MEC 411

COMMON ASSIGNMENT
SEMESTER MARCH – AUGUST 2023

Submission Date: 7th July 2023

PROBLEM STATEMENT
You are required to design an outdoor bench for a small gazebo area (2m x 2m). The size of
the bench should be 150 (L) x 50 (W) cm and made of a wooden material. Assume the
appropriate height for this bench. You should also consider the maximum safe loading that
the bench can support to prevent it from breaking.

Complex Engineering Problem

This assignment allows students to demonstrate their understanding for the subject mechanics of materials and
enable them to solve real life complex engineering problems. [CO3-PO4]

Instructions:
1. Students are required to carry out this assignment in a group consists of maximum 5 persons.
2. Each student in the group should provide one design of an outdoor bench according to the
requirement stated above. The group should report all proposed designs by each member (state the
student name for each design). Based on all proposed designs, the group should select only ONE
design or combine several ideas into one best design. The selected design should then be analysed,
in detail, by the group via static equilibrium analysis.
3. The ideas of the design may originate from the actual bench designs that are available in the market
or available at your house or elsewhere. You may improve the design to ensure that the bench is
stable. The details of the ideas or literature review should be stated and reported in the final report.
4. Photos or clear description of the selected design should be provided. The outdoor bench should be
built up of several parts (minimum 5 parts). These parts should be analysed from the perspective of
MEC411: Mechanics of Materials course. For example; its dimensions such as cross section and
height, types of external loadings and their points of application.
5. Construct a proper free body diagram for each part and do the analysis by considering the whole-
body part or at selected critical component (such as a pin connection or a bolt).
6. Complexity of the analysis is taken into consideration, in which a more complex analysis will be given
a higher mark.
7. For the analysis, state all assumptions, when necessary, and make sure all assumptions are justifiable
and logical.
8. For analysis and report, determine all internal forces (internal torque, moment, shear and normal
forces), stresses and deformations. If applicable, determine also the maximum or critical stress and
the maximum or critical deformation.
9. Discuss your results and findings. You may discuss your results by comparing the calculated values
with the failure strength/yield strength of the respective material available from the textbook.
10. Write a report of your findings.
11. The report must be at least 5 pages long. The maximum is 15 pages excluding the front page, table
of contents and list of references.
12. This assignment will contribute 20% to the overall course mark.
 Report Writing Rubric Assessment
Scale 1 2
Criteria Poor
• Topic is poorly
introduced. Lack of
understanding on the
related principles
and theories of the
Introduction and objectives
topic.
• Objectives are poorly
defined.
• Literature review is
inadequate and may
not be relevant to the
Literature review
topic.
• Chosen structure
is very simple.
Consists of only
Complexity of Structure & 1- 2 parts.
Assumptions • Assumptions are
poorly made and
unjustifiable.
• Photos of structure
are unclear.
• Free body diagrams
are poorly translated
Photos and free body
from the photos of
diagrams
structure.
• Dimensions and
labels are missing.
• Incomplete
procedures.
Results & calculations • Attempted to calculate
only o1-2 value.
• Poorly made
Discussions discussions.
• Unclear concluding
Conclusions
remarks.
• The report is
unorganized and does
References & Overall not clearly describe the
impression information obtained.
• Less than 3 references.
3 4
Acceptable
• Topic is fairly
introduced. Moderate
understanding of on the
related principles
and theories of the
topic.
• Objectives are fairly
defined.
• Literature review is
adequate, relevant but
may not be focussed
enough.
• Chosen structure is
consisted of 3-5 parts.
• Assumptions are fairly
made and justifiable.
• Photos of structure are
clear.
• Free body diagrams
are fairly translated
from the photos of
structure. May not be
fully accurate.
• Dimensions and labels
are adequate.
• Detailed procedures.
• Attempted to calculate
more than two values.
• Discussions are fairly
made. Able to relate the
estimated calculations
with the strength
properties of the
material used in the
structure.
• Topic is fairly concluded.
• The report is organized
and convey much of the
information obtained
• At least 5 references.
5
Excellent Factor
• Topic is well introduced.
Clear explanation of on the
related principles and 5
theories of the topic.
• Objectives are well defined.
• Excellent literature
review. Provides 5
excellent critical
analysis about the
topic.
• Chosen structure is
complex consisting of 5
more than 5 parts.
• Assumptions are well
made and perfectly
justifiable.
• Photos of structure are
clear.
• Free body diagrams are
well translated from the
photos of structure. Every
5
detail in the photos is
accurately described in
the FBDs.
• Dimensions and labels are
complete.
• Detailed procedures.
• Attempted to calculate all
values (maximum normal,
stress, maximum shear 5
stress, deformations, strain,
deflection, etc.).
• Discussions are very well
elaborated. Able to relate
and discuss
comprehensively the
estimated results with the 5
strength properties of the
material used in the
structure.
• Topic is well concluded. 5
• The report is well-organized,
5
clearly and concisely describe
the information obtained.
• More than 5 references.
Total 40
 SCHOOL OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING
COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA

MEC 411: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

COMMON ASSIGNMENT
(Due date: 7th July 2023)

Group Name : ………………………………………………

Lecturer : ……………………………………………….

No. Group Members Student ID

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

After you complete this task, you should be able to:

CO3 Develop solutions to complex engineering problems using appropriate analytical

approaches. [PO4, LO3, SS1] {C6}.

Report Assessment Marks

Introduction and objectives /5

Literature review /5

Complexity of structure and assumptions

/5
Photos of structure and free body diagrams /5

Results and calculations /5

Discussions /5

Conclusions
/5
Overall impression of the report including references /5

Total marks /40

Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Level Poor Acceptable Excellent