CIV 214S Structural Analysis I

This course introduces students to the classical methods of structural analysis, i.e., methods for calculating forces and displacements in structures due to given loads and imposed deformations. Both determinate and indeterminate structures are covered.

At the University of Toronto, this course is taught to all second-year undergraduate students in Civil Engineering.

I focused on giving students a sense of how the methods of structural analysis can be used not only to calculate the response of structures that have already been defined, but also to develop a more fundamental understanding of structural behaviour that can be used in design.

I defined the primary objectives of the course as follows:

• Understand the role of analysis in the structural design process
• Understand the theory that underlies the primary classical methods of analysis
• Become proficient in applying the classical methods of analysis with speed and accuracy
• Learn a general framework for structural analysis, which includes modeling, selection of method, application of method, and checking of results
• Develop an understanding of the most important qualitative aspects of structural behaviour
• Acquire a foundation of knowledge of completed works of structural engineering

I re-introduced methods of graphical analysis into this course as one means of accomplishing these objectives.

The website used for this course gives a detailed description of course objectives, lecture notes for all topics covered, as well as weekly assignments and exams.

I taught this course for four years, from 2003 to 2006.