem Set 1 Axial Loading I 10/11/2017 10/17/2017 at 23:59 UTC 5

Problem Set 2 Axial Loading II 10/18/2017 10/24/2017 at 23:59 UTC 5

Quiz 1 Axial Loading 10/27/2017 10/31/2017 at 23:59 UTC 25

Problem Set 3 Torsion I 11/01/2017 11/07/2017 at 23:59 UTC 5

Problem Set 4 Torsion II 11/08/2017 11/14/2017 at 23:59 UTC 5

Quiz 2 Torsion 11/17/2017 11/21/2017 at 23:59 UTC 25

Problem Set 5 Bending I 11/22/2017 11/28/2017 at 23:59 UTC 5

Problem Set 6 Bending II 11/29/2017 12/05/2017 at 23:59 UTC 5

Quiz 3 Bending 12/08/2017 12/12/2017 at 23:59 UTC 25

Deadlines
Please note that the schedule presents due dates in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).
Free tools like http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html can convert
between time zones. Also, we will not accept any late submissions.

Learning Sequences
Each week’s material, released on Wednesday, includes a learning sequence with videos of
lectures, interspersed with online exercises. Participation in these online learning sequence
exercises does not contribute to your grade, but it will help you solidify the concepts
presented in lecture. For each lecture, we also provide “Board Notes” (via a pdf link at the
bottom of each video) following, board by board, the material presented in the lecture
video. Board Notes are a helpful resource to review material in a time-efficient manner

when you work on your Problem Sets or prepare for the quizzes, or to use as a base to take
your own notes while you watch a lecture.

Recitations
For some weeks we also have recitation sessions, with videos of instructors solving
problems similar to the ones that will be assigned in your Problem Sets. We designed these
videos to help you develop your scientific problem-solving skills. You are encouraged to
work on the exercises that will be solved in recitation on your own, before you watch the
recitation video. Participation in these online exercises does not contribute to your grade,
but following this proposed strategy will be very effective in strengthening your
understanding of the material.

Discussion Forum
We encourage students to actively participate in the discussion forum offered on the 2.01x
website. You should use the discussion forum to ask questions about concepts from
lectures, example and recitation problems, homework problems and interesting
applications of the concepts in real life. You should not directly request or post answers to
problem sets or exams on the forum. The course staff moderates the forum, but we
encourage students to answer other students’ questions.