Differential equations in construction engineering (3cr)

Objective

Purpose: After the course you will understand how differential equations are used in civil engineering to calculate deflections in beams.

Competencies: Knowledge and understanding of the differential equations at a level necessary to achieve the other programme outcomes.

Learning outcome: You know what differential equations are. You can solve a differential equation of first order using appropriate tools. You understand the role of initial and boundary conditions. You can solve problems related to construction technology.

Content

During this course you will study the following topics:

- Defining the equation for a load
- Defining the initial and boundary conditions according to the support
- Concept of differential equations and verifying the results and boundary conditions
- Solving a differential equation by integration
- Calculation the shear force, bending moment, deflection angle and deflection of a loaded beam and determining and analysis of their graphs
- Using local extremas in calculating deflections in beams

Qualifications

You understand concept of the derivative and you can use derivatives in optimization. You understand the concept of the integral. You can take the derivatives and integrals of functions using appropriate tools when necessary.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Sufficient 1: You know the concept of differential equation. You understand how to use differential equations in calculating the deflections in a beam. You can verify the result and the initial and boundary conditions. You can solve the deflection of a beam by a model.

Satisfactory 2: You have achieved the desired goals (see the criteria in grade 1). You can solve the deflection of a beam without a model, but your reasoning is sometimes deficient or you make mistakes in calculations.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good 3: You have achieved the desired goals (see the criteria in grade 1). You know most of the concepts and methods and how to apply them in familiar situations showing often the ability to reason completely and calculate flawlessly.

Very good 4: You have achieved the desired goals (see the criteria in grade 1). You know most of the concepts and methods and how to apply them in new situations showing in most cases the ability to reason completely and calculate flawlessly.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent 5: You have achieved the desired goals (see the criteria in grade 1). You know all the concepts and methods and how to apply them in new situations showing always the ability to combine things, reason completely and calculate flawlessly.