Engineering of Structures: Tension (Coursera)

Offered by Dartmouth College,
Engineering of Structures: Tension (Coursera)

This course deals with tension. Tension is one of the easiest forces to understand. It is a pulling force. When we tend to pull an object, it is in tension. Different elements that resist tension in buildings are ropes, cables, and funicular forms. You will study different structures and identify what role tension plays in their designs. The first module explores tension and its importance in building structures.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

The second module explores funicular forms, angles, and bridges. You will understand the role of funicular forms in sustaining tension, how to best design elements and systems that resist tensile forces. You will also recognize the similarities and differences between suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges. The third module explores how to build a cable-stayed bridge. You'll also study the structures of different bridges and share a report on them.

Course 1 of 5 in the The Engineering of Structures Around Us Specialization.

What You Will Learn

  • Define tension
  • Recognize the role of ropes and cables in sustaining tension
  • Identify the definitions of the key glossary terms related to tension
  • Recognize the role of funicular forms in structures

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Introduction to Tension
This module explores tension and its importance in building structures.

WEEK 2
Angles, Funicular Forms, and Bridges
This module explores funicular forms, angles, and bridges. You will understand the role of funicular forms in sustaining tension, how to best design elements and systems that resist tensile forces. You will also understand the similarities and differences between suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges

WEEK 3
Building a Cable-stayed Bridge
This module explores how to build a cable-stayed bridge. You'll also study the structures of different bridges and share a report on them.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Image and video processing: From Mars to Hollywood with a stop at the hospital (Coursera) Coursera
Duke University

Image and video processing: From Mars to Hollywood with a stop at the hospital (Coursera)

In this course, you will learn the science behind how digital images and video are made, altered, stored, and used. We will look at the vast world of digital imaging, from how computers and digital cameras form images to how digital special effects are used in Hollywood movies to how the Mars Rover was able to send photographs across millions of miles of space.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Quantum Optics 1 : Single Photons (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique

Quantum Optics 1 : Single Photons (Coursera)

This course gives you access to basic tools and concepts to understand research articles and books on modern quantum optics. You will learn about quantization of light, formalism to describe quantum states of light without any classical analogue, and observables allowing one to demonstrate typical quantum properties of these states. These tools will be applied to the emblematic case of a one-photon wave packet, which behaves both as a particle and a wave.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Materials Data Sciences and Informatics (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Materials Data Sciences and Informatics (Coursera)

This course aims to provide a succinct overview of the emerging discipline of Materials Informatics at the intersection of materials science, computational science, and information science. Attention is drawn to specific opportunities afforded by this new field in accelerating materials development and deployment efforts.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Finite Element Method for Problems in Physics (Coursera) Coursera
University of Michigan

The Finite Element Method for Problems in Physics (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to the finite element method as applicable to a range of problems in physics and engineering sciences. The treatment is mathematical, but only for the purpose of clarifying the formulation. The emphasis is on coding up the formulations in a modern, open-source environment that can be expanded to other applications, subsequently.

Aug 10th 2026
13-24 Weeks
Introduction to Physical Chemistry (Coursera) Coursera
University of Manchester

Introduction to Physical Chemistry (Coursera)

Chemical reactions underpin the production of pretty much everything in our modern world. But, what is the driving force behind reactions? Why do some reactions occur over geological time scales whilst others are so fast that we need femtosecond-pulsed lasers to study them? Ultimately, what is going on at the atomic level? Discover the answers to such fundamental questions and more on this course in introductory physical chemistry.

Jul 27th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Financing and Initiating Major Engineering Projects (Coursera) Coursera
University of Leeds

Financing and Initiating Major Engineering Projects (Coursera)

To successfully lead major projects you have to understand typical investor and project financing approaches. In this course, you’ll learn to interpret some key contractual instruments that are relevant for the financing of major engineering projects so that you are in a position to ensure the financially secure delivery of your project. You’ll explore the concept of “time value of money” and be able to compute key indicators such as “Pay-back time”, “Net Present value” and “Internal Rate of Return”.

Jul 27th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Microwave engineering and antennas (Coursera) Coursera
Eindhoven University of Technology

Microwave engineering and antennas (Coursera)

This unique Master-level course provides you with in-depth know-how of microwave engineering and antennas. The course combines both passive and active microwave circuits as well as antenna systems. Future applications, like millimeter-wave 5G/beyond-5G wireless communications or automotive radar, require experts that can co-design highly integrated antenna systems that include both antennas and microwave electronics. We will provide you with the required theoretical foundation as well as hands-on experience using state-of-the-art design tools. The web lectures are supported by many on-line quizzes in which you can practice the background theory.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Oral Communication for Engineering Leaders (Coursera) Coursera
Rice University

Oral Communication for Engineering Leaders (Coursera)

Taught by Rice University communication faculty from the Rice Center for Engineering Leadership (RCEL). This course covers core topics in oral communication: Communication strategy, content, data visualization, and delivery. You’ll learn key principles in: Creating a communication strategy; Developing a clear message and organizing persuasive content; Creating strong visual support; Presenting data effectively; Presenting professionally and confidently; Handling formal presentations, giving pitches, speaking extemporaneously, managing online presentations, and lowering public speaking anxiety.

Jul 27th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Ferrous Technology II (Coursera) Coursera
Pohang University of Science and Technology - POSTECH

Ferrous Technology II (Coursera)

Steel, ever-evolving material, has been the most preeminent of all materials since it can provide wide range of properties that can meet ever-changing requirements. In this course, we explore both fundamental and technical issues related to steels, including iron and steelmaking, microstructure and phase transformation, and their properties and applications.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Ferrous Technology I (Coursera) Coursera
Pohang University of Science and Technology - POSTECH

Ferrous Technology I (Coursera)

Steel, ever-evolving material, has been the most preeminent of all materials since it can provide wide range of properties that can meet ever-changing requirements. In this course, we explore both fundamental and technical issues related to steels, including iron and steelmaking, microstructure and phase transformation, and their properties and applications.

Aug 3rd 2026
5-12 Weeks
Introduction to Engineering Mechanics (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Introduction to Engineering Mechanics (Coursera)

This course is an introduction to learning and applying the principles required to solve engineering mechanics problems. Concepts will be applied in this course from previous courses you have taken in basic math and physics. The course addresses the modeling and analysis of static equilibrium problems with an emphasis on real world engineering applications and problem solving.

Jul 27th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Applications in Engineering Mechanics (Coursera) Coursera
Georgia Institute of Technology

Applications in Engineering Mechanics (Coursera)

This course applies principles learned in my course “Introduction to Engineering Mechanics” to analyze real world engineering structures. You will need to have mastered the engineering fundamentals from that class in order to be successful in this course offering. This course addresses the modeling and analysis of static equilibrium problems with an emphasis on real world engineering systems and problem solving.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks