The Engineering of Structures Around Us
Dartmouth College via Coursera Specialization
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Overview
Class Central Tips
In this Specialization, you will learn some engineering principles that can be applied to structural systems everywhere: in nature, in furniture, in mechanical and aerospace systems, and in any solid object that resists a load.
Together we’ll explore how structures work, why they were designed the way they were designed, how they support loads, and where forces flow through them.
More specifically you will:
Learn about funicular forms and how ropes and cables resist tension. Discuss how columns, arches, and anti-funicular forms resist compression. Discover how trusses, beams and walls resist loads. • Sketch the flow of forces through structures. Compare and contrast different structural forms and systems to answer a range of questions such as: Why might an engineer choose a beam over a truss? How do the dimensions of a structure affect its response? How do engineers choose forms and systems to create structures that are both elegant and functional?
Syllabus
Course 1: Engineering of Structures: Tension
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with tension. Tension is one of the easiest forces to understand. It is a pulling force. ... Enroll for free.
Course 2: Engineering of Structures: Compression
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with compression. When we push an object, it compresses. Compression is what's going to hold ... Enroll for free.
Course 3: Engineering of Structures: Tension and Compression
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with tension and compression. After going through this course, you will understand why ... Enroll for free.
Course 4: Engineering of Structures: Shear and Bending
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with shear and bending. Shear is a set of parallel, non-collinear forces acting across an ... Enroll for free.
Course 5: Engineering of Structures: Response of Structures
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course explores the impact of different forces on the construction of bug buildings. It provides an ... Enroll for free.
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with tension. Tension is one of the easiest forces to understand. It is a pulling force. ... Enroll for free.
Course 2: Engineering of Structures: Compression
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with compression. When we push an object, it compresses. Compression is what's going to hold ... Enroll for free.
Course 3: Engineering of Structures: Tension and Compression
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with tension and compression. After going through this course, you will understand why ... Enroll for free.
Course 4: Engineering of Structures: Shear and Bending
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course deals with shear and bending. Shear is a set of parallel, non-collinear forces acting across an ... Enroll for free.
Course 5: Engineering of Structures: Response of Structures
- Offered by Dartmouth College. This course explores the impact of different forces on the construction of bug buildings. It provides an ... Enroll for free.
Courses
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This course deals with tension. Tension is one of the easiest forces to understand. It is a pulling force. When we tend to pull an object, it is in tension. Different elements that resist tension in buildings are ropes, cables, and funicular forms. You will study different structures and identify what role tension plays in their designs. The first module explores tension and its importance in building structures. The second module explores funicular forms, angles, and bridges. You will understand the role of funicular forms in sustaining tension, how to best design elements and systems that resist tensile forces. You will also recognize the similarities and differences between suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges. The third module explores how to build a cable-stayed bridge. You'll also study the structures of different bridges and share a report on them.
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This course explores the impact of different forces on the construction of bug buildings. It provides an overall understanding of how buildings respond to different forces that impact their designs. The first module introduces you to the concept of the overall response of structures. The second module explores different types of loads and their impact on the design of large structures. It also gives a detailed explanation of how buildings fall due to earthquakes. In addition, the module offers an explanation on the impact of mass and stiffness on building response. The third module explores how to build a cardboard chair. You'll also learn how to work with SketchUp Make.
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This course deals with tension and compression. After going through this course, you will understand why tensegrity structures and sculptures are different from other structures. You will also explore tension and compression in different types of trusses. Additionally you will understand determinacy and realize how it applies to trusses. The first module introduces you to the concept of tension and compression. The second module explores topics such as tensegrity structure, trusses, and determinacy. After finishing this module, you will also be able to calculate the force in members of a truss. The third module explores how to build a truss bridge.
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This course deals with compression. When we push an object, it compresses. Compression is what's going to hold up our building. Arches, vaults, domes, and anti-funicular forms help resist compression. In this course, you will learn about different columns and arches and their role in resisting compression. You'll also build anti-funicular forms. The first module introduces you to the topic compression and familiarizes you with the key terms related to compression. The second module deals with topics such as columns, arches, and other anti-funicular forms. It explores their roles in resisting compression. The final module explores how to build anti-funicular forms.
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This course deals with shear and bending. Shear is a set of parallel, non-collinear forces acting across an element and bending is the curved form taken by a slender element when subjected to loads perpendicular to the element. These forces are easy to understand. You will study how stress and bending force acts for different structures and also, identify what role these forces play in their designs. The first module introduces you to the concept of shear and bending while building structures. The second module explores different understanding of stress and bending. It defines important terms used to understand these forces. It also studies the impact of shear and compression on beams of different materials. You will also learn how to calculate shear stresses and bending stresses. The third module explores how to build a cardboard beam or shelf . You'll also study the structure beam and share a report on it.
Taught by
Vicki May