Euler's Legacy: The Intersection of Mathematics and Structural Engineering
- Course Number: S1020
- Credits: 2 hours
- Instructor: Hong Chen
- Price: $20
Course Outline
This course offers an enlightening exploration into the life and remarkable achievements of Leonhard Euler, a titan of mathematics and the intellectual pillar of the Enlightenment. We will trace Euler's monumental contributions to mathematics and groundbreaking work in structural engineering. Adding depth and color to our expedition are engaging stories drawn from Professor William Dunham's renowned lecture, "A Tribute to Euler". From Euler's identity to Euler's buckling formula, you will be guided through the pivotal moments of Euler's scholarly journey and the far-reaching implications of his discoveries. In addition, you will gain a thorough understanding of column stability analysis and key concepts such as the effective length factor (K), slenderness ratio, and critical buckling loads. By the end of the course, you will attain a profound appreciation of Euler's genius and the transformative power of his work.
At the end of this course, there will be a multiple-choice, open-book quiz designed to enhance your understanding of the course material.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Be able to understand the life and contributions of Euler in the field of mathematics;
- Be able to understand and apply Euler's Buckling Formula to calculate critical loads;
- Be able to identify and interpret the role of the effective length factor (K) and slenderness ratio in column stability; and
- Be able to incorporate considerations of column buckling in structural design processes.