Chartered Civil Engineer (ICE) Engineering Mechanics and Structural Design Syllabus

Engineering Mechanics and Structural Design syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for Engineering Mechanics and Structural Design in Chartered Civil Engineer (ICE), not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Structural Analysis

   6 topics

   • Statics, equilibrium and free body diagrams
   • Analysis of statically determinate structures
     • Beams, trusses and frames
     • Shear force and bending moment diagrams
   • Indeterminate structures
     • Moment distribution and slope-deflection
     • Stiffness and matrix methods overview
   • Influence lines and moving loads
   • Plastic analysis and collapse mechanisms
   • Introduction to finite element modelling and validation
2. 2

   Reinforced and Prestressed Concrete Design

   5 topics

   • Design to Eurocode 2 (BS EN 1992)
     • Limit state design philosophy and partial factors
     • Ultimate and serviceability limit states
   • Flexural, shear and torsion design
   • Detailing for durability and crack control
   • Columns and slender member design
   • Prestressed concrete fundamentals
     • Pre-tensioning and post-tensioning
     • Losses and transfer stresses
3. 3

   Steel and Composite Design

   5 topics

   • Design to Eurocode 3 (BS EN 1993)
   • Member design: tension, compression and buckling
   • Beam design and lateral torsional buckling
   • Connections: bolted and welded
     • Moment and simple connections
     • Fatigue considerations
   • Steel-concrete composite design to Eurocode 4
4. 4

   Loading, Actions and Structural Materials

   4 topics

   • Actions on structures to Eurocode 1 (BS EN 1991)
     • Permanent, imposed, wind and snow loads
     • Load combinations and accidental actions
   • Material properties: concrete, steel, timber and masonry
   • Robustness and disproportionate collapse
   • Timber and masonry design principles

Engineering Mechanics and Structural Design flashcards for Chartered Civil Engineer (ICE)

23 of 61 cards from the Engineering Mechanics and Structural Design deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. State the three scalar equations of static equilibrium for a coplanar (2D) force system.

   $$\sum F_x = 0, \quad \sum F_y = 0, \quad \sum M = 0$$ The sum of horizontal forces, vertical forces, and moments about any point must each equal zero.

2. What is a free body diagram (FBD) and what must it show?

   A sketch of a body isolated from its surroundings showing all external forces, applied loads, self-weight and reaction forces acting on it (but not internal forces). It is the basis for applying equilibrium equations.

3. What reactions do a pin (hinge), a roller, and a fixed support each provide in 2D?

   Roller: 1 reaction (normal to surface). Pin/hinge: 2 reactions ($H$ and $V$). Fixed support: 3 reactions ($H$, $V$ and a moment $M$).

4. Give the determinacy condition for a 2D pin-jointed plane truss with $m$ members, $r$ reactions and $j$ joints.

   $$m + r = 2j \;\Rightarrow\; \text{statically determinate}$$ If $m + r > 2j$ it is indeterminate; if $m + r < 2j$ it is a mechanism.

5. What is the degree of static indeterminacy for a 2D rigid-jointed (frame) structure with $m$ members, $r$ reactions and $j$ joints?

   $$D_s = (3m + r) - 3j$$ where $D_s$ is the number of redundant force quantities.

6. Define statically determinate vs statically indeterminate structures.

   Determinate: all reactions and internal forces can be found from equilibrium equations alone. Indeterminate: there are more unknown forces than independent equilibrium equations, so compatibility/material behaviour is also required to solve.

7. Name two classical methods for analysing statically indeterminate structures.

   Force (flexibility) methods e.g. the method of consistent deformations / unit load method, and displacement (stiffness) methods e.g. slope-deflection, moment distribution and the matrix stiffness method.

8. State the unit load method formula for deflection $\delta$ in a truss.

   $$\delta = \sum \frac{n N L}{A E}$$ where $N$ is the real member force, $n$ the force from a unit virtual load at the point/direction sought, and $L$, $A$, $E$ the member length, area and modulus.

9. What is an influence line?

   A diagram showing the variation of a particular response function (reaction, shear, bending moment or deflection) at a fixed point as a single unit load moves across the structure.

10. State Muller-Breslau's principle for influence lines.

    The influence line for any force response is the deflected shape obtained by removing the restraint corresponding to that response and giving a unit displacement (or rotation) in its positive direction. The ordinates give the influence line.

11. How do you position moving loads to obtain the maximum bending moment effect using an influence line?

    Place the loads so that the largest loads sit over the maximum ordinates of the (positive or negative) influence line; the response is $\sum P_i \, y_i$ for point loads, or $\int w\,y\,dx$ over the loaded length for a UDL.

12. In plastic analysis, define the plastic moment $M_p$ of a section.

    The moment at which the entire cross-section has yielded (fully plastic). $$M_p = f_y \, Z_p$$ where $f_y$ is the yield stress and $Z_p$ the plastic section modulus.

13. Define the shape factor of a cross-section in plastic analysis.

    $$\nu = \frac{M_p}{M_y} = \frac{Z_p}{Z_e}$$ the ratio of plastic to elastic moment capacity. For a rectangle $\nu = 1.5$; for a typical I-section $\nu \approx 1.15$.

14. State the relationship used in the kinematic (upper bound) method of plastic collapse analysis.

    Equate external work to internal work at a virtual hinge mechanism: $$\sum P\,\delta = \sum M_p\,\theta$$ The lowest collapse load found over all mechanisms is the true collapse load.

15. How many plastic hinges are required to convert an indeterminate structure with $D_s$ redundancies into a collapse mechanism?

    $$N_{hinges} = D_s + 1$$ One more hinge than the degree of static indeterminacy produces a mechanism.

16. State the three conditions satisfied at the true plastic collapse load (uniqueness theorem).

    Equilibrium, mechanism (sufficient hinges to form a collapse mechanism) and yield (no section moment exceeds $M_p$). When all three are met, the collapse load is unique.

17. What is the finite element method (FEM) in structural analysis?

    A numerical technique that discretises a continuum into small elements connected at nodes, approximates the displacement field with shape functions, and assembles element stiffness matrices into a global system $\mathbf{K}\mathbf{u} = \mathbf{F}$ to solve for nodal displacements.

18. Name three ways to validate a finite element model.

    Compare against closed-form/analytical solutions or hand calculations; perform mesh convergence (refinement) studies; check equilibrium (reactions = applied loads), and benchmark against test data or established results.

19. What is mesh convergence in FEM?

    Progressively refining the mesh and confirming that the key results (stress, displacement) approach a stable value. If results keep changing significantly with refinement, the mesh is too coarse and not yet converged.

20. Which Eurocode covers the design of concrete structures, and what is its number?

    Eurocode 2 — BS EN 1992, 'Design of concrete structures'.

21. Give the design value of concrete compressive strength used in EC2 and the typical partial factor.

    $$f_{cd} = \frac{\alpha_{cc} f_{ck}}{\gamma_c}$$ with $\gamma_c = 1.5$ and $\alpha_{cc}$ commonly taken as 0.85 (UK NA), where $f_{ck}$ is the characteristic cylinder strength.

22. Give the design value of reinforcement yield strength in EC2 and its partial factor.

    $$f_{yd} = \frac{f_{yk}}{\gamma_s}$$ with $\gamma_s = 1.15$; for typical UK rebar $f_{yk} = 500\ \text{MPa}$ so $f_{yd} \approx 435\ \text{MPa}$.

23. State the EC2 ultimate bending moment capacity expression for a singly-reinforced rectangular section (lever arm form).

    $$M = A_s f_{yd}\, z$$ where $z$ is the lever arm, $z = d\left(0.5 + \sqrt{0.25 - \frac{K}{1.134}}\right) \le 0.95d$ and $K = \dfrac{M}{b d^2 f_{ck}}$.

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