SUBJECT TITLE: APPLIED MECHANICS SYLLABUS

SUBJECT CODE: 539/15/S07

DURATION: 140 HOURS

1.0 AIM

To equip the student with Applied Mechanics skills and their applications in
industry

2.0 OBJECTIVES

At the end of covering the subject content, the student will be able to:
2.1 apply principles of statics in problem solving
2.2 apply principles of moments and volumes
2.3 use laws of motion to solve problems
2.4 use friction principles to solve problems

3.0 TOPICS

UNITS UNIT TUTLES TOPIC

3.1 General principle of 1. Vectors and their operations
statics 2. Principle of moments
3.2 Equilibrium 1. Conditions of equilibrium
3.3 Structural Analysis 1. Statics of trusses
2. Statics of beams
3.4 Friction 1. Friction on the inclined plane
2. Friction of flat and Vee belts
3. Friction on screws
3.5 Hydrostatics 1. Hydrostatic forces on plane submerged
surfaces
3.6 Moments of Inertia 1. Defining centroid and moments of inertia
using the method of integration
3.7 Kinematics of a particle 1. Rectilinear and curvilinear motion
2. Projectiles
3. Relative motion
3.8 Dynamics 1. Newton’s laws of motion
2. Work and Energy
3. Momentum and Impulse for linear and
angular motion

3.1 APPRECIATE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF STATICS

3.1.1 Definition of mechanics
3.1.2 Define vectors and scalars
3.1.3 Define the couple and state the principle of the transformation of a couple
 3.1.4 State the moment of a force and the principle of moments or Varignon’s
Theorem
3.1.5 Solve problems involving the transformation of a coup0le and the
resolution of a force
3.2 UNDERSTAND CONDITIONS OF EQUILIBRIUM OF A BODY
3.2.1 Explain the conditions of equilibrium of a body ∑ 𝐹𝑥 = 0; ∑ 𝐹𝑦 = 0 and
∑𝑀 = 0
3.2.2 State and solve problems involving the equilibrium of a co-planar force
system
3.2.3 Explain free-body diagrams and support reactions
3.3 UNDERSTAND STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS
3.3.1 Statics of trusses
3.3.1.1 State the types of simple trusses
3.3.1.2 Solve problems involving frameworks to determine the reactions at the
supports and the forces in the members of the frameworks by using the
following methods:
3.3.1.2.1 the methods of joints
3.3.1.2.2 the method of sections
3.3.1.2.3 the graphical method (force- diagrams)
3.3.2 Statics of Beams
3.3.2.1.1 Explain the different types of beam loading and support
reactions
3.3.2.1.2 Explain the difference between statically determinate and
statically indeterminate beams
3.3.2.1.3 Calculate the support reactions for beams with concentrated
and uniformly distributed loads.
3.3.2.1.4 Draw the shear force and bending moment diagrams and define
the maximum bending moment and points of contra flexure.
3.3.2.1.5 Establish the relationship between the loads, shear force and
bending moment.
3.4 UNDERSTAND PRINCIPLES AND APPLICATION OF FRICTION.

3.4.1 State the characteristics of dry friction.

3.4.2 Explain with the aid of sketches the static friction, limiting, friction or
maximum value of statics friction and kinetic friction factors.
 3.4.3 Solve engineering problems involving friction on the inclined plane when
the applied forces are:

- parallel to the plane

- horizontal

3.4.4 Calculate the minimum force required to move the body with uniform
velocity up and down the plane.

3.4.5 Explain the frictional force on flat and vee belts.

𝑇
3.4.6 State and apply the formula 𝑇1 = 𝑒 𝜇𝛼
2

3.4.7 In order to calculate the tension and power transmitted by belt drives.

3.4.8 Explain the frictions forces on screws and solve problems concerning
wedge friction.

3.5 SOLVING FLUID PRESSURE PROBLEMS

3.5.1 Explain and solve problems on fluid pressure acting on submerged plane
surfaces.

3.5.2 Rectangular components (x,y) components, normal and tangential

components
cylindrical components (r-𝜃) components.

3.5.3 Solve problems involving the different types of curvilinear motion of a

particle.

3.5.4 Define and explain ‘relative’ and absolute velocity, normal and tangential
velocity
and the instantaneous centre as applied to the slider-crank mechanism.

3.5.5 Solve problems on 3.5.3 above.

3.6 UNDERSTAND MOMENTS OF AREAS AND VOLUMES

3.6.1 Exp lain the centre of gravity and centroid of a body
3.6.2 Calculate the centroids of lines, areas and volumes using the method of
integration
3.6.3 Define moments of inertia for areas and volumes
3.6.4 Explain the parallel and perpendicular axes theorem
3.6.5 Define the radius of gyration of an area and volume
3.6.6 Solve problems involving the moments of inertia of areas and volumes
3.7 APPRECIATE KINEMATICS OF A PARTICLE
3.7.1 Explain rectilinear and curvilinear motion
3.7.2 Using equations of rectilinear motion solve problems on the motion of a
particle
3.7.3 Establish the relationship between linear and angular motion
3.7.4 Explain oblique projection of a projectile and define:
3.7.4.1 the range
3.7.4.2 the time of flight
3.7.4.3 the maximum height
3.7.5 Explain the projection of a projectile on the inclined plane and define:
3.7.5.1 the range
3.7.5.2 the time of flight
3.7.5.3 the maximum height reached
3.7.6 Solve problems on 3.7.4 and 3.7.5
3.7.7 Explain the curvilinear motion of a particle (displacement, velocity and
acceleration)
3.7.8 Rectangular components (x,y) components, normal and tangential
components (n,t) and cylindrical components (r-∅) components
3.7.9 Solve problems involving the different types of curvilinear motion of a
particle
3.7.10 Define and explain ‘relative’ and absolute velocity, normal and tangential
velocity and the instantaneous centre as applied to the slider-crank
mechanism
3.7.11 Solve problems on 3.7.10 above

3.8 DYNAMICS (FORCE, ACCELE RATION, MOMENTUM, WORK,

ENERGY AND POWER

3.8.1 State Newton’s laws of motion.

3.8.2 Solve problems on force, mass and acceleration.
3.8.3 Explain the dynamics of a body rotating about a fixed point (Torque and
angular acceleration)
3.8.4 State the principle of work and energy for a system of particles.
3.8.5 Solve problems on the principle of work and energy.
 3.8.6 State the energy equation and the principle of conservation of energy.
Solve problems involving the conservation of energy principle.
3.8.7 State the formula used to determine the work-done and the power
transmitted by a variable force and torque.
3.8.8 Solve problems on (7) above.
3.8.9 Define:

- Linear momentum
- Angular momentum
- Impulse

3.8.10 State the laws of conservation of linear and angular momentum.

3.8.11 Solve problems on 3.6.9 and 3.6.10 above.

5.0 SUGGESTED REFERENCE BOOKS

Author Year Title Publisher

Clemens A.B 1906 Applied Mechanics and Strength International
of Materials Textbook Company
Pratap R 2009 Introduction to Statics and Cornell University
Dynamics
Krodkiewki J 2008 Mechanics of Rigid Body
Housner G.W 1980 Applied Mechanics Dynamics California Institute
and Hudson D.E of Technology

6.0 ASSESSMENT SPECIFICATION GRID

Topics Number of Hours Weight Number of Questions

General principle of statics 21 15 1
Equilibrium
Structural Analysis 21 15 1
Friction 21 15 1
Hydrostatics 14 10 1
Moment of Inertia 14 10 1
Kinematics of particles 28 20 2
Dynamics 21 15 1
Total 140 Hours 100% 8