MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 1 of 8

MECH 237 - Strength of Materials HYBRID Course Spring 2025

Texts: 1. Beer, Johnson, DeWolf and Mazurek, Mechanics of Materials, Eighth Edition,
McGraw-Hill, ISBN 978-1-260-11327-3
2. Hsu, C.T. Thomas, Strength of Materials Laboratory Manual, (PDF to be posted
on the Canvas site).
3. NCEES, Fundamentals of Engineering Supplied-Reference Handbook, latest
edition: Pages can be downloaded from the NCEES website for FREE:
https://ncees.org/ncees-publishes-new-version-of-fe-reference-handbook/

Lecture: MECH 237-010 and -012, Thur., 10:00-12:50 p.m., KUPF-211

(outline MECH 237-110 and –112, Tues., 6:00-8:50 p.m., KUPF-106
on p.3) • Prof. Milano, P.E., 239-Colton Hall, 973-596-5830, milano@njit.edu
Office hours posted to Canvas.
Lab: MECH 237-010, Thur., 1:00-2:00 / -012, Thur., 2:30-3:30 p.m., Colton-422
(see lab MECH 237-110 and -112 will meet together, 4:30-5:30 p.m., Colton-422
schedule • Oscar Poudel, PhD Candidate, op72@njit.edu
on p.4) •
Tutoring: Homework is good practice. Homework graded by Teaching Assistant:
Colton Hall • Mahesh VM, PhD Candidate, mvm32@njit.edu
Rm. 422 Tutoring Schedule to be posted on Canvas.
Lab Instructors also available for help with course material and lab questions.
Prerequisite: Mech235, Math 112, or equivalents, and a working knowledge of Statics with
emphasis on force equilibrium and free body diagrams. Provides an understanding of the
kinds of stress and deformation and how to determine them in a wide range of simple,
practical structural problems, and an understanding of the mechanical behavior of materials
under various load conditions. Lab should be taken concurrently.

All students must have proper prerequisites for Mech 237, Strength of Materials; Mech 235 Statics
and Math 112 Calculus II. Students without these prerequisites will be dropped from the course.

Students must earn a grade of C or better in this course to register for CE332, CE341 or
CE431.
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 2 of 8

Course Policies:
▪ Attendance is mandatory whether face-to-face or remote learning.
▪ Please turn OFF your cell phone and put it away. Put away your laptop, tablet, or any other
electronic device.
▪ Take notes and pay attention. Ask questions.
▪ Be prepared to participate in class problem solving. Bring your calculator for class participation.
▪ This course expects students to work without artificial intelligence (AI) assistance in order to
better develop their skills in this content area. As such, AI usage is not permitted throughout this
course under any circumstance.

Quizzes, Exams and Grading Policies:

▪ Attendance at exams is mandatory. There will be NO make-up quizzes or exams unless there is
documentation provided to the Dean of Students Office to validate your absence.
▪ Instructors have the discretion to administer exams and/or quizzes announced in class. Exams and
quizzes will comprise 50% of your grade.
▪ There will be a Final Exam in week 15 during Finals Week. This will be 25% of your grade.
▪ Quizzes / exams must have Free-Body-Diagrams. SHOW all work to earn full credit.
▪ We do NOT drop the lowest grade. We do NOT curve the grades.
▪ You must receive a passing grade in both the lab and the lecture to pass the course. Failure of either
requires repeating both lecture and lab. In other words, failing the lab or the lecture means failing
the course, so, do all of your work, please.

Homework Policies:
▪ Follow the syllabus and do the homework problems suggested. Quiz problems may be taken from
homework problems or be very similar to the homework or those Sample Problems in the textbook.
Same for exam problems.
▪ Do your homework. Have it ready each week. Your instructor has the discretion to modify
assignments and collection policy. Upload your homework to Canvas. Watch the deadline.
▪ NO late homework will be accepted. NO credit for homework copied from another source.
▪ All homework MUST include a Free-Body-Diagram. Show all work to earn full credit.
▪ For more information on the format for homework and the type of paper, read the information
following the course outlines.

See pages 5 and 6 for more details.

“Academic integrity is the cornerstone of higher education and is central to the ideals of this course
and the university. Cheating is strictly prohibited and devalues the degree that you are working on.
As a member of the NJIT community, it is your responsibility to protect your educational investment by
knowing and following the academic code of integrity policy that is found at:
http://www5.njit.edu/policies/sites/policies/files/academic-integrity-code.pdf

Please note that it is my professional obligation and responsibility to report any academic misconduct to
the Dean of Students Office. Any student found in violation of the code by cheating, plagiarizing or
using any online software inappropriately will result in disciplinary action. This may include a failing
grade of F, and/or suspension or dismissal from the university. If you have any questions about the
code of Academic Integrity, please contact the Dean of Students Office at dos@njit.edu “
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 3 of 8

NJIT classes begin on Tuesday, January 21 and end on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
Spring recess is March 16 – March 22. No classes. Legend: ONL = online, F2F = in class

WEEK TOPICS ARTICLES Homework Problems

1-F2F Concept of Stress and Strain p. 1-26
1.3, 1.8, 1.10, 1.12, 1.25
Ch. 1 with a Review of Statics
2-F2F Concept of Stresses, continued p. 27-47 1.31, 1.40, 1.54, 1.67
Ch. 1&2 Stress and Strain - Axial Loading p. 57-79 2.2, 2.6, 2.17, 2.23
3-F2F Composites, Temperature Change, and p. 80-95 2.38, 2.39, 2.47, 2.58
Ch. 2 Poisson's Ratio / Exam #1 p. 96-116 2.61, 2.64
4-ONL Torsion p. 148-167
3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.10, 3.17
Ch. 3 Torsional Stresses in Shafts
5-ONL Torsion, Transmission Shafts and Gear p. 168-193
Ch. 3 Trains, Horsepower
6-F2F Gears on Shafts p. 168-193
3.21, 3.26, 3.42, 3.48, 3.64
Ch. 4 Exam #2
7-ONL Pure Bending p. 237-258
4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.10, 4.16
Ch. 4
8-ONL Analysis and Design of Beams for p. 347-361 Draw the V & M diagrams:
Ch. 5 Bending: Shear and Moment Diagrams 5.9, 5.10, 5.12, 5.15, 5.16, 5.19
March 16 – March 22 Enjoy your Spring Break
9-F2F Section 5.2 Develop Equations p. 362-370 Write the equations for these:
p. 373-381 5.42, 5.43, 5.46, 5.47
Section 5.3 Design / Select the Beam p. 408-410 Design / select the beam for:
Exam #3 5.67, 5.70, 5.75, 5.76
10-ONL Shearing Stresses: Beams and Thin- p. 417-426 Solve by equations:
Ch. 6 Walled Members (please read) 7.3, 7.4, 7.7 & 11, 7.15
Ch. 7 Transformations of Plane Stress p. 477-491
11-F2F Mohr’s Circle for Plane Stress p. 492-502 Draw Mohr's Circle:
Ch. 7 7.32, 7.33, 7.37, 7.50
Plane Strain, Strain Rosettes p. 538-550 7.128 & 132, 7.147, 7.148
12-ONL Deflection of Beams, p. 599-622
9.10, 9.13, 9.16
Ch. 9 Integration Method
13-F2F Deflection of Beams, p. 635-648 9.73, 9.78
Ch. 9 Superposition Method / Exam #4 refer to table in FE Handbook
14-ONL Column Buckling under Axial Load p. 691-708
10.10, 10.13, 10.19, 10.26
Ch. 10 (tentative)
15 FINAL EXAM - TBA . .

Changes to the schedule will be discussed and announced in advance.

Prepared by Milano, 8/14, 1/15, 1/16, 1/17, 8/17, 1/18, 8/18, 1/19, 8/19, 8/20, 7/21, 1/22,
1/23, 1/24, 1/25
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 4 of 8

NJIT classes begin on Tues., Jan. 21 and end on Wed., May 7, 2025.
Laboratory Schedule: begins on Tues., Jan. 21 with face-to-face classes.
Legend: ONL = online class via Zoom, F2F = in class in Colton Hall-422.
Lab Groups: Exchange contact information with your lab partners. Communicate frequently.

Lab Lab Topic Due

1- F2F Introduction, Safety, Procedures for Lab, Instructions on how to READ about
Jan. 21, 23 prepare your Lab Reports, Grading Policies. Meet in 422-Colton Reports in Lab
Manual
2-F2F Experiment 1: Pre-Lab Presentation, meet in 422-Colton Form your lab
Jan. 28, 30 Tension Test of Metals, Automated Testing of Steel and other groups.
metal (refer to Ch. 1 and 2 in text)
3-F2F Experiment 1: Experiment, 422-Colton Hall Formal report
Feb. 4, 6 Tension Test of Metals, Automated Testing of Steel and other metal due week 5
4-ONL Lab Instructor will provide assistance with Analysis of Data and using .
Feb. 11, 13 Spreadsheets for the Labs and how to prepare your Lab Report
5-ONL Experiment 2: Pre-Lab Presentation is ONLINE UPLOAD your
Feb. 18, 20 Torsion Test of Metallic Materials (refer to Ch. 3 in text) Lab Report #1
6-F2F Experiment 2: Experiment, 422-Colton Hall Formal report
Feb. 25, 27 Torsion Test of Metallic Materials due week 8
7-ONL Lab Instructor will provide guidance to complete lab reports and .
Mar. 4, 6 begin to study for the next experiment
8-ONL Experiment 3: Pre-Lab Presentation is ONLINE UPLOAD your
Mar. 11, 13 Stresses, Strains and Deflection of Steel Beams in Pure Bending (refer Lab Report #2
to Ch. 4 and 5 in text)
March 16- Spring Break
March 22
9-F2F Experiment 3: Experiment in 422-Colton Hall Informal report
Mar. 25, 27 Stresses, Strains and Deflection of Steel Beams in Pure Bending due week 11
10-ONL Experiment 4: Pre-Lab Presentation is ONLINE .
Apr.1, 10 Strain Measurements in Aluminum Beams using Strain Rosettes
(refer to Ch. 7 in textbook)
11-F2F Experiment 4: meet in 422-Colton Hall Informal report
Apr. 8, 17 due week 13
12-ONL Experiment 5: Pre-Lab Presentation, meet in 423-Colton Hall .
Apr. 15, 24 Column Buckling. (Refer to Ch. 10 in textbook)
13-F2F Experiment 5: Column Buckling, meet in 422-Colton. Analysis due
Apr. 22, May 1 week 14
14-ONL Review of Ch. 10 example problems / tutoring for final exam UPLOAD your
Apr. 29, May 6 Lab Report #5

The Honor Code will be upheld and any violations will be brought to the immediate attention of
the Dean of Students. Remember to cite your references when writing your lab reports. Each
person will contribute to and be responsible for each lab report submitted.
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 5 of 8

Laboratory Safety

Your safety and the safety of those around you are of prime importance. Safety glasses must be worn at
all times. Efforts have been made to reduce the hazard in the lab as much as possible. If you should see
anything that you consider to be a safety hazard, report this condition to your lab instructor. Forces into
the thousands of pounds will be used throughout the course and if these forces are released in an
uncontrolled manner, injuries are possible. Horseplay will not be tolerated and will constitute
grounds for dismissal from the course.

Grading Policies for LAB

Your lab grade will represent 15% of your course grade. You must receive a passing grade in both the
lab and the lecture to pass the course. Failure of either requires repeating both lecture and lab. In other
words, failing the lab or the lecture means failing the course, so, do all of your work, please. Three
unexcused absences will result in automatic failure of the lab and course.

All reports should be word-processed. Graphs are to be computer generated. CITE your resources. Any
material that is “copied and pasted” without reference to your source will receive no credit.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated and will be reported to the Dean of Students.

This course expects students to work without artificial intelligence (AI) assistance in order to better
develop their skills in this content area. As such, AI usage is not permitted throughout this course
under any circumstance.

The results of the experiment are the results you must work with. Do not "cook" the results to produce
the "expected" results. Draw your conclusions based on these results.

Reports are graded on the presentation as well as results. The report should be organized in a logical
format. Refer to the Report Writing module in Canvas. Results should be discussed intelligently, with
good technical language. Be advised that your discussion and conclusions will count as 20% of the
report. Discuss your actual values and compare them to published values. Do not simply present
percent errors. State the property values. Refer back to the objectives and discuss how the objectives
were met. Be specific. The lab manual can help with this.

Due dates for the lab reports are listed on the syllabus. After the due date, reports will be accepted for
75% credit. Papers more than one week late will not be accepted.

Quizzes, Exams, and Final Exam (Attendance at exams is mandatory. Excused absences will
require appropriate documentation.) Dates are tentative, subject to change.

EVE Sections -110 / -112 DAY Sections -010 / -012

Exam 1: Tues., Feb. 4 Thurs., Feb. 6
Exam 2: Tues., Feb. 25 Thurs., Feb. 27
Exam 3: Tues., Mar. 25 Thurs., Mar. 27
Exam 4: Tues., Apr. 22 Thurs., May 1
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 6 of 8

1. Quiz/exam problems will include theory as well as numerical problems. Questions on the
laboratory may also be asked.
2. All quizzes, exams and the final exam are closed book. Only the FE Handbook may be used as a
resource BUT no additional notes may be written in the handbook. Other resources may be
provided.
3. All answers must be accompanied by the appropriate and correct units.
4. Quizzes, exams and the final are to be taken with a fully charged calculator. Calculators may not
be borrowed during the quizzes.
5. No mid-term warning notice will be given. Maintain your own records of grades.
6. Students cannot leave the classroom during quizzes or exams.
7. Cell phones (and other electronic devices) must be OFF and put away during exams.
8. A grade of "I" (incomplete) will not be given for unsatisfactory academic performance.

Homework

1. Homework sets are due weekly and uploaded to the Canvas website.
2. Homework must be submitted in sets, arranged in order as in the course outline.
3. The homework should be written on quadrille 8½ x 11 engineering pad or equivalent. The
proper form consists of doing the problems on one side of the pad paper.
4. On the top of each page, in the space provided, PRINT your name, course and section. Put the
problem number in the upper right corner. Write on ONLY the front side of the paper.
5. All problems must have a F.B.D. or some figure to describe the problem.
6. Homework will be scanned and uploaded to the module provided on the Canvas site.
7. NO LATE Homework will be accepted. NO credit for work copied from a solution source.

Students are expected to properly maintain their registration status. If your name does not appear on the final
grade sheet, it is not possible to assign you a grade and it will be necessary for you to repeat the course.

GRADING GRADE RANGE GRADE

Quizzes / Exams …. 50% 100 - 91 A
Final Exam ………. 25% 90 - 86 B+
Laboratory ………. 15% 85 - 81 B
Homework ………. 10% 80 - 71 C+
70- 66 C
*NOTE: There is no grade of D for 65 - 60 D*
CE students. 59 and below F

Students will be consulted for any substantial changes to the course outline. Changes will be
discussed and announced in advance.

Prepared by Milano, 8/25/14, 1/8/15, 1/16, 1/17, 8/17, 1/18, 8/18, 1/19, 8/19, 1/20, 8/20,
7/21, 9/22, 7/23, 7/24
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 7 of 8

Outcomes Course Matrix MECH 237 Strength of Materials

Strategies, Actions ABET Student Program Assessment

and Assignments Outcomes Educational Measures
(1-7) Objectives
Student Learning Outcome 1: Identify and calculate the state of stresses and strains in engineering
components as a result of different loading conditions.

Introduce the concept of determining stresses and 1 1 Weekly homework

strains from the member forces. and quizzes.

Provide the principles of normal and shearing stresses 1 1, 2 Weekly homework

and how to determine the principal stresses. and quizzes.

Student Learning Outcome 2: Analyze structural members under axial loads, bending, shear, and torsion.

Provide the basic concepts and effects of axial loads, 1 1 Weekly homework,
bending, shear, and torsion on structural components. quizzes and lab
experiments.

Introduce the methods used to solve determinate and 1 1, 6 Weekly homework,

indeterminate problems. Compare analytical work quizzes and review of
with results from MD Solids software program. assigned problems.

Student Learning Outcome 3: Identify the behavior of various engineering materials, their performance
under loads, and design needs.

Introduce a state of the art analysis with Instron 1, 7 1, 2, 6 Homework and lab
testing apparatus. experiments.

CEE Mission, Program Educational Objectives and Student Outcomes

The mission of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is:

• to educate a diverse student body to be employed in the engineering profession
• to encourage research and scholarship among our faculty and students
• to promote service to the engineering profession and society

Our program educational objectives are reflected in the achievements of our recent alumni:
1 – Engineering Practice: Alumni will successfully engage in the practice of civil engineering within industry,
government, and private practice, working toward sustainable solutions in a wide array of technical specialties
including construction, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, and water resources.

2 – Professional Growth: Alumni will advance their skills through professional growth and development activities
such as graduate study in engineering, research and development, professional registration and continuing
education; some graduates will transition into other professional fields such as business and law through further
education.

3 – Service: Alumni will perform service to society and the engineering profession through membership and
participation in professional societies, government, educational institutions, civic organizations, charitable giving
and other humanitarian endeavors.
 MECH 237 – Spring 2025 - Syllabus Page 8 of 8

Our Student Outcomes are what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of their graduation:

1. an ability to identify, formulate and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering,
science and mathematics
2. an ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of
public health, safety and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental and economic factors
3. an ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences
4. an ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed
judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and
societal contexts
5. an ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative
and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives
6. an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data and use
engineering judgment to draw conclusions
7. an ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies

Revised: 2/13/18, 5/18/18