Design-Based Course Sequence in Statics and Strength of Materials

We present in this paper an attempt to help students reach the ABET 2000 goals from the context of reforming two engineering courses: statics and strength of materials (mechanics of materials). In the traditional course of statics, students usually learn to obtain only the internal forces for trusses and beams. In the reformed curriculum students are asked to analyze and design a simple structure. Statics, presented in this context, is natural and easier to comprehend. In this approach the concept of stress is introduced early. Strength of materials focuses on the determination of stress and deformation of transversely loaded structures and statically indeterminate structures. In this paper, we outline the topics covered in each of the two reformed courses compared to the traditional curriculum. We discuss the delivery of the design-based courses, and we show the student's and instructor's perspective of the changes.