Plates and Shells OpenCourseWare: MIT's Graduate Level Free Online Mechanical Engineering Course

Published Jan 30, 2009

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MIT's 'Plates and Shells' OpenCourseWare addresses topics, such as analysis methods, bending and buckling, geometric effects and strength issues related to shells and plates. This subject matter could be useful to engineers in a variety of graduate tracks, including a Masters in Mechanical Engineering or an Engineer in Aeronautics and Astronautics (EAA).

Plates and Shells: Course Specifics

Degree Level Free Audio Video Downloads
Graduate Yes No No Yes

Lectures/Notes Study Materials Tests/Quizzes
Yes Yes Yes

Plates and Shells: Course Description

'Plates and Shells' OpenCourseWare looks at topics, such as the buckling or bending of rectangular plates, plates strain-displacement relation and various theories of plates (bending, membrane and bucking). The shell portion of the class addresses theories surrounding axisymmetric or elastic shells and cylindrical shells' bending, crushing and buckling strength. Professor Tomasz Wierzbicki presented the original 'Plates and Shells' course in a lecture format at MIT. These principles and theories have applications in many areas, including structural decisions, naval architecture, offshore structure designs and automotive engineering. The course was included in the Aeronautics and Astronautics and Mechanic Engineering Departments curricula.

The online materials include 120 pages of course notes, two quizzes and five homework sets as .pdf files for download; a suggested reading list is also posted. To look more closely at the material provided with this OpenCourseWare, visit the mechanical and structural design of shells and plates course page.

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