Desenvolvimento de protótipos didáticos para o ensino da disciplina de construções em aço

Abstract

Structural engineering teaching is traditionally based on strictly theoretical classes and calculation routines. This type of practice results in highly competent professionals in mathematical modeling, but completely inexperienced in real applications. Learning through experimentation is essential in the pedagogical process. This premise is theorized by many philosophers and education experts. Experimentation in engineering can be done using full or reduced-scale physical models. Physical models allow a qualitative analysis of the studied phenomena so that it is possible to link these phenomena to the theoretical and mathematical models. The design of steel structures is complex and often abstract. For that matter, the present work aimed to create didactic prototypes for the demonstration of the failure mechanisms to which steel structures are subjected to and verified by the NBR 8800 (ABNT, 2008). Thus, qualitative physical models were developed to demonstrate the failure modes that occur in tensile bolted connections and in beams under bending. Regarding bolted connections, prototypes were developed to demonstrate rupture by shear of the connectors, rupture by hole ovalization, collapse due to rupture of the effective net section, and block shear. In the case of the beam under bending, the failure modes demonstrated are the collapse due to loss of global and local stability. The prototypes were made using polymers and MDF, through 3D printing, laser cutting, and the use of molds. The models were tested and evaluated for their effectiveness in demonstrating the listed phenomena, with satisfactory performance. Their use has great potential to contribute to the teaching-learning of the phenomena represented by each of the prototypes, connecting the physical manifestation of the observable failure modes to the theoretical models present in NBR 8800.