Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Physics
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 to 11:00, by appointment via the respective professor's email:
a) Classical Mechanics:
- Dr. Pedro Casariego: pcasariego@uic.es
- Juan Ignacio Eskubi: jieskubi@uic.es
- Roberto Aparicio: raparicio@uic.es
- Ravil Gizatulin: rgizatulin@uic.es
b) Building Facilities:
- Amaya Arizmendi: aarizmendim@uic.es
- Saeid Seyezreda: sseyedreza@uic.es
- Jaime Ribot: jribotferrando@uic.es
Introduction
It is essential for an architect to be able to know and control all of the variables involved in an architectural project.
Variables can be cultural, historical, urban, sociological, constructive, economic, etc. These numerous variables are the reason that architecture is so complicated.
A good architect will know how to integrate all these variables into a project so that they work together as a perfect mechanism.
Physics is one of the first subjects that students are taught in the area of architectural construction, intended to introduce them into the world of structure.
Pre-course requirements
To have passed the subject of physics in the Bacalaureat and also the selection test.
To understand the main tools of mechanics; time, force, etc.
To have a general knowledge of other areas of physics.
Objectives
The intention of the course is for students to master the tools that allow the subsequent monitoring of the various branches of building structures.
The physics course is designed to introduce students to the fundamental concepts of architecture such as an introduction to the calculation of structures and the ability to analyze and calculate the stresses of isostatic structural systems, trusses and frames.
To have some knowledge of the history of mechanics.
To apply historical knowledge of mechanics to problems that arise.
To perform exercises in fluid mechanics and its use in construction.
To have some knowledge of the basics of lighting and energy efficiency in buildings and also acoustics, with their respective uses in construction.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
Adequate knowledge applied to architecture and urban planning
The principles of general mechanics, statics, the geometry of masses, vector fields and tensors
The principles of thermodynamics, acoustics and optics
The principles of fluid mechanics, hydraulics, electricity and electromagnetism
Applied knowledge of
Numerical calculus, analytic geometry and differential and algebraic methods
Learning outcomes of the subject
0 - Preliminary knowledge of the history of mechanics and its application in building and in humanity.
1 - Command of vector calculus
2 - Understanding and manipulating inertia
3 - Using different methods for the calculation of isostatic structures.
4 - Introduction to the calculation of indeterminate structures.
5 - Having the ability to calculate internal forces and to draw diagrams representing force with ease.
6 – To have a basic understanding of acoustics, and how it applies to construction.
7. To have a basic understanding of lighting and energy efficiency and how it applies to construction.
8. Basic knowledge of fluids and its application to construction.
Syllabus
SUBJECT 0; INTRODUCTION (22, 24 and 25 January) 1 week
1. Historical Background
2. Definition and range of physics
3. Matter and architectural classification of matter
4. Definition of Mechanics
5. Scalar quantities and vector quantities
6. Fundamental principles of mechanics
7. Units of Measure
8. Numerical accuracy
9. Types of errors
ITEM 1; FLUID MECHANICS (29 and 30 January and 1 February) 1 week
1.1 Density, pressure and velocity of a fluid, Pascal's Law
1.2 Flotation forces and Archimedes' principle
1.3 Dynamics of fluids
1.4 Electrical power lines
1.5 Bernoulli Equation
1.6 Venturi tube
1.7 Exercises
UNIT 2; THE BASIC CONCEPTS OF VECTOR CALCULUS (REMEMBER ITEM 1 OF MATHEMATICS) (5, 7 and 8 February) 1 week
2.1 Scalar and vector magnitudes
2.2 Representation of coordinated vectors. Vector: (b1-a1), (b2-a2)
2.3 Components of a vector
2.4 Operating with vectors
2.5 Definition of forces and moments
2.6 Varignon’sTheorem
2.7 Equivalent Systems (General Case)
2.8 Force pairs2.9 Exercises
TOPIC 3; GEOMETRY MASS, MASS CENTRES (Centre of Gravity), moments of inertia and centroids (12, 14, 15, 19, 21, 22, 26 and 28 February 28 and 1 March) 3 weeks
3.1 Centre of parallel systems
3.2 Difference between weight and mass
3.3 Center of Gravity
3.4 Centre of mass3.5 Centroid
3.6 Distributed Loads
3.7 Moment of Inertia
3.8 Explanation of changes in the variable
3.9 Turning Radius
3.10 Exercises
UNIT 4; STRUCTURES AND MECHANISMS (5 March) ⅓ week
4.1 Definition and types
4.2 Loads and forces
4.3 Elements of a structure
ITEM 5; STATIC POINT. Equilibrium of rigid bodies (7 and 8 March) ⅔ week
5.1 Definition
5.2 Isostatic systems, statically indeterminate and Mechanics
5.3 Analysis of balance
5.4 Applications
5.5 Degrees of freedom
5.6 Types of support
5.7 Exercises
ITEM 6; FRAME STRUCTURES (12, 14, 15, 19, 21 and 22 March 22) 2 weeks
6.1 Definition
6.2 Trusses or triangulated structures
6.3 Types of trusses
6.4 Methods of calculation
ITEM 7; INTERIOR FORCES IN STRUCTURAL MEMBERS (26, 28 and 29 March 9, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19 April) 3 weeks
7.1 Types of stresses and internal forces
7.2 Stress diagrams7.3 Exercises
SOUND, LIGHTING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY (23, 25, 26 and 30 April, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 14, 16 and 17 May) 4 Weeks
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course will include theoretical and practical part.
In the theoretical part will establish the necessary knowledge to perform the practical part of the course.
In the practical part:
1 - Practical exercises on the theory explained (compulsory exercises presented in class and achievement at home).
2 - Making a bridge with diagonal bars working to understand how the pieces that form a bridge and carrying out plans for the structure of a student project (your application will be made as supplementary exercises to increase by 10% class note)
3 - Solve a porch and down load the project being undertaken in the course of project. (compulsory exercises presented in class and achievement at home).
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
- 80% attendance is compulsory in order to be able to take the final exam. Students who have overlaps with other subjects should speak personally with the teacher.
- Classes will be taught in such a way that each week there will be a master class and two days of practical exercises in class in the form of a workshop.
- Behavior and discipline in the classroom (interruption of classes, coming into class late, eating in class, attending other courses, lack of respect towards peers or the teacher, etc.) will be penalized by 30% of the final mark or even expulsion from the class.
- The complaints of students about other students will be considered a minor infraction which could become serious in the event of repetition.
- Items 5 and 7 are linked and will be taught jointly.
- At the end of the year (for the last 3 or 4 last weeks of class), mechanics classes will be interrupted to carry out classes on acoustics, lighting and energy efficiency where attendance is compulsory (80% attendance record in order to take the final exam.)
- Doing "extra" work (which will be explained by the mechanics teacher during term time along with a deadline for handing it in)), will always be carried out within the semester (during class times, never after the exams), and will improve the final grade by 10%.
- The grade for physics will be assessed as follows:
- There will be a mid-term examination which will account for 15% of the final grade for the course.
- The final mechanics exam will account for 65% of the final grade for the course.
- 5% of the final grade corresponds to the acoustic course, measured by an exam.
- 15% of the final grade shall be for the lighting and energy efficiency course, which will be evaluated by the teacher who teaches the subject (course work or examination).
- The minimum grade to able to take the final examination is an average of 3.5.
Bibliography and resources
Mecánica para ingenieros. Estática. Vázquez, M.; López, E. Editorial Noelia.
Mecánica vectorial para ingenieros. Beer, F.P.; Jonhson, E.R. McGraw Hill.
Estática para ingenieros y arquitectos. Castillo Basurto, J.L. Editorial Trillas.
Estabilidad. Primer curso. Fliess, E. Editorial Kapelusz. Buenos Aires.
Estática de las construcciones. Avenburg, E. Espacio Editora.
Física, curso teórico práctico de fundamentos físicos de la ingeniería. Galvez, López, Llopis, Rubio. Editorial Tebar Flores.
Mecánica para ingenieros. Estática. Irving James. Editorial Prentice Hall.
Estática. Problemas resueltos. Herrero Arnaiz; Rodríguez Cano. Editorial Reverté.
Mecánica para ingenieros. Estática. Das, Kassimali, E. Editorial Limusa.