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COURSE INFORMATION
Course Title: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS I
Code Course Type Regular Semester Theory Practice Lab Credits ECTS
CE 213 B 3 2 2 0 3 7
Academic staff member responsible for the design of the course syllabus (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) Prof.Dr. Hüseyin Bilgin hbilgin@epoka.edu.al
Main Course Lecturer (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: M.Sc. Bredli Plaku bplaku@epoka.edu.al , By appointment.
Second Course Lecturer(s) (name, surname, academic title/scientific degree, email address and signature) and Office Hours: NA
Language: English
Compulsory/Elective: Compulsory
Study program: (the study for which this course is offered) Bachelor in Civil Engineering (3 years)
Classroom and Meeting Time:
Teaching Assistant(s) and Office Hours: NA
Code of Ethics: Code of Ethics of EPOKA University
Regulation of EPOKA University "On Student Discipline"
Attendance Requirement: 60% theoretical sessions and 75% practical sessions.
Course Description: Simple stress and strains. Equilibrium, compatibility, and constitutive relations. State of stress and state of strain with emphasis on two dimensional problems. Bending and shear stresses. Deflection of beams. Torsion of circular shafts. Combined stresses. Buckling of columns.
Course Objectives: Introduce the concepts of strength, deformation, stress, and strain for deformable bodies subjected to various loading conditions, including axial loads, bending, and torsion. The course also discusses failure criteria for different materials and components and illustrates the application of these criteria in the design process.
BASIC CONCEPTS OF THE COURSE
1 Stress: The internal force per unit area developed within a material under external loading.
2 Strain: The measure of deformation representing the change in shape or size relative to the original dimensions.
3 Hooke’s Law: The linear relationship between stress and strain in the elastic range of a material.
4 Elastic Constants: Material properties such as Young’s modulus (E), shear modulus (G), and Poisson’s ratio (ν) that relate stresses and strains.
5 Axial Loading: A loading condition where forces are applied along the longitudinal axis of a member.
6 Torsion: The twisting of a member due to an applied torque, producing shear stresses.
7 Bending: The deformation of a beam due to transverse loads, resulting in normal stresses across the cross-section.
8 Shear Force and Bending Moment: Internal forces and moments in a beam that determine its response to transverse loads.
9 Stress Concentration: Localised increase in stress around discontinuities such as holes, notches, or sudden changes in cross-section.
10 Plastic Deformation: Permanent change in shape of a material when stresses exceed the elastic limit.
COURSE OUTLINE
Week Topics
1 Week 1: Introduction to mechanics of materials. Overview of the subject, its relationship with statics and dynamics, and its role in civil engineering. Discussion of fundamental assumptions, problem-solving approach, and relevance to design. Literature: Beer FP, Johnston ER, DeWolf JT, Mazurek D. Mechanics of Materials. 8th ed. McGraw Hill; 2019.
2 Concept of stress. Review of statics methods, normal and shear stresses in members, stress on oblique planes, and general stress components. Basic design considerations. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 1, pp. 3–44.
3 Stress and strain under axial loading. Introduction to stress–strain relations, deformation of bars, and statically indeterminate problems. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 2.1–2.2, pp. 57–83.
4 Stress–strain relations under special conditions. Thermal stresses, Poisson’s ratio, multiaxial loading, and Hooke’s law for isotropic materials. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 2.3–2.5, pp. 84–97.
5 Shearing strain and elastic constants. Relation between elastic constants (E, ν, G), dilatation, bulk modulus, and Saint-Venant’s principle. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 2.7–2.10, pp. 101–118.
6 Stress concentrations, plastic deformations, and residual stresses in axially loaded members. Introduction to material nonlinearity. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 2.11–2.13, pp. 119–134.
7 Midterm examination covering Weeks 1–6.
8 Torsion of circular shafts. Shear stresses and angles of twist in elastic range. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 3.1–3.2, pp. 152–170.
9 Torsion of statically indeterminate shafts. Design of transmission shafts and torsional stress concentrations. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 3.3–3.5, pp. 171–195.
10 Advanced torsion. Plastic deformations, residual stresses, and thin-walled hollow shafts. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 3.6, 3.8, 3.10, pp. 196, 210–209, 212–223.
11 Pure bending of beams. Symmetric members in pure bending, elastic stress distribution, and deformation of cross-sections. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 4.1–4.3, pp. 237–258.
12 Further bending topics. Composite beams and stress concentrations in bending. Plastic deformations (4.6) are optional and may be excluded depending on time. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 4.4–4.5, pp. 259–272. (Optional: Ch. 4.6, pp. 273–290).
13 Analysis and design of beams. Shear and bending-moment diagrams, load–shear–moment relations, and design of prismatic beams. Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 5.1–5.3, pp. 350–384.
14 Shear stresses in beams. Horizontal shear flow in rectangular and arbitrary sections, thin-walled members, and shear centre (excluding unsymmetric shear loading*). Literature: Beer et al. 2019. Ch. 6.1–6.4, 6.6, pp. 417–440, 454–466.
Prerequisite(s): Engineering Mechanics I
Textbook(s): Beer FP, Johnston ER, DeWolf JT, Mazurek D. Mechanics of Materials. 8th ed. New York (NY): McGraw Hill; 2019. 896 p. ISBN: 978-1260113273.
Additional Literature: Hibbeler RC. Mechanics of Materials. 10th ed. Harlow (UK): Pearson; 2018. 896 p. ISBN: 978-1292178202.
Laboratory Work: Laboratory work will include a tensile test on steel and a compressive test on concrete.
Computer Usage:
Others: No
COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES
1 Define and explain the fundamental concepts of stress, strain, and deformation in deformable bodies.
2 Apply Hooke’s law and related constitutive relations to analyse axially loaded members.
3 Evaluate the effects of Poisson’s ratio, thermal loading, and residual stresses on structural members.
4 Analyse statically determinate and indeterminate bars subjected to axial loading.
5 Solve torsion problems for circular shafts, including stresses, angles of twist, and design considerations.
6 Determine normal and bending stresses in beams subjected to pure bending.
7 Construct and interpret shear and bending-moment diagrams for beams under various loadings.
8 Calculate shear stresses in beams and thin-walled members under transverse loading.
9 Identify and assess the effects of stress concentrations, plastic deformation, and composite materials in structural members.
10 Recognise the importance of mechanics of materials in civil engineering by applying stress–strain analysis to the design and safety assessment of beams, shafts, and other structural components.
COURSE CONTRIBUTION TO... PROGRAM COMPETENCIES
(Blank : no contribution, 1: least contribution ... 5: highest contribution)
No Program Competencies Cont.
Bachelor in Civil Engineering (3 years) Program
1 an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering 4
2 an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs 3
3 an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams 2
4 an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems 3
5 an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility 2
6 an ability to communicate effectively 3
7 the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global and societal context 2
8 a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life long learning 3
9 a knowledge of contemporary issues 2
10 an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice 3
11 skills in project management and recognition of international standards and methodologies -
COURSE EVALUATION METHOD
Method Quantity Percentage
Midterm Exam(s)
1
35
Quiz
2
10
Laboratory
1
10
Final Exam
1
35
Total Percent: 100%
ECTS (ALLOCATED BASED ON STUDENT WORKLOAD)
Activities Quantity Duration(Hours) Total Workload(Hours)
Course Duration (Including the exam week: 16x Total course hours) 16 4 64
Hours for off-the-classroom study (Pre-study, practice) 16 3 48
Mid-terms 1 25 25
Assignments 1 5 5
Final examination 1 25 25
Other 2 4 8
Total Work Load:
175
Total Work Load/25(h):
7
ECTS Credit of the Course:
7
CONCLUDING REMARKS BY THE COURSE LECTURER

The course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the principles of stress, strain, and deformation of materials. Success in this subject requires consistent study and practice in problem-solving, as the material builds progressively on concepts from statics and mathematics. The lecturer is committed to fairness, transparency, and professionalism in teaching and assessment. In line with the University’s Code of Ethics, students are reminded of the importance of integrity, respect, and responsibility in all academic activities and examinations.
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