MEC 411

COMMON ASSIGNMENT
SEPT – JAN 2020

Submission Date: 8 Nov 2019

Theme:
STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES

Objectives:

1. To help students relate the fundamental principles learned in class with real life occurrences. (CO1,
CO2, CO3)
2. To train students to do analysis and apply theories to real life problem and situations. (CO2, CO3)
3. To develop students’ teamwork skills.

Instructions:

1. Students are required to conduct this exercise in groups (maximum of 5 persons in a group).
2. Choose one CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE available in your area.
3. Take several photos of it. Photos should be available in different angles and must be clear.
4. Observe that the vehicle is built up of several parts. Study the parts from the perspective of MEC411:
Mechanics of Materials course. For example; the materials used, its dimensions such as cross section
and length, types of external loadings and their points of application.
5. Choose 3 to 5 parts in the CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE for your case study. The number of parts
chosen depends on the complexity of the stress-strain analysis. Please discuss with your instructor.
6. Construct a proper free body diagram for each of the parts. You may choose to do the analysis for
the whole part or one critical component (such as a pin connection or a bolt).
7. Complexity of the analysis will be taken into consideration – more complex analysis will give you
higher mark.
8. Make your own assumptions when necessary and make sure they are justifiable and logical.
9. Determine the internal forces (internal torque, moment, shear and normal forces).
10. Determine the maximum or the critical stress where necessary.
11. Determine the maximum or the critical deformation if applicable.
12. Discuss your results and findings. You may discuss your results by comparing the calculated values
with the failure strength of the material used available from the textbook.
13. Write a report of your findings.
14. The report must be at least 5 pages long. The maximum is 10 pages excluding the front page, table
of contents and list of references.
15. This assignment will contribute 10% to the overall course mark.
Example of Construction Vehicles
Report requirements:

Your report must contain the following items:

1. Problem statement and Objectives – must be clear

2. Introduction – explain briefly on the related theories, principles and formulae.
3. Analysis and Results – the main solution including FBDs, assumptions, equilibrium equations, shear
and moment diagrams, calculation of normal, shear and bending stress, calculation of strain and
deformation, deflection equation and other related contents.
4. Discussion and Conclusion.
5. References – textbook, journals, technical reports

Report Writing Rubric Assessment

Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Criteria Poor Acceptable Excellent Factor
 Topic is poorly  Topic is fairly
introduced. Lack of introduced. Moderate
 Topic is well introduced.
understanding on the understanding of on the
Clear explanation of on the
Introduction related principles related principles
CO1 related principles and 5
and objectives and theories of the and theories of the
theories of the topic.
topic. topic.
 Objectives are well defined.
 Objectives are poorly  Objectives are fairly
defined. defined.
 Chosen structure is  Chosen structure is
Complexity of  Chosen structure is
CO1 very simple. Consists complex consisting of 5
structure consisted of 3-5 parts.
of only 1- 2 parts. more than 5 parts.
 Assumptions are  Assumptions are well
 Assumptions are fairly
CO2 Assumptions poorly made and made and perfectly 5
made and justifiable.
unjustifiable. justifiable.
 Photos of structure are
 Photos of structure are
 Photos of structure clear.
clear.
are unclear.  Free body diagrams are
 Free body diagrams
 Free body diagrams well translated from the
Photos and are fairly translated
are poorly translated photos of structure. Every
CO2 free body from the photos of 5
from the photos of detail in the photos is
diagrams structure. May not be
structure. accurately described in
fully accurate.
 Dimensions and the FBDs.
 Dimensions and labels
labels are missing.  Dimensions and labels are
are adequate.
complete.
 Detailed procedures.
 Detailed procedures.
 Incomplete  Attempted to calculate all
 Attempted to calculate
procedures. values (maximum normal,
Results & more than two values.
CO2  Attempted to calculate stress, maximum shear 10
calculations  One or two wrong
only o1-2 value. stress, deformations, strain,
results.
 Wrong results. deflection, etc.).
 Correct results.
 Discussions are very well
 Discussions are fairly
made and elaborated. Able
made. Able to relate the
to relate and discuss
estimated calculations
 Poorly made comprehensively the
with the strength
CO2 Discussions discussions. estimated results with the 10
properties of the
strength properties of the
material used in the
material used in the
structure.
structure.

 Unclear concluding
CO3 Conclusions  Topic is fairly concluded  Topic is well concluded. 8
remarks.
 Less than 3 references  At least 5 References  At least 5 References
CO3 References 2
 Wrong format  Wrong format  Correct format

Total 50
 UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI MARA
FACULTY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, SHAH ALAM

MEC 411: MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

COMMON ASSIGNMENT
(Due date: 22 May 2019)

Group Name : ………………………………………………

Lecturer : ……………………………………………….

No. Group Members Student ID

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

After you complete this task, you should be able to:

CO1 Describe the basic concepts and fundamental principles in solid mechanics. [PO1,
LO1, SS1] {C2}.
CO2 Analyze the state of stress and strain in elastic mechanical members under various
loading conditions. [PO2, LO3, SS1]{C4}.
CO3 Evaluate the solid mechanics elements involved in mechanical designs of engineering
structures. [PO4, LO3, SS1]{C6}

Report Assessment Scale Weightage Total

Introduction and objectives 1.0
Complexity of structure 1.0
Assumptions 1.0
Photos of structure and free body diagrams 1.0
Results and calculations 2.0
Discussions 2.0
Conclusions 1.6
References 0.4
TOTAL / 50

Scale 1 2 3 4 5
Level Poor Acceptable Excellent