• Semester 1 (Day)
• Semester 2 (Day)
• Semester 2 (External)

Synopsis

Fundamental  to  engineering work is the ability to  make  predictions
about  how  things will behave when they are subject to some  actions.
For  example when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was designed by engineers,
they  needed  to be able to predict how it would behave so  that  they
could  be confident that it would not fail when loaded by cars, trucks
and trains.

Making  such predictions is never easy. There are however a  range  of
mathematically based analytical techniques which can be used  to  make
reliable and accurate predictions. In this Unit you will be introduced
to  one  such analytical tool called Engineering Statics which can  be
used  to  make predictions about how forces affect structures such  as
the  Sydney Harbour Bridge. You will use the technique to predict  how
forces  cause  beams, columns and machine parts to bend,  stretch  and
possibly break. In later design Units you will make extensive  use  of
Engineering Statics.