Structural Engineering: Introduction to Qualitative Analysis

Course overview

In this course a qualitative analysis will be performed of 9 simple determinate structures. Qualitative analysis in structural engineering refers to drawings of bending moment diagrams, shear force diagrams, axial force diagrams and deflected shapes without the use of any calculation (be it equilibrium equations or energy theorems).

Prior knowledge required

This is an entry level course. Thus no prior knowledge of qualitative analysis is required. However, students should understand what are bending moments and deflected shapes.

Course content

This course is essentially divided into three parts.

• The first part of the course is just an introduction and there is an important lecture that discusses the tools that are used when performing qualitative analysis of structures.

• The second part of the course deals with performing the qualitative analysis of beam structures. These beams range from the most simplest forms, such as simply supported beams to continuous beams having hinges.

• The third part of the course deals with performing qualitative analysis of determinate frame structures. In this part of the course special attention is paid to the horizontal reactions of frame structures. 

Course aims

• Many undergraduate structural analysis subjects at universities involve number-crunching to determine bending moments and deflected shapes of beams and frames. Many students perform these calculations mindlessly and do not pay attention to the actual behavior of the structure. The result is that students leave university without having the skill to sketch a deflected shape of some of the most moderately simple beams and frames. The aim of this course is to arm those students with this very necessary skill required as a structural engineer.

• This course can also aid structural engineers who use software excessively to qualitatively verify the results from their analysis.

Learning outcomes

• Confidently sketch deflected shapes and bending moment diagrams of determinate beams and frames without performing any calculations or using a structural analysis software.