Department of Mechanical Engineering
 
and Mechanics
 
 
MEM  230  Mechanics  of  Materials  I  
 
Fall  2014/15  
 
Course  Syllabus  
 
Designation:  Required  
   
Catalog  Description:   Covers   definitions   of   stress   and   strain,   uniaxial   loading,   torsion,   bending   moments  and  
shear  forces  in  beams,  bending  stresses  and  shear  stress  in  beams,  and  stress  transformation.  
Prerequisites:  MEM202  Statics  
 
Course  Objective  

Draw  Free  Body  Diagrams  including  applied  forces,  reaction  forces,  and  internal  forces.    

Determine  the  forces,  stresses,  and  strains  in  structural  components  subjected  to  tension,  
compression,  torsion,  and  bending.    

Determine  stresses  acting  on  any  arbitrary  plane  and  determine  the  principal  stresses  and  angles.    

Determine  internal  loading  of  structures  that  are  subjected  to  mechanical  and  thermal  loads.    

Determine  the  shear-­‐moment  diagram  of  a  beam  and  find  the  maximum  moment/shear  and  their  
locations.    

Determine  the  stresses  and  deformation  of  a  torsional  bar.    

Determine  the  stresses  and  deformation  of  a  bar  due  to  axial  loading.    

Determine  the  dimensions  of  beam  cross  sections  to  support  a  variety  of  loading  configurations.    
 
Topics  

Stress,  strain,  and  mechanical  properties  of  materials  

Stresses  and  deformation  of  bars  subjected  to  axially  load  

Stresses  and  deformation  of  shafts  subjected  to  torsion  

Shear  forces  and  bending  moments  in  beams    

Bending  stresses  in  beams  

Shear  stresses  in  beams  

Combined  loadings    

Stress  and  strain  transformation  
 
Instructor   Teaching  Assistants    
Dr.  Tein-­‐Min  Tan   Mr.  Reewanshu  Chadha   Mr.  David  Stanley  
Office:  Curtis  155C   Office:  Curtis  152   Office:  Curtis  152  
TEL:  215.895.2293   TEL:  215.895.2298   TEL:  215.895.2298  
Office  Hours:  By  appointment   Office  Hours:  T  1300  -­‐  1500   Office  Hours:  M  1500  -­‐  1700  
EMAIL:  tan@drexel.edu   Email:  rc365@drexel.edu   Email:  ds835@drexel.edu  
 
Lecture:   Randell  121   Section  A:  T/R  1530  –  1650,  Section  B:  T/R  1700  –  1820  
 
Recitation:   Curtis  457    
 

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, 3141 Chestnut Street, Randell Hall Rm. 115, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: 215-895-1481 I  Fax: 215-895-1478  I  drexel.edu/mem
 
Textbook:   Mechanics  of  Materials  by  James  M.  Gere  (6th  edition,  ISBN10:  0-­‐534-­‐41793-­‐0)  or  by  James  M.  
Gere  and  Barry  J.  Goodno  (7th  edition,  ISBN10:  0-­‐010-­‐02495-­‐6;  8th  edition,  ISBN10:  1-­‐111-­‐57773-­‐
5).  You  can  use  any  one  of  these  three  editions.  
 
Lecture  Notes:  Copies  of  lecture  notes  (in  .ppsx/.pdf  format)  will  be  posted  on  BBLearn  course  website  
 
Course  Requirements  and  Policy  (*)  

Attendance:  Lecture  and  recitation  attendance  is  mandatory.    Attendance  will  be  taken  randomly  at  
the  instructor’s  discretion.  

Homework  Assignments  (HA):  Homework  assignments  are  assigned  weekly  and  are  due  one  week  
after  they  are  assigned.  Assignments  will  be  collected,  but  will  not  be  graded.    Late  assignments  will  
not  be  accepted.    Solutions  for  the  assignments  will  be  made  available  after  the  due  date.  

In-­‐class  Exercises  (IE):    There  will  be  one  or  two  in-­‐class  exercises  in  each  lecture  period.  

Weekly  Quizzes  (WQ):  There  will  be  a  quiz  at  the  end  of  each  recitation  on  Wednesday.    The  two  
lowest  quiz  scores  will  be  discounted.    No  make-­‐up  quizzes  will  be  given.  

Mid-­‐term  Examinations  (ME):  There  will  be  two  mid-­‐term  examinations,  given  on  week  #4  and  
week  #8,  respectively.  

Final  Examination  (FE):  Final  examination  will  be  cumulative,  covering  the  material  taught  in  the  
entire  term  

Grading  Policy:  The  term  grades  will  be  calculated  based  on  the  following  distribution  
IE  –  10  %;  WQ  –  28%;  ME1  –  18%,  ME2  –  18%;  FE  –  26%  

Grading  Scale:  Final  grades  will  be  based  on  the  following  grading  scheme  
 
Numerical  Score  Used  for  Letter  
Numerical   Point   Letter  
Grades  in  Overall  Grade  
Score   Equivalent   Equivalent  
Calculation  
96.0  –  100   4.00   A+   100  
92.5  –  95.9   4.00   A   96  
89.0  –  92.4   3.67   A-­‐   92  
85.0  –  88.9   3.33   B+   88  
81.5  –  84.9   3.00   B   84  
78.0  –  81.4   2.67   B-­‐   80  
74.0  –  77.9   2.33   C+   76  
70.5  –  73.9   2.00   C   72  
67.0  –  70.4   1.67   C-­‐   68  
63.0  –  66.9   1.33   D+   64  
60.0  –  62.9   1.00   D   60  
≤  59.9   0.00   F   0  
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
(*)  See  attached  “MEM  230  Announcement  1”  for  additional  information  on  course  policy  

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, 3141 Chestnut Street, Randell Hall Rm. 115, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: 215-895-1481 I  Fax: 215-895-1478  I  drexel.edu/mem
 
Contribution  to  Professional  Component:    
Contributes  toward  1  ½  year  of  engineering  topics  appropriate  to  developing  the  ability  to  work  in  the  
mechanics  of  materials  area.    It  prepares  students  for  advanced  classes  in  mechanics  of  materials.    
 
Relationship  to  Program  Outcomes:  
Outcomes  a  –  k   Content   Explanation   Evidence  
a. An  ability  to  apply    2   This  course  requires  the  students  to   Homework,  
knowledge  of   develop  a  general  understanding  of   quizzes,  exams,  
mathematics,  science   mechanics  of  materials.  The   and  lecture  notes  
and  engineering   students  learn  how  to  apply  and  
synthesize  their  knowledge  of  
mathematics,  science,  and  
engineering.  
b. An  ability  to  design  and   0   NA   NA  
conduct  experiments  as  
well  as  to  analyze  and  
interpret  data  
c. An  ability  to  design  a   2   All  the  problems  assigned  in  this   Homework,  
system,  component  or   course  involve  either  the  analysis  of   quizzes,  exams,  
process  to  meet  desired   given  structures  under  certain   and  lecture  notes  
needs   loading  conditions  or  the  design  of  
new  structures  and  machine  parts  to  
fulfill  given  loading  characteristics.  
d. An  ability  to  function  on   0   NA   NA  
multidisciplinary  teams  
e. An  ability  to  identify,    2   Design  problems  train  the  students   Homework,  
formulate  and  solve   to  formulate  and  solve  engineering   quizzes,  exams,  
engineering  problems   problems.   and  lecture  notes  
 
f. An  understanding  of   0   This  is  emphasized  as  part     Classroom  
professional  and  ethical   of  the  engineer’s  overall   discussion  
responsibility   responsibility.  
g. An  ability  to   0   All  homework  assignments  are   Homework.  
communicate   submitted  in  writing  
effectively  
h. The  broad  education   1   The  impact  of  the  topics  addressed   Classroom  
necessary  to   by  this  course  (related  to  mechanics   discussion.  
understand  the  impact   and  structures)  is  conveyed  during  
of  engineering  solutions   the  lectures  
in  a  global/societal  
context  
i. A  recognition  of  the   1   The  appropriate  learning  process,   Classroom  
need  for  and  an  ability   critical  thinking,  analytical  thinking,   discussion.  
to  engage  in  lifelong   and  the  requirement  for  continuous  
learning   learning  is  repeatedly  stressed  by  the  
instructor  
j. A  knowledge  of   0   NA   NA  
contemporary  issues  
k. An  ability  to  use  the   0   NA.   NA  
techniques,  skills  and  
modern  engineering  
tools  necessary  for  
engineering  practice  
 

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, 3141 Chestnut Street, Randell Hall Rm. 115, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: 215-895-1481 I  Fax: 215-895-1478  I  drexel.edu/mem
 
University  Policies  
This  course  follows  standard  Drexel  University  policies:  
 
University  Policies  on  Academic  Integrity,  Plagiarism,  and  Cheating  
 http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/academic_dishonesty.asp  
 
Dropping  a  Course  
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/course_drop.asp  
 
Withdrawing  from  a  Course  
http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/pdf/course_withdrawal.pdf  
 
Accommodation  for  Students  with  Disabilities:    
Students  with  disabilities  at  Drexel  University  may  qualify  to  receive  a  variety  of  accommodations.  
These  accommodations  are  determined  on  a  case-­‐by-­‐case  basis  after  speaking  with  the  student  and  
reviewing   their   medical   documentation.   As   such,   there   is   not   an   exhaustive   list   of   potential  
accommodations.     However   the   information   provided   on  
http://www.drexel.edu/oed/disabilityResources/students/Accommodations/   highlights   some   of  
the   policies   and   procedures   for   the   more   common   accommodation   areas.   Any   student   who   feels  
they   may   qualify   for   any   accommodations   is   encouraged   to   contact   The   Office   of   Disability  
Resources  (ODR)  at  215-­‐895-­‐1401  or  disability@drexel.edu.  
 

Department of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, 3141 Chestnut Street, Randell Hall Rm. 115, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Tel: 215-895-1481 I  Fax: 215-895-1478  I  drexel.edu/mem