Overview
In this unit, you will study the behaviour of solid bodies under different loadings by applying basic stress analysis principles and the introductory knowledge of engineering materials. You will gain in-depth understanding of the concepts of continuum stress, strain and deflection; analyse the response of mechanical components to axial, transverse, torsional, bending and buckling loads in the linear elastic regime. You will apply the theory of generalised Hooke’s law to design pressure vessels and similar thin walled structures. You will perform calculations concerned with the mechanical properties of materials and conceptually design different mechanical components and structures based on strength, stiffness and stability. You will acquire the skills and knowledge required to develop analytical techniques that are used to solve a wide range of linear stress/strain problems in engineering practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: (MATH11160 Technology Mathematics or MATH11218 Applied Mathematics) AND (ENEG11006 Engineering Statics or ENEM12007 Statics & Dynamics) AND (ENEG11008 Materials for Engineers or ENEG12005 Material Science and Engineering).
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit coordinator own reflection
3D printing models are most useful tools for student learning.
This practice should be continued.
Feedback from SUTE
Additional solved problems in unit Moodle site can help students' learning.
More solved materials should be provided.
Feedback from SUTE
Lecture materials need a review.
A thorough review should be carried out.
- Analyse the elastic behaviour of engineering structures and components and determine stresses, principal stresses, strains and deflections and the effects of impact loads
- Analyse stress and strain using theoretical methods
- Explain theories of failure and apply failure analysis to structures and components
- Describe the nature of engineering assumptions and explain both the approaches used to deal with uncertainty and limitations of the validity of results
- Prepare professional, technical project documentation showing the evaluation of uncertainties and results obtained
- Communicate, work and learn independently and collaboratively and communicate in a professional manner.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Introductory
Intermediate
Advanced
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 3 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 4 - Written Assessment - 0% | ||||||
| 5 - Examination - 40% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
Mechanics of Materials - SI Edition - Global Edition
- Edition: 11th SI (2923)
- Authors: Hibbeler R C
- Pearson
- London London , UK
- ISBN: 9781292725734
N/A
N/A
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
n.mandal@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Lecture - Elastic behaviour - stress,
strain and displacement, the concept
of stresses: axial, bending and
torsional stress components, Stress on
an oblique plane, design criteria.
Tutorial - Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the tutorial.
Chapter
Chapter 1 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Lecture –Mechanical Properties of
Materials, stress – strain diagram,
Deformation, Hooke's Law (axial force)
Tutorial- Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the session
Chapter
Chapters 2, 3 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Lecture-: Stress –strain, Poisson’s ratio
– Generalised Hooke's Law, elasticplastic
deformation, residual stress
Tutorial- Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the tutorial.
Chapter
Chapters 3, 4 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Lecture- Torsional stress: Torsion
formula, angle of twist, design of
transmission shaft
Tutorial- Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the tutorial.
Chapter
Chapters 5 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Lecture- Stresses in bending loadings,
analysis of bending stresses in beams
Tutorial- Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the tutorial
Chapter
Chapters 6 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Lecture – Design of beams for
bending: shear force and bending
moment diagrams
Tutorial- Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the tutorial
Chapter
Chapters 6, 7 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Teaching free week
Chapter
N/A
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Lecture- Transformations of stresses
and strains: principal stresses,
combined loadings.
Tutorial- Four tutorial problems will be
supplied during the tutorial.
Chapter
Chapters 8, 9 - Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Lecture- Pressure Vesels - thick walled
and thin walled
Tutorial- a few problems will be given
during the tutorial session
Chapter
Chapters 7, 8 Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Lecture- Deflections of beams,
measurement methods and analysis
Tutorial- a few problems will be given
during the tutorial
Chapter
Chapter 12, Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Lecture - Linear elastic buckling
Tutorial - a few problems will be given
during the tutorial
Chapter
Chapter 13, Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Lecture- Failure theories of structural
elements, Energy method
Tutorial- a few problems will be given
during the tutorial
Chapter
Chapters 10, 14 Hibbeler
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Lecture: Discussion on FEA and
Review of unit
Tutorial: Review tutorial problems
Chapter
Chapters all
Events and Submissions/Topic
Workbook Due: Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
This assignment assesses contents from week 1 to week 4 of this unit. The assignment questions will be available in the
Moodle site at the beginning of Week 1.
AIAS Statement: **No AI**: You must not use AI (ChatGPT or something similar) at any point during the assessment. You demonstrate your core
Engineering knowledge and skills in problem solving.
Week 4 Friday (3 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Compulsory submission
Week 6 Friday (17 Apr 2026)
After two working weeks of submission date
It will be graded based on presentation (10% of the allocated marks), correct process and result (60% of the allocated marks), appropriate explanation (10% of the allocated marks), neat diagram (5% of the allocated marks), correct units (5% of the allocated marks), interpretation of results and analysis (10% of the allocated marks).
You must achieve at least 50% of the total allocated marks to pass this assessment.
- Analyse the elastic behaviour of engineering structures and components and determine stresses, principal stresses, strains and deflections and the effects of impact loads
- Analyse stress and strain using theoretical methods
2 Written Assessment
This assignment assesses contents from week 5 to week 8 of this unit. The assignment questions will be available on the
Moodle site at the beginning of Week 5
AIAS Statement: **No AI**: You must not use AI (ChatGPT or something similar) at any point during the assessment. You demonstrate your core
Engineering knowledge and skills in problem solving.
Week 8 Friday (8 May 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Compulsory submission
Week 10 Friday (22 May 2026)
After two weeks of submission date
It will be graded based on presentation (10% of the allocated marks), correct process and result (60% of the allocated marks), appropriate explanation (10% of the allocated marks), neat diagram (5% of the allocated marks), correct units (5% of the allocated marks), interpretation of results and analysis (10% of the allocated marks).
You must achieve at least 50% of the total allocated marks to pass this assessment.
- Explain theories of failure and apply failure analysis to structures and components
- Describe the nature of engineering assumptions and explain both the approaches used to deal with uncertainty and limitations of the validity of results
3 Written Assessment
This assignment assesses contents from week 9 to week 11 of this unit. The assignment questions will be available on
the Moodle site at the beginning of Week 9
AIAS Statement: **No AI**: You must not use AI (ChatGPT or something similar) at any point during the assessment. You demonstrate your core
Engineering knowledge and skills in problem solving.
Week 12 Monday (1 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Compulsory submission
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
After two working weeks of submission date
It will be graded based on presentation (10% of the allocated marks), correct process and result (60% of the allocated marks), appropriate explanation (10% of the allocated marks), neat diagram (5% of the allocated marks), correct units (5% of the allocated marks), interpretation of results and analysis (10% of the allocated marks).
You must achieve at least 50% of the total allocated marks to pass this assessment.
- Explain theories of failure and apply failure analysis to structures and components
- Prepare professional, technical project documentation showing the evaluation of uncertainties and results obtained
- Communicate, work and learn independently and collaboratively and communicate in a professional manner.
4 Written Assessment
This assignment assesses contents from week 1 to week 12 of this unit.
The workbook is graded as a pass/fail based on the satisfactory performance of the criteria. You have to put
solutions to problems in tutorials and lectures (if any) given every week.
AIAS Statement: **No AI**: You must not use AI (ChatGPT or something similar) at any point during the assessment. You demonstrate your core
Engineering knowledge and skills in problem solving.
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Compulsory submission
Exam Week Friday (12 June 2026)
After two weeks of submission date: A general e-mail on workbook assessment will be sent to the students through Moodle
The criteria and associated weightings are given below. The allocations are as follows:
Assessment will be based on presentation and layout - includes written appearance of the document, quality of arrangement in records, use of
title sections, legality, etc.
Assessment will also be based on content - demonstrates the application of knowledge, adequate personal study and application of unit materials.
There should be evidence of application and analysis relating to each unit topic.
As it is a pass/fail item, to get a pass you have to demonstrate satisfactorily both the presentation and layout and the technical content.
AIAS Statement: **No AI**: You must not use AI (ChatGPT or something similar) at any point during the assessment. You demonstrate your core
Engineering knowledge and skills in problem solving.
- Describe the nature of engineering assumptions and explain both the approaches used to deal with uncertainty and limitations of the validity of results
- Prepare professional, technical project documentation showing the evaluation of uncertainties and results obtained
- Communicate, work and learn independently and collaboratively and communicate in a professional manner.
Examination
Calculator - all non-communicable calculators, including scientific, programmable and graphics calculators are authorised
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
