Dr Colin Caprani

PhD, BSc(Eng), DipEng, CEng, MIEI, MIABSE, MIStructE

Mathematics inShapes Structural Structural Engineering Loads Materials Analysis

Stress Resultants

Coliste Cois Life 5th and 6th Year

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

About Me
Degree in Structural Engineering 1999 Full time consultancy until 2001 PhD in UCD from 2001 to 2006 Lecturing in DIT and UCD Consultant in buildings & bridges

Guess my Leaving result! C1 in Honours Maths You dont have to be a genius

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Definition of Structural Engineering

Institution of Structural Engineers:
the science and art of designing and making with economy and elegance buildings, bridges, frameworks and other similar structures so that they can safely resist the forces to which they may be subjected

Prof. Tom Collins, University of Toronto:

the art of moulding materials we do not really understand into shapes we cannot really analyze so as to withstand forces we cannot really assess in such a way that the public does not really suspect Some examples of structural engineering

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Important Maths Topics

Essential maths topics are: 1. Algebra 2. Calculus differentiation and integration 3. Matrices 4. Complex numbers 5. Statistics and probability For each of these, Ill give an example of its application

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Algebra
How stiff should a beam be? For a point load on the centre of a beam we will work it out
-100.00

-0.042174

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Calculus I
Beam deflection: Given the bending in a beam, can we find the deflection?
-100.00

0
0.00

1
0.00

150.00

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Calculus II
Vibration of structures

Fapplied = Fstiffness + Fdamping + Finertia

Fundamental Equation of Motion:

Fstiffness = ku & Fdamping = cu && Finertia = mu

&&(t ) + cu & (t ) + ku (t ) = F (t ) mu

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Matrices I
In structural frames displacement is related to forces:

F = K
Force Vector Stiffness Matrix Displacement Vector

To solve, we pre-multiply each side by the inverse of the stiffness matrix:

K 1 F = K 1K = I = K 1 F

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Matrices II
Each member in a frame has its own stiffness matrix:

These are assembled to solve for the whole structure displacements

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Matrices III
LinPro Software: Displays the stiffness matrix for a member

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Matrices IV
Assembling the simple matrices for each member lets us calculate complex structures:

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Complex Numbers I
Free vibration:

&&(t ) + 2u (t ) = 0 u

2 +2 = 0
u ( t ) = C1e+ it + C2 eit
Since

u ( t ) = C1e1t + C2e2t

1,2 = i

e i = cos i sin

u ( t ) = C1 ( cos t + i sin t ) + C2 ( cos t i sin t ) = A cos t + B sin t

&0 u u ( t ) = u0 cos t + sin t

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Complex Numbers II

&0 u u ( t ) = u0 cos t + sin t 30

20

k = 100 N/m
Displacement (mm) 10

0 0 -10 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4

m = 10 kg

-20 (a) (b) Tim e (s) (c)

&0 = 0 u0 = 20mm u &0 = 50mm/s u0 = 0 u &0 = 50mm/s u0 = 20mm u

-30

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Complex Numbers III

Are used to model complex geometries:
A Function of Complex Numbers

1 0.8 0.6 Function value 0.4 0.2 0 -0.2 -0.4 20 10 0 0 -10 Imaginary Part -20 -20 -10 Real Part 10 20

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Complex Numbers IV
Aerofoil lift
Flow Around a Circle. Lift:1.0195 [N/m] 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -5 5 4 3 2 1 0 -1 -2 -3 -4 -5 -5 Flow Around the Corresponding Airfoil. Lift:1.0195 [N/m]

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Complex Numbers V
Why does the ball curl?
Speed Vectors 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 -0.5 -1 -1.5 -2 -2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0.5

1.5

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Statistics and Probability I

How strong is a structure? How much load is on a structure?

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Statistics and Probability II

How strong is a beam? What is the effect of the load on the beam?

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Statistics and Probability III

What about bridges?
Represents my area of interest
Truck traffic on bridge Statistical analysis

Loading event data

Structure Assessment

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Statistics and Probability IV

Simulated bridge loading events

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Maths for the sake of it

Once voted the most beautiful relation in maths:

e +1= 0
It links the five most important numbers in maths:

e = 2.718281... = 3.141592... i = 1 1 0

Of this, a professor once said:

it is surely true, it is paradoxical, we cant understand it, and we dont know what it means, but we have proved it, and therefore we know it is the truth

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Conclusion
All designed objects require mathematics to describe them Ive just shown you my area of structural engineering Maths is essential for any profession involved in technical design It can also be enjoyable for its own sake

Thanks for listeningbut one last question

Mathematics in Structural Engineering

Dr Colin Caprani

Question
If there are 23 people in a room, what are the chances two of them share a birthday? a) Over 80% b) Over 50% c) Over 20% d) Almost zilch!