Brief Description
The Strength of Materials Tutorial Program contains 126 listed categories containing different levels of difficulty within 60 topics. Most of these 126 categories contain a variety of different questions which further expand the scope of the tutorial. Considering the additional feature that the problems are randomly generated with user editing features, it is unlikely that the identical problem will be repeated.
The editing feature permits individual problems to be tailored to specific needs, after which the problem may be placed upon a clipboard review form for importing into a word processor. This feature provides the capability to create more formal homework presentations or reports, as well as the preparation of a test.
While studying the topic of Strength of Materials with the program in Practice Mode, specific problems may be set aside into Review Session Files and/or Test Session Files, for a convenient review prior to examinations.
Upon installation, the program is personalized specifically to the user and retains a complete history of Practice, Review, and Test session activity.
This history is encoded and periodically placed upon the Original Installation Disk (see Warning under Computer Requirements). eneral Description
The Strength of Materials Tutorial Program is an interactive program which randomly generates a large number of different types of problems typical of those within the general subject of elementary Strength of Materials.
While the problems are randomly generated, imposed constraints create problems which are geometrically realistic as well as being within acceptable stress limits. Even though the problems are randomly generated, all geometric and load parameters defining the problem may be edited or changed by the user to tailor the problem to specifics needs.
The far majority of Strength of Materials assigned homework problems can be solved using this program. They may be placed upon a Clipboard Review Form and imported into a resident word processor for a more formal presentation of homework or reports.
This feature also may be used to conveniently prepare a multiple choice test, or a test without a list of possible answers. In fact, just the problem geometry may be imported so that questions other than those automatically presented may be used. That alone is not the full intent of the program. To master the topic of Strength of Materials, one must ask and think about the What If question by changing the geometry, load magnitudes, load locations, etc. of a problem and investigating how the results are affected. This requires working a large number of problems and considering how fundamental theory controls the results. Only through this process can one master the topic, and more importantly, develop an intuitive understanding of the subject. To gain a comprehensive understanding of this fundamental engineering subject is invaluable, in fact essential, in achieving later success in the more advanced topics of Structural Analysis and Structural Design.
Helping to answer the What If question is one of the creative features of this program.
The program contains 126 listed categories containing different levels of difficulty within 60 topics. Most of these 126 categories contain a variety of different questions which further expand the scope of the tutorial. Considering the additional random generating feature, it is unlikely that the identical problem will be repeated.
The problems are presented with a multiple choice answer form. Suggestions are available for each presented problem, as well as complete solutions. In many cases, additional data is available, or the answers to important intermediate steps toward a solution are provided as a means of checking these calculations.
Practice Mode
In studying the topic of Strength of Materials, the program normally operates in what is referred to as Practice Mode. While in this mode, full help is provided, and a history of all activity is retained and permanently stored within the installed directory as well as on the original installation disk. This history includes the number of problems reviewed, their category, level of difficulty, number of selected correct or incorrect answers, and the number of times Help or Solutions is requested.
Test Mode
In studying the topic of Strength of Materials, the program may operate in what is referred to as Test Mode. While in this mode, no help is provided, and a history of all activity is retained and permanently stored within the installed directory as well as on the original installation disk. This history includes the number of problems reviewed, the category, level of difficulty, and the number of selected correct or incorrect answers.
Review Session Files
Prior to a formal exam, a Review Session File may be run. This file presents, in sequence, a specific set of problems previously set aside for review. While running these files, the random generating feature of the program is disabled and only those problems previously saved are presented for review. Full help, provided suggestions, and complete solutions are available while a Review Session File is running. A history of activity during the review of these files is retained, but in this case, the history is stored only with the associated file.
Test Session Files
Prior to a formal exam, a Test Session File may be run. This file presents, in sequence, a specific set of problems previously set aside for test review. While running these files, the random generating feature of the program is disabled and only those problems previously saved are presented for test review. No help is available within this mode, since a test environment is being simulated. An answer, be it correct or incorrect, must be selected before sequencing to the next problem. A specific Test Session File may be run only one time. The results of the Test Session may be reviewed, but the file cannot be changed or re-run. The results of a Test Session are stored only with the associated file.
Performance while running a specific Test Session File, as well as accumulated performance of all test sessions, may be reviewed.