565.619.81 - Advanced Structural Analysis

Expanded Course Description

This course may be used to satisfy the structural analysis requirement for the Structural Engineering focus area.

Prerequisites: 

Solid Mechanics & Theory of Structures (560.206 or equivalent). Linear Algebra recommended.

Course Structure

The course materials are divided into modules which can be accessed by clicking Modules on the course menu. A module will have several sections including the overview, content, readings, discussions, and assignments. You are encouraged to preview all sections of the module before starting. Most modules run for a period of seven (7) days, exceptions are noted in the Course Outline. You should regularly check the Calendar and Announcements for assignment due dates.

Course Topics

• Structural Analysis of 2D Trusses
  
• Stiffness Method for Trusses
  
• Commercial Software
• Special Topics in Truss Analysis
• Stiffness Method for Frames
• Special Topics in Frame Analysis
• Structural Behavior
• Nonlinear Analysis

Course Goals

To understand the fundamentals of the matrix-based stiffness method of structural analysis, including underlying assumptions and limitations, and implement the procedure in both custom and commercial software.

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs)

• Explain key assumptions used to build idealized models of structures and consequent limitations of these assumptions.
• Implement the stiffness method to compute displacements, reactions, and members forces for truss structures.
• Implement the stiffness method to compute displacements, reactions, and members forces for frame structures.
• Implement key components of the stiffness method in MATLAB programming language.
• Analyze truss and frame structures using commercial structural analysis software and assess the validity of the output.
• Perform a complete structural analysis of a realistic structure.

Textbooks

Recommended

• McGuire, Gallagher & Ziemian. Matrix Structural Analysis, 2nd ed. http://digitalcommons.bucknell.edu/books/7; Print version available on Amazon

 Supplemental

• Kennedy & Madugula, Elastic Analysis of Structures: Classical and Matrix Methods
• Hall & Woodhead, Frame Analysis
• Gallagher, Finite Element Analysis: Fundamentals
• Chapman, Matlab Programming for Engineers

Required Software

MATLAB

You will need access to a recent version of MATLAB. A license is provided at no cost to you, through JHU.

Visit the JHU Software Catalog. Log in with your JHED ID and type “Matlab” in the search bar. Click on “Matlab for Students” in the search results and follow the instructions provided.

For more guidance, refer to our Accessing Matlab at JHU support article.

MASTAN2

MASTAN2 is an interactive structural analysis program that provides preprocessing, analysis, and postprocessing capabilities. It is provided free with your textbook and you are encouraged to take advantage of it for checking your calculations.

STAAD

STAAD.Pro is a commercial structural analysis software that we will use in the course to analyze structures and make comparisons to our hand and MATLAB calculations. Information will be provided for how to access the student license of STAAD.Pro later in the course.

Student Coursework Requirements

It is expected that each module will take approximately 6–10 hours per week to complete. Here is an approximate breakdown: viewing and taking notes on the video lectures (approximately 2–4 hours per week), and completing the problem sets and coding assignments (approximately 4–6 hours per week).

This course will consist of the following basic student requirements:

Preparation and Participation (15% of Final Grade Calculation)

You are responsible for carefully reviewing all assigned material and video lectures.

Some modules will include a discussion prompt. Post your initial response to the discussion questions by the evening of day 3 for that module week. Posting a response to the discussion question is part one of your grade for module discussions (i.e., Timeliness).

Part two of your grade for module discussion is your interaction with fellow classmates, including engaging in discussion with thoughtful comments and feedback, or answering questions to support understanding of a topic.  Just posting your response to a discussion question is not sufficient; we want you to interact with your classmates. Be detailed in your postings and in your responses to your classmates' postings, and feel free to agree or disagree with your classmates. Please ensure that your postings are civil and constructive.

I will monitor module discussions and will respond to some of the discussions as comments are posted. In some instances, I will summarize the overall discussions and post the summary for the module.

Evaluation of preparation and participation is based on contribution to discussions. Preparation and participation is evaluated by the following grading elements:

• Timeliness (50%)
• Critical Thinking (50%)

Preparation and participation is graded as follows:

• 100–90 = A—Timeliness [regularly participates; all required postings; early in discussion; throughout the discussion]; Critical Thinking [rich in content; full of thoughts, insight, and analysis].
• 89–80 = B—Timeliness [frequently participates; all required postings; some not in time for others to read and respond]; Critical Thinking [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].
• 79–70 = C—Timeliness [infrequently participates; all required postings; most at the last minute without allowing for response time]; Critical Thinking [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].
• <70 = F—Timeliness [rarely participates; some, or all required postings missing]; Critical Thinking [rudimentary and superficial; no analysis or insight is displayed].

Assignments (30% of Final Grade Calculation)

Assignments will include a mix of hand calculations, MATLAB coding, and use of commercial software.

Assignments should be turned in by the time specified. Late assignments will be docked 10% for every day it is late, after 7 days late homework will no longer be accepted.

Students are encouraged to work in small groups when solving assignment problems; however, each student is responsible for understanding the material and turning in their own assignment, including writing your own MATLAB code (no copy-paste!!) or building your model in Finite Element Software (no file sharing!!). Any student who works with you on assignments should be indicated on the top of the front page of your submission – this is an important issue and should not be ignored.

Assignments should conform to the guidelines of good engineering practice which include the following:

1. All pages should include your name, class designation (565.619 or Adv. Structural Analysis) and date.
2. Work should be done in pencil using only one side of the page, preferably on engineering computation paper.
3. Work should be organized and neat. Assumptions should be clearly stated, appropriate units should be noted on answers and answers should be boxed, underlined, or otherwise labeled.
4. Where appropriate, small sketches should be included to help explain the design calculations (e.g., sketches of Free Body Diagrams, cross-sections, connections, etc.). To the degree possible, sketches should be drawn to scale.
5. Numerical answers should be given with an appropriate number of significant digits, and should always include units (when applicable).

Assignments that do not meet these requirements, especially those of neatness, will be penalized.

Quantitative assignments are generally evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Each part of question is answered (20%)
2. Assumptions are clearly stated or illustrated (20%)
3. Intermediate derivations, sketches and calculations are provided (25%)
4. Answer is technically correct and is clearly indicated (25%)
5. Answer precision and units are appropriate (10%)

Quantitative assignments are graded as follows:

• 100–90 = A—All parts of question are addressed; All assumptions are clearly stated; All intermediate derivations and calculations are provided; Answer is technically correct and is clearly indicated; Answer precision and units are appropriate.
• 89–80 = B—All parts of question are addressed; All assumptions are clearly stated; Some intermediate derivations and calculations are provided; Answer is technically correct and is indicated; Answer precision and units are appropriate.
• 79–70=C—Most parts of question are addressed; Assumptions are partially stated; Few intermediate derivations and calculations are provided; Answer is not technically correct but is indicated; Answer precision and units are indicated but inappropriate.
• <70=F—Some parts of the question are addressed; Assumptions are not stated; Intermediate derivations and calculations are not provided; The answer is incorrect or missing; The answer precision and units are inappropriate or missing.

Course Project (30% of Final Grade Calculation)

A Course Project will be assigned several weeks into the course. The next-to-the-last week will be devoted to the course project.

The Course Project is evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Student preparation and participation (as described in Course Project Description) (40%)
2. Student technical understanding of the course project topic (as related to individual role that the student assumes and described in the Course Project Description) (20%)
3. Team preparation and participation (as described in Course Project Description) (20%)
4. Team technical understanding of the course project topic (as related to the Customer Team roles assumed by the students and the Seller Team roles assumed by the students and described in the Course Project Description) (20%)

Course Project is graded as follows:

• 100–90 = A—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities well defined and understood; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) agreed to, well prepared and available to all team members/ instructors]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [rich in content; full of thought, insight, and analysis].
• 89–80 = B—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities well defined and understood; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) agreed to and prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].
• 79–70 = C—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities agreed to; individual/ team well versed in use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].
• <70 = F—Student Preparation and Participation/ Team Preparation and Participation [individual/ team roles and responsibilities not well understood; individual/ team has difficult with use of Adobe Connect; individual/ team work product(s) partially prepared]; Student Understanding/ Team Understanding [rudimentary and superficial; no analysis or insight displayed].

Midterm Exam (25% of Final Grade Calculation)

The Midterm Exam will be available in Module 7. You will have one week to complete the exam and they will be due by 5PM exactly one week from its release. You may use the course text to complete the exams.

The exams are evaluated by the following grading elements:

1. Each part of question is answered (20%)
2. Writing quality and technical accuracy (30%) (Writing is expected to meet or exceed accepted graduate-level English and scholarship standards. That is, all assignments will be graded on grammar and style as well as content.)
3. Rationale for answer is provided (20%)
4. Examples are included to illustrate rationale (15%) (If a student does not have direct experience related to a particular question, then the student is to provide analogies versus examples.)
5. Outside references are included (15%)

Exams are graded as follows:

• 100–90 = A—All parts of question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [rich in content; full of thought, insight, and analysis].
• 89–80 = B—All parts of the question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [substantial information; thought, insight, and analysis has taken place].
• 79–70 = C—Majority of parts of the question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [generally competent; information is thin and commonplace].
• <70 = F—Some parts of the question are addressed; Writing Quality/ Rationale/ Examples/ Outside References [rudimentary and superficial; no analysis or insight displayed].

Grading Policy

Assignments are due according to the dates posted in your Canvas course site. You may check these due dates in the Course Calendar or the Assignments in the corresponding modules. I/We will post grades one week after assignment due dates.

We generally do not directly grade spelling and grammar. However, egregious violations of the rules of the English language will be noted without comment. Consistently poor performance in either spelling or grammar is taken as an indication of poor written communication ability that may detract from your grade.

A grade of A indicates achievement of consistent excellence and distinction throughout the course—that is, conspicuous excellence in all aspects of assignments and discussion in every week.

A grade of B indicates work that meets all course requirements on a level appropriate for graduate academic work. These criteria apply to both undergraduates and graduate students taking the course.

EP uses a +/- grading system (see “Grading System”, Graduate Programs catalog, p. 10).

100-98 = A+
97-94 = A
93-90 = A−
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B−
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C−
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
<63 = F

Final grades will be determined by the following weighting:

Course Policies

Assignments should be turned in by the time specified. Late homework will be docked 10% for every day it is late, after 7 days late homework will no longer be accepted.

Students are encouraged to work in small groups when solving assignment problems; however, each student is responsible for understanding the material and turning in their own assignment, including writing your own MATLAB code (no copy-paste!!) or building your model in Finite Element Software (no file sharing!!). Any student who works with you on assignment should be indicated on the top of the front page of your submission – this is an important issue and should not be ignored.

Academic Policies

Deadlines for Adding, Dropping and Withdrawing from Courses

Students may add a course up to one week after the start of the term for that particular course. Students may drop courses according to the drop deadlines outlined in the EP academic calendar (https://ep.jhu.edu/student-services/academic-calendar/). Between the 6th week of the class and prior to the final withdrawal deadline, a student may withdraw from a course with a W on their academic record. A record of the course will remain on the academic record with a W appearing in the grade column to indicate that the student registered and withdrew from the course.

Academic Misconduct Policy

All students are required to read, know, and comply with the Johns Hopkins University Krieger School of Arts and Sciences (KSAS) / Whiting School of Engineering (WSE) Procedures for Handling Allegations of Misconduct by Full-Time and Part-Time Graduate Students.

This policy prohibits academic misconduct, including but not limited to the following: cheating or facilitating cheating; plagiarism; reuse of assignments; unauthorized collaboration; alteration of graded assignments; and unfair competition. Course materials (old assignments, texts, or examinations, etc.) should not be shared unless authorized by the course instructor. Any questions related to this policy should be directed to EP’s academic integrity officer at ep-academic-integrity@jhu.edu.

Students with Disabilities - Accommodations and Accessibility

Johns Hopkins University values diversity and inclusion. We are committed to providing welcoming, equitable, and accessible educational experiences for all students. Students with disabilities (including those with psychological conditions, medical conditions and temporary disabilities) can request accommodations for this course by providing an Accommodation Letter issued by Student Disability Services (SDS). Please request accommodations for this course as early as possible to provide time for effective communication and arrangements.

For further information or to start the process of requesting accommodations, please contact Student Disability Services at Engineering for Professionals, ep-disability-svcs@jhu.edu.

Student Conduct Code

The fundamental purpose of the JHU regulation of student conduct is to promote and to protect the health, safety, welfare, property, and rights of all members of the University community as well as to promote the orderly operation of the University and to safeguard its property and facilities. As members of the University community, students accept certain responsibilities which support the educational mission and create an environment in which all students are afforded the same opportunity to succeed academically. 

For a full description of the code please visit the following website: https://studentaffairs.jhu.edu/policies-guidelines/student-code/

Classroom Climate

JHU is committed to creating a classroom environment that values the diversity of experiences and perspectives that all students bring. Everyone has the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Fostering an inclusive climate is important. Research and experience show that students who interact with peers who are different from themselves learn new things and experience tangible educational outcomes. At no time in this learning process should someone be singled out or treated unequally on the basis of any seen or unseen part of their identity. 
 
If you have concerns in this course about harassment, discrimination, or any unequal treatment, or if you seek accommodations or resources, please reach out to the course instructor directly. Reporting will never impact your course grade. You may also share concerns with your program chair, the Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, or the Office of Institutional Equity. In handling reports, people will protect your privacy as much as possible, but faculty and staff are required to officially report information for some cases (e.g. sexual harassment).

Course Auditing

When a student enrolls in an EP course with “audit” status, the student must reach an understanding with the instructor as to what is required to earn the “audit.” If the student does not meet those expectations, the instructor must notify the EP Registration Team [EP-Registration@exchange.johnshopkins.edu] in order for the student to be retroactively dropped or withdrawn from the course (depending on when the "audit" was requested and in accordance with EP registration deadlines). All lecture content will remain accessible to auditing students, but access to all other course material is left to the discretion of the instructor.