Faculty of Engineering

The University of Hong Kong

MECH2413 ENGINEERING MECHANICS

Course Outline

Course code: MECH2413

Course title: Engineering Mechanics
Offered by: Department of Mechanical Engineering
Level: Introductory
Credit units: 6
Pre-requisite course code: Nil
Co-requisite course code: Nil
Learning hours: 39
Student quota: 200
Course type: Discipline Core
Offer in academic year: One semester
Assessment (%): Written examination (70)
Continuous assessment (15)
Practical work (15)
Last Major Revision: September 2000
Last Minor Revision: 25 May 2017

Teaching S

This document contains information for the course MECH2413 Engineering Mechanics. Its intention is for
students undertaking the course to be well informed in terms of its learning expectations and also to help make
their learning journey an enjoyable one.

Information presented in this document was correct at the time of printing.

© 2010, Faculty of Engineering, HKU. Photocopies of this document for the purpose of study in this course may
be made without permission.
 Faculty of Engineering, HKU

Course Description and Aims

Course objectives:
1. To present a comprehensive study of the fundamental concepts and methods used in the analysis of stress and
strain in structural and machine components, and to develop logical methods for the design of engineering
components, structures and machines.
2. To develop a thorough understanding of the static deformation of simple non-rigid bodies, and of the stress and
strain produced in such bodies due to various loading conditions.
3. To introduce the basic principles of kinematics and kinetics for particles and rigid bodies.
4. To consolidate the knowledge of dynamics by studying space applications.

Teaching Staff
Contact details for the course co-ordinator and course teachers are shown below:
Course Co-ordinator
Name (Department: Specialty) Contact Details
Dr. Y. Chen E-mail: yuechen@hku.hk
(Mechanical Engineering: Materials) Phone: 3917-7095
Office: HW7-22
Course Teachers
Name (Department: Specialty) Contact Details
Dr. W.L. Ko E-mail: matchko@hku.hk
(Mechanical Engineering: Sound, Vibration & Control) Phone: 3917-2123
Office: HW5-22
Dr. Y. Chen E-mail: yuechen@hku.hk
(Mechanical Engineering: Materials) Phone: 3917-7095
Office: HW7-22

Learning Outcomes and Alignment with Programme Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes Relevant Programme Outcomes

1. Able to understand the fundamental
concepts and methods used in the analysis of
stress and strain in structural and machine
components.
2. Able to understand the basic principles of
kinematics and apply it in the analysis of
engineering mechanisms.
3. Able to appreciate the importance of
momentum and energy principles and apply
the knowledge of kinetics to engineering
problems such as space flight.
(Equivalent to the HKIE Abilities for Engineering Graduates)
PO(1) - an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and
engineering appropriate to the BSE and ME disciplines.
PO(11) - an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering
tools necessary for engineering practice appropriate to the BSE and ME
disciplines.
PO(1) - an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and
engineering appropriate to the BSE and ME disciplines.
PO(1) - an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and
engineering appropriate to the BSE and ME disciplines.
PO(11) - an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering
tools necessary for engineering practice appropriate to the BSE and ME
disciplines.

Course Teaching and Learning Activities and Alignment with Learning Outcomes
Teaching and learning activities in this course includes lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, and various assignments. All
course learning outcomes will be introduced and explained through lectures (3 hours/week). Some weeks may contain
tutorials as arranged at the discretion of the respective teacher. The course contents and its alignment with the course
learning outcomes and assessment tasks are described below.

Calendar Entry
This course aims to (1) present a comprehensive study of the fundamental concepts and methods used in the analysis of
stress and strain in structural and machine components, and to develop logical methods for the design of engineering
components, structures and machines; (2) develop a thorough understanding of the static deformation of simple non-rigid
bodies, and of the stress and strain produced in such bodies due to various loading conditions; (3) introduce the basic

MECH2413 course outline page 2 of 5

 Faculty of Engineering, HKU

principles of kinematics and kinetics for particles and rigid bodies, and (4) consolidate the knowledge of dynamics (e.g. by
studying space applications).
Topics include: stress and strain; bending of beams; deflection of beams; thin-walled pressure vessels; kinematics of particles
and rigid bodies; kinetics and principle of momentum and energy; application of dynamics principles (e.g. space applications);
particles and vehicles with mass variation; velocity-dependent resistance and the action of central forces.

Course Contents Responsible Teacher Course Learning Outcomes

Stress and strain (5 hours) Dr. Y. Chen 1

Generalized Hooke’s law; volumetric strain; shear and bulk
moduli and their relations to modulus of elasticity and
Poisson’s ratio;
Bending of beams (5 hours) Dr. Y. Chen 1
Simple and clamped supports; relations between applied loads,
shear forces and bending moments, shear force and bending
moment diagrams; flexural formula; shear stress due to
transverse loading; analysis of beam members for
determination of stresses and strains.
Deflection of beams (5 hours) Dr. Y. Chen 1
Importance and relevance of beam deflection; radius of
curvature, beam deflection formulae; Statically indeterminate
beam problems.
Torsion of shaft (3 hours) Dr. Y. Chen 1
Relation between stress, strain and angle of twist; Relation
between torque and shear stress; Torsion of a solid circular
shaft; Torsion of a hollow circular shaft
Thin-walled pressure vessels (3 hours) Dr. Y. Chen 1
Thin-walled cylindrical and spherical vessels subjected to
internal pressure; areas of application; cylindrical vessels with
hemispherical ends; volumetric strain.
Kinematics (5 hours) Dr. W.L. Ko 2
Displacement, velocity and acceleration; acceleration as
functions of distance and velocity. Rigid body and mechanisms,
relative motions, rotations and moment of inertia.
Kinetics (4 hours) Dr. W.L. Ko 3
Free body diagrams, static balance. Newton’s second law and
its application to rectilinear and rotational motions;
momentum and energy principles.
Mechanics of particle motions under central forces (3 hours) Dr. W.L. Ko 2, 3
Newton’s law applied to the orbital mechanics of particles
under central forces, orbital transfers.
Dynamics of mass-varying system (3 hours) Dr. W.L. Ko 3
Application of kinetic principles to rocket and jet propulsion via
the first-order differential equations, multi-stage design for
energy efficiency.
Particles under velocity-dependent resistance (3 hours) Dr. W.L. Ko 3
Terminal velocity and its application to parachute and small
particulates, peak deceleration of spacecraft re-entry
trajectories.

MECH2413 course outline page 3 of 5

 Faculty of Engineering, HKU

Guidelines on Grading and Standards of Assessment

Course Grade Description

A Exceptionally good performance demonstrating a superior understanding of the subject matter, a
foundation of extensive knowledge, a skillful use of concepts and/or materials, and ability to
analyze and evaluate problems.
B Good performance demonstrating capacity to use the appropriate concepts, a good understanding
of the subject matter, and an ability to handle the problems and materials encountered in the
course.
C Adequate performance demonstrating an adequate understanding of the subject matter, an ability
to handle relatively simple problems, and adequate preparation for moving on to more advanced
work in the field.
D Minimally acceptable performance demonstrating at least partial familiarity with the subject matter
and some capacity to deal with relatively simple problems, but also demonstrating deficiencies
serious enough to make it inadvisable to proceed further in the field without additional work.
F Unacceptable performance demonstrating unfamiliarity with the subject matter, and lack of
capacity to deal with relatively simple problems, and also demonstrating deficiencies serious
enough to make it advisable to retake the course.

Course Assessment Tasks and Alignment with Learning Outcomes

Assessment tasks in this course are described below, which includes weighting, assessment type, and alignment with course
learning outcomes.
Weighting of continuous assessment and written examination
Assessment Type Percentage of Total Description Course Learning Outcomes
Assessment (%)
Continuous Assessment 15 1-hour Quiz around middle 1, 2, 3
of the semester
Written Examination 70 3 hour Examination at end of 1, 2, 3
the semester
Practical Work 15 One 3-hour laboratory 1, 2
sessions

Engineering applications
Emphasis is placed on applying the theory to practical engineering problems ranging from the mechanical stiffness/strength
of simple structures to the motion of vehicles and machines under velocity-dependent forces.

Special relationship and integration with other courses

This course builds on the foundation laid in the preceding Level 1 course Physics for Engineering Students (PHYS1050). It also
leads on to the more specialized Level 3 courses Mechanics of Solids (MECH3409) and Dynamics and Control (MECH3418).

Since engineering mechanics combines applied science and applied mathematics, there is a strong link with the Year 1
Mathematics course. Apart from basic differentiation and integration, there is considerable emphasis on 1 st and 2nd order
differential equations in the Dynamics section of the course. In the 1st order case, the concept of a differential equation is
introduced via the fluid resistance acting on vehicles and ships. Therefore, the students hopefully have a stronger grasp of the
practical importance of differential equations before they delve more deeply into the mathematical theory. Relating to the same
sort of problem, since actual resistive and spring forces are rarely linear, least squares curve fitting is introduced as a means of
obtaining a linear approximation to non-linear phenomena.

Course and Assessment Policy

The course consists of lectures, tutorials, and two related experiments on (a) beam deflection and (b) motion measurement.

The assessment consists of three parts, 15% practical work based on the reports submitted for the two experiments, 15%
interim assessment, which is normally given in the form of quiz, and 70% end-of-semester written examination.

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 Faculty of Engineering, HKU

Submission of lab reports

Normally a penalty will be applied for late submission, and no mark will be awarded after an absolute deadline. Details are
announced in the course website. Failure in this practical work component automatically leads to the failure of the entire
subject.

Missed quiz
There will be no ‘make‐up’ for a missed quiz under normal circumstances . For students who are absent from continuous
assessment such as mid-term tests with genuine reasons, the percentage marks obtained in the final examination of that
subject will be used as the continuous assessment marks in per cent. Genuine reasons include medical conditions with
doctor's certificate and urgent family matters with proof.

Academic Conduct
The University Regulations on academic misconduct will be strictly enforced. Students are strongly recommended to refer to
http://www.hku.hk/student/plagiarism/ for further details. In addition, students should familiarise themselves with
http://lib.hku.hk/turnitin/.

Means / Processes for Student Feedback on Course

SETL
Students are asked to complete the evaluation (Student Evaluation of Teaching and Learning) of their learning experiences at
the conclusion of the course. Questionnaire items relate to the overall evaluation of the course as well as an evaluation of
teaching.

Other means of student feedback

In addition, individual teachers may seek other student feedback mechanism in the duration of their course such as through
student forums or class discussion feedback.

Learning Resources
Required text / References
1. Beer F.P. and Johnston E.R. Mechanics of Materials, 2nd edition, McGraw-Hill, 1992.
2. Benham P.P., Crawford R.J. Mechanics of Engineering Materials, 2nd edition, Longman, 1996.
Armstrong C.G.
3. Bedford A. and Fowler W. Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics, Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005.
4. Meriam J.L. and Kraige L.G. Engineering Mechanics: Dynamics, 5th Edition, Wiley, 2002.

Course website
Selected course material will be posted on Moodle platform in addition to announcements and important dates/deadlines:
students are advised to regularly consult the Moodle site for this course.

MECH2413 course outline page 5 of 5