Fastrack course for Strength of Material for Civil Engineering Students

🎯 Course Objective

To provide a quick, clear, and practical understanding of how materials deform, resist forces, and fail — forming the foundation for structural and mechanical design.

🕐 Duration: 7–10 Days (Fastrack Mode)

(Can be extended or shortened depending on depth and practice time.)

📘 MODULE 1: Basic Concepts of Stress and Strain

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Concept of Force, Load, Stress, and Strain

• Types of Stresses: Normal, Shear, Bearing

• Hooke’s Law and Elasticity

• Stress–Strain Diagram for Mild Steel

• Elastic Constants: E, G, K, ν (Relations Between Them)

Outcome: Understand how materials respond to applied forces and deformation.

📗 MODULE 2: Mechanical Properties of Materials

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Strength, Stiffness, Toughness, Ductility, Brittleness

• Hardness and Fatigue

• Factor of Safety (FOS)

• Working Stress vs. Ultimate Stress

Outcome: Recognize material behavior under different conditions.

📙 MODULE 3: Axial Loading and Deformation

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Bars under Axial Loads (Uniform & Varying Cross-section)

• Elongation and Shortening

• Thermal Stresses and Strains

• Composite Bars

Outcome: Calculate deformation and stress in simple members.

📒 MODULE 4: Shear Force and Bending Moment in Beams

Duration: 2 Days
Topics:

• Types of Beams and Supports

• Types of Loads: Point Load, UDL, UVL

• Shear Force (S.F.) and Bending Moment (B.M.) Diagrams

• Relationship between Load, Shear Force, and Bending Moment

• Points of Contraflexure

Outcome: Draw SFD and BMD for basic loading conditions.

📕 MODULE 5: Bending and Shear Stresses in Beams

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Theory of Simple Bending

• Bending Stress Formula: MI=fy=ER\frac{M}{I} = \frac{f}{y} = \frac{E}{R}IM=yf=RE

• Moment of Inertia and Section Modulus

• Shear Stress Distribution in Beams (Rectangular, Circular, I-sections)

Outcome: Analyze and design beams for safe bending and shear.

📓 MODULE 6: Torsion of Circular Shafts

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Torsional Equation: TJ=τr=GθL\frac{T}{J} = \frac{\tau}{r} = \frac{G\theta}{L}JT=rτ=LGθ

• Power Transmitted by Shafts

• Combined Bending and Torsion

• Hollow vs. Solid Shafts

Outcome: Compute torsional stress and angle of twist in shafts.

📔 MODULE 7: Deflection of Beams

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Slope and Deflection Concepts

• Double Integration Method (Intro)

• Moment Area Theorems (Basics)

• Simple Numerical Problems

Outcome: Estimate deflection in simply supported and cantilever beams.

📘 MODULE 8: Principal Stresses and Theories of Failure

Duration: 1 Day
Topics:

• Plane Stress Transformation

• Mohr’s Circle for Stress

• Principal Stresses and Maximum Shear Stress

• Theories of Failure: Maximum Stress, Strain, Shear Stress, Energy Theories

Outcome: Understand combined loading and design criteria for safety.

🧮 BONUS PRACTICALS / MINI-PROJECTS

• Stress–Strain Test (Tensile Test Simulation)

• SFD/BMD Plotting Using MATLAB or Excel

• Shaft Design for a Given Torque

• Beam Deflection Calculator (Spreadsheet)

📜 Course Outcome

After completing this fastrack course, learners will be able to:

• Analyze forces, stresses, and deformations in simple members

• Draw and interpret SFD/BMD diagrams

• Apply bending, torsion, and deflection formulas correctly

• Use principles to design safe structural and machine elements