The session was a part of quality enhancement in education, an open learning platform provided exclusively by IIT-Madras. It was a complete package of comprehensive study materials which Included of video lectures, PowerPoint slides and PDF documents. The course was conducted in three sessions as follows:

Day 1: 16th August 2016

In the first session Prof. Abhijit Sarkar focused on 1D Structural Element in which he explained axial dimensions, cross section dimensions, axial load supporting bars and concept of deformation. Further discussion continued on columns and compressive loadings, transverse loadings and non-axial movements in beams. Students were able to understand how the same structural member could act as beam and/or bar and/or rod under different load conditions.

Day 2: 19th August 2016

The session commenced with the discussion on illustration of the unreformed and deformed beam configuration. Prof. Abhijit explained students about Deformation, Neutral Axis and Plane Sections, Maximum Bending Stress and Conditions of Failure of Beam. Further he gave an explanation of maximum and minimum bending stress at various cross-sections of a beam. At the end of the session, numerical problems on bending stress were discussed.

Day 3: 23rd August 2016

In the last session Prof. Sarakar discussed Beam Deflection and Formulation of Differential Equations to represent elastic curve of bending and their solutions with different boundary conditions. He explained how point load and uniformly distributed load cause the deflection in a cantilever beam and statically determined beam. Further discussions went on principal of superposition and analysis of redundant fixed support and a number of point supports.

The last session ended with conclusions of all three sessions. It was an interactive session in which students showed a lot of interest in learning various concepts regarding bending and stresses in beams.

Some Glimpses: