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

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
BIM Application for Engineers (Coursera) Coursera
National Taiwan University

BIM Application for Engineers (Coursera)

In order to effectively reach the goal of learning, students will get familiar with the model-building process. The second module of the course will be on how to use Autodesk Revit to build BIM models. We will use an example case and guide students to build a 6-story BIM model from the CAD drawings step by step.

Jul 27th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Wind resources for renewable energies (Coursera) Coursera
École Polytechnique

Wind resources for renewable energies (Coursera)

The main goal of this course is to get the necessary knowledge on atmospheric and fluid dynamics in order to quantify the wind resource of a local or regional area. We’ll learn about basic meteorology, the specific dynamics of turbulent boundary layers and some standard techniques to estimate wind resources regardless of the type of turbine used or the level of efficiency achieved.

Aug 10th 2026
4 Weeks
Industrial Biotechnology (Coursera) Coursera
University of Manchester

Industrial Biotechnology (Coursera)

Fossil fuels have been the primary energy source for society since the Industrial Revolution. They provide the raw material for the manufacture of many everyday products that we take for granted, including pharmaceuticals, food and drink, materials, plastics and personal care. As the 21st century progresses we need solutions for the manufacture of chemicals that are smarter, more predictable and more sustainable.

Aug 10th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Digitalisation in Space Research (Coursera) Coursera
Technische Universität München - TUM

Digitalisation in Space Research (Coursera)

This course provides an overview of the most important digital applications in the field of aerospace research. The course instructors discuss how digitalisation is impacting and changing both satellite-based and manned spaceflight research. One unit is specifically devoted to exploring the use of artificial intelligence in the evaluation of satellite data.

Jul 27th 2026
3 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
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
Sistemas Digitales: De las puertas lógicas al procesador (Coursera) Coursera
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Sistemas Digitales: De las puertas lógicas al procesador (Coursera)

En este curso aprenderemos los fundamentos del diseño de los circuitos digitales actuales, siguiendo una orientación eminentemente práctica. A diferencia de otros cursos más "clásicos" de Circuitos Digitales, nuestro interés se centrará más en el Sistema que en la Electrónica que lo sustenta. Este enfoque nos permitirá sentar las bases del diseño de Sistemas Digitales complejos.

Aug 3rd 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
Digitalisation in Aeronautics (Coursera) Coursera
Technische Universität München - TUM

Digitalisation in Aeronautics (Coursera)

The instructors of the online course "Digitalisation in Aeronautics" present a spectrum of different aviation research and application areas, exploring the impact of digitalisation in this specific field, including the effects of digitalisation in simulating the interaction of aircraft components, in overall aircraft development and related decision-making and in the communication channels used within aircraft. A broad and varied range of applications and digital solutions are explored in detail in the individual modules of this course.

Jul 27th 2026
4 Weeks