CivE 660
Advanced Structural Analysis
Description
This course provides students with advanced skills in the theoretical formulation and computational modeling of complex structural systems. The curriculum focuses on the direct stiffness method applied to three-dimensional framed structures, alongside deep coverage of linear and nonlinear structural stability. Students will learn to formulate and solve geometric nonlinear problems using both approximate methods and direct stiffness approaches, bridging classical structural mechanics with modern engineering software applications.Learning Outcomes
- Derive and solve the governing differential equations for beams and trusses to determine displacements, internal forces, and stress distributions under applied loading.- Compare Euler-Bernoulli and Timoshenko beam theories and justify the appropriate selection for different structural design scenarios based on geometric and loading conditions.
- Employ the Principle of Virtual Work to solve structural problems involving trusses, beams, and continua and evaluate the accuracy of the resulting approximations.
- Explain the concepts and procedures underlying the stiffness matrix method and develop computational tools to analyze structures using the stiffness matrix approach.
- Derive local stiffness matrices for different element types (trusses, beams, frames, etc.) and interpret each matrix component in terms of unit displacements and corresponding reaction forces.
- Formulate the global stiffness matrix of a structure by transforming and assembling element stiffness matrices from local to global coordinates.
- Apply the stiffness matrix method to compute structural displacements and extract design-relevant internal forces (axial forces, shear forces, and bending moments).
- Apply the principles of superposition to incorporate distributed loading, support settlement, and other loading effects within the stiffness matrix method and explain the limitations of superposition.
- Utilize static condensation to formulate reduced stiffness matrices for elements with end releases and to construct modified global stiffness matrices in substructure analysis.
- Incorporate rigidity conditions (e.g., axial rigidity, rigid bodies) to reduce the degrees of freedom in a structural system and enable simplified analysis.
- Account for rigid end zones in frame element models to capture joint stiffness effects and improve the accuracy of structural response predictions.
- Differentiate between the stiffness matrix method and the finite element method and explain the implications of their respective assumptions, levels of approximation, and typical applications.
- Use structural analysis software (SAP 2000, OpenSees, ABAQUS) to model and analyze structural systems and explain the underlying analysis procedures these programs perform, including their relevance and limitations in professional engineering practice.
| Lecture | Seminar | Lab | Credits | Total AU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | 0/1 | 0/1 | 3 | 37.8 |
| M % | NS % | CS % | ES % | ED % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
None defined
None defined
Undergraduate Program(s)
Sections & Respective Instructors
| A1 - 2026/2027 - Winter - Clayton Pettit |
| A1 - 2025/2026 - Fall - Clayton Pettit |
| A1 - 2024/2025 - Fall - Clayton Pettit |
| A1 - 2023/2024 - Fall - Yong Li |
| A1 - 2022/2023 - Fall - Yong Li |
| A1 - 2020/2021 - Fall - Yong Li |