UGANDA TECHNICAL COLLEGE-
ELGON
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL NGINEERING
ENGINEERING
NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
YEAR 2, SEMESTER I
LECTURE NOTES
DTCE 212 : STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
By
ODONGO JIMMY
0778451493/0779309239 Or 0704428588
ojimmy@[Link] Or odongojimmyogwal@[Link]
SEPTEMBER 2025
DTCE 212 : Strength of Materials. Lecture Notes by Mr. ODONGO JIMMY
MODULE STRUCTURE AND LECTURE DETAILS
MODULE STRUCTURE
Module Code & Name: DTCE 212: STRENGTH OF MATERIALS
Module Level: YEAR II SEMESTER I
Module Credit: 3CU
Brief Module Overview
The module introduces the learners to types of Loads and Support systems, Shear Stress and Strain,
Compound Stress & Strain, Elastic Constants, Shearing Forces & Bending Moments, Bending
Stresses, Shear Stress distribution in beams equipping the learner with the ability to analyse the
behaviour and Load carrying capacity of Engineering Materials
This module basically deals with basic mechanics of materials and is fundamental to understanding
mechanical behaviour and capacity of engineering materials.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students should be able to:
• Evaluate the behaviour of materials subjected to axial, shear twisting and bearing loads and
moments.
• Derive the stress deformation formulas and thus determine the principle stresses on any
loaded element.
• Appreciate the theory behind the failure of ductile and brittle engineering materials.
Course Assessment
The module will be assessed through assignments, tests, practical reports and module examination.
They all relatively contribute to the final grade as shown below:
Course Work: 40% [Assignments 15%, Tests 25%]
Final Examination: 60%
Course Outline / Detailed Module Description
Sub Module 1: Introduction.
• Types of Loads
• Types of Support systems
• Conditions of equilibrium
• Stress-strain relations
• Compatibility
• Units.
Sub module 2: Direct Stress.
• Load, Stress, Principle of St Venant, Strain, Hooke’s Law, Modulus of Elasticity,
Poisson’s ratio, Strain Energy, Resilience, Impact loads, Compound bars,
Temperature stresses, Stress Concentrations.
Sub module 3: Shear Stress and Strain.
• Shear Stress, complimentary shear stress, shear strain, Modulus of Rigidity, Strain
Energy, joints that fail in shear.
Sub module 4: Compound Stress & Strain.
• Simple tension, pure shear, pure normal stresses on given planes, General two-
dimensional stress system.
Sub module 5: Elastic Constants.
• Bulk Modulus, Relation between Young’s Modulus of Elasticity, E and Modulus of
Rigidity, G.
Sub module 6: Shearing Forces & Bending Moments.
• Shearing forces
• Bending moments
• Relation between loads, shear forces and bending moments, computations
• Shear force diagrams and bending moment diagrams.
Sub module 7: Bending Stresses.
• Pure bending
• Moments of inertia
• Bending stresses
• Stress concentration in bending
• Combined bending & direct stresses
• Middle 3rdrule for rectangular sections, & middle quarter rule for circular sections
• Composite beam
Sub module 8: Shear Stress Distribution in Beams.
• Variation of Shear stress for Rectangular and I sections 8 hours
Mode of Delivery:
This module will be taught using guided discussions, tutorials, assignments and practical