Virtual Campus - Interstructures

"Interstructures" means interactive structural analysis by graphical methods involving the fields of civil engineering and architecure. The project's objective is to create a set of interactive teaching modules for the basic courses in static and structures. "Interstructures" is part of a 'Virtual Campus' project directed by Prof. Dr. A. Muttoni, Lausanne.

It will improve the learning process by experimentating with forces and deformations while using an innovative software with an advanced graphical work pad and an internet based learning environment. The courses will pursue a new didactic strategy in the field of structural analysis, wich is only made possible by the use of a multimedia courseware. The basic didactic idea of "Interstructures" is to let the students discover general rules about equilibrium and the behaviour of structures starting from consideration of structural systems and by modifying their geometry and loading pattern.

The teaching modules include internet courseware and individual tests related to class lesson hold by a teacher. The experimental modules are based on the same topics than the teaching modules and consist of interactive exercises which can be solved by using the "Interstructures" graphical software, that is envisaged to be a powerful interactive graphical work pad supported by a Finite Element Program. Structural systems can be easily generated and modified by drawing and dragging nodes. Deformation and displacements are shown through animations and stability can be investigated.

Staff

Prof. Dr. Edoardo Anderheggen (Guidance)
Claudia Pedron (Assistant)

Support

Prof. Dr. Aurelio Muttoni, EPFL Lausanne
Prof. Dr. Massimo Laffranchi, Architettura Mendrisio