Engineering Statics

Instructor Information

• Instructor: Dr. Adrian Holt (Assistant Teaching Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering)
• Email: aholt@university.alkimi.ai
• Office: Rowan Engineering Center 312
• Office Hours:
  • Tuesday & Friday: 2:00–3:30 p.m. (In person, Rowan Engineering Center 312)
  • Wednesday: 10:00–11:00 a.m. (Virtual via Zoom; link posted in Canvas)
  • Also available by appointment.

Course Description

Force vectors, equilibrium of particles and rigid bodies, trusses, frames and machines, distributed loads, friction, centroids, and moments of inertia. CE 201 establishes the core principles of structural mechanics upon which all civil, structural, and geotechnical engineering coursework relies. Emphasizing rigorous vector mathematics and meticulous free-body diagrams, students learn to determine static equilibrium for particles and rigid bodies, compute internal member forces in trusses and frames, and construct shear and moment diagrams for beams under distributed loads. Taught from the perspective of professional structural practice, the course prepares students directly for subsequent courses in mechanics of deformable bodies and the national Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

Prerequisites

PHYS 121; MATH 141 (prior or concurrent).

Measurable Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of CE 201, students will be able to:

1. Construct Rigorous Free-Body Diagrams: Isolate civil structural systems and author complete, professional free-body diagrams clearly denoting all applied dead/live loads, reaction forces, and support constraints.
2. Determine Equilibrium of Structural Systems: Apply the equations of static equilibrium to solve for external support reactions in statically determinate two- and three-dimensional civil engineering structures.
3. Analyze Structural Trusses and Frames: Calculate tension and compression forces in bridge and roof trusses using the method of joints and method of sections, and evaluate internal pin forces in multi-force frames.
4. Construct Shear and Moment Diagrams: Determine internal normal forces, shear forces, and bending moments along beam spans and sketch corresponding shear and moment diagrams for diverse load distributions.
5. Compute Section Properties for Civil Shapes: Calculate centroids, centers of gravity, and moments of inertia for standard structural steel and reinforced concrete composite cross-sections using the parallel-axis theorem.

Required Course Materials & Approximate Costs

1. Beer, Ferdinand P., E. Russell Johnston Jr., David F. Mazurek, and Phillip J. Cornwell. Vector Mechanics for Engineers: Statics. 12th ed., McGraw-Hill, 2019. Approx. $80 digital rental ($190 purchase; reserve copies available in Alkimi Library).
2. Engineering calculation pad (8.5 x 11 green quadrille) and straightedge. Approx. $12.
3. Total estimated cost: Approx. $12 to $92 depending on textbook acquisition preference.

Generative AI Policy (AI Level 1: AI Not Permitted for Graded Work)

In accordance with Alkimi University Academic Policies (Student Handbook §5.8), CE 201 operates under AI Level 1.

• What is permitted: Students may use AI chatbots solely as supplementary conceptual study aids to explain physical principles, clarify vector calculus definitions, or discuss real-world civil engineering infrastructure examples outside of assigned course work.
• What is prohibited: Generative AI must not be used to construct free-body diagrams, solve weekly problem set calculations, or complete structural truss and frame analyses. The use of AI tools or any unauthorized digital devices during quizzes and examinations is strictly forbidden.
• Disclosure: If an AI model is used to clarify the theoretical background of any problem set topic, students must provide a brief handwritten disclosure statement at the top of the assignment citing the prompt and tool consulted.

Grading Components and Weights

• Weekly Problem Sets: 15% (Due Wednesdays at 11:59 p.m. in Canvas (weeks 2–14; lowest dropped))
• Biweekly In-Class Concept Quizzes: 10% (Administered in class on alternate Thursdays (weeks 3, 5, 9, 13; lowest dropped))
• Midterm Exam 1 (Force Systems, Equilibrium & Trusses): 20% (In class, Thursday, October 1)
• Midterm Exam 2 (Frames, Internal Forces & Friction): 20% (In class, Thursday, November 5)
• Highway Truss Bridge Analysis Project: 10% (Due Friday, November 20 at 11:59 p.m.)
• Comprehensive Final Examination: 25% (Thursday, December 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.)

Grading Scale (Alkimi University Standard)

• A: 93–100% | A-: 90–92%
• B+: 87–89% | B: 83–86% | B-: 80–82%
• C+: 77–79% | C: 73–76% | C-: 70–72%
• D+: 67–69% | D: 60–66% | F: Below 60%
• Extra credit: No individual extra credit assignments are offered in CE 201.

Course Schedule (Fall 2026)

Course Policies

Attendance Policy

Class attendance at every lecture session is mandatory. Mastery of engineering statics requires active participation in whiteboard derivations and practicing proper free-body diagram formatting under faculty guidance. If illness or approved university business requires an absence, notify Dr. Holt prior to class. Students who miss the first two class meetings without notifying the instructor may be dropped. Students may miss class for religious observance without penalty if they notify the instructor in writing within the first two weeks of the semester (by Wednesday, September 9, 2026). Absences for university-sponsored activities (athletics, performances, conferences) are excused with a letter from the sponsoring office at least one week in advance.

Late Work Policy

Homework problem sets submitted after the Wednesday 11:59 p.m. deadline incur a 20% penalty per 24 hours, accepted up to 48 hours late. After 48 hours, detailed solutions will be posted on Canvas and no further submissions will be accepted. The lowest homework set score and lowest quiz score are dropped.

Final Exam Policy

The final examination (Thursday, December 17, 2026, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.) is scheduled by the University Registrar and can't be moved without the Dean's written approval (Faculty Handbook §5.5). A student with three or more final exams on the same calendar day may reschedule one of them. Requests go to the instructor of the middle exam by the last day of classes. For this term, send the request by Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (Student Handbook §6.4).