Teaching Tools

Research focus

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Starting in the sixties, the entire field of structural mechanics has been converted from analytical to numerical formulations. All the former knowledge found a new presentation, but new frontiers were also discovered and explored. On the one hand, it became possible to face large problems which previously were not able to be dealt with in an analytical framework, giving rise to new theoretical formulations, developed in numerical terms, thanks also to the improved capabilities of applied mathematics. On the other hand, the increasing capabilities of applied mathematics provided new tools which revealed themselves to be applicable in several fields, within and outside engineering, including structural mechanics and continuum mechanics. Tools such as Linear Programming, Quadratic Programming, Nonlinear Programming, Numerical Optimization played a significant role in providing solution algorithms but also in developing new theorems and demonstrations. A basic goal of university is to ensure a constant link between the new frontiers of knowledge and the highest quality of the teaching service. In other words, the most recent developments of knowledge must be made quickly accessible to the teaching service. This last function cannot always be performed as a simple re-formulation of known concepts. In the presence of pervasive revolution, such as the introduction of computational mechanics, it involves a significant effort in creating a new and appropriate framework and developing the corresponding effective tools. A specific research effort was developed to this purpose in the Department of Strucutral Engineering, starting more or less at the same time when the new scientific formulations were being defined and tested. The initiative was quickly shown to require specific energies and capabilities, since the objective had to be considered as an independent, new research field. The target of the research was to cover the expectation for a wide range of teaching applications. This required a systematic homogeneous approach to several aspects of the structural problem, including the entire range of mechanical situations. In recent years the proposed targets have been found to be well established and solved. A computer code became the operative tool, conceived with the aim of providing a large community of teachers with well established and tested capabilities. By adopting a consistent approach, the most important aspects of basic structural mechanics were implemented, namely: - Kinematics of beam systems; - Static of beam systems; - The analytical approach to the elastic behavior of beams; - Analytical and numerical applications of the Virtual Work Principle; - Limit analysis of structures, including static and kinematic approaches; - Computation of cross sections of beams; - Graphics of the entire set of applications. The stress analysis is performed using a symbolic manipulator; accordingly, the output data are given in fractional form and are therefore suitable for teaching purposes and examination assessment. At the present time the computer code is freely accessible (in Italian) via Internet to the entire teaching staff. In the near future, in addition to necessary technical improvements, the code would be made available in other standard European languages.

Dipartimento di afferenza

Dipartimento di Ingegneria Strutturale (DIS)

Docenti afferenti

Full Professors
Adolfo Zavelani Rossi
Claudia Comi
Alberto Corigliano
Alberto Taliercio
Associate Professors
Attilio Frangi