Mechanics Of Materials, 7 Ed

Book Preface

Objectives

The main objective of a basic mechanics course should be to develop in the engineering student the ability to analyze a given problem in a simple and logical manner and to apply to its solution a few fundamental and well-understood principles. This text is designed for the first course in mechanics of materials—or strength of materials—offered to engineering students inthe sophomore or junior year. The authors hope that it will help instructors achieve this goal in that particular course in the same way that their other texts may have helped them in statics and dynamics. To assist in this goal, the seventh edition has undergone a complete edit of the language to make the book easier to read.

General Approach

In this text the study of the mechanics of materials is based on the understanding of a few basic concepts and on the use of simplified models. This approach makes it possible to develop all the necessary formulas in a rational and logical manner, and to indicate clearly the conditions under which they can be safely applied to the analysis and design of actual engineering structures and machine components.

Free-body Diagrams Are Used Extensively. Throughout the text free-body diagrams are used to determine external or internal forces. The use of “picture equations” will also help the students understand the superposition of loadings and the resulting stresses and deformations.

The SMART Problem-Solving Methodology is Employed. New to this edition of the text, students are introduced to the SMART approach for solving engineering problems, whose acronym reflects the solution steps of Strategy, Modeling, Analysis, and Reflect & T hink. This methodology is used in all Sample Problems, and it is intended that students will apply this approach in the solution of all assigned problems.

Design Concepts Are Discussed Throughout the Text Whenever Appropriate. A discussion of the application of the factor of safety to design can be found in Chap. 1, where the concepts of both allowable stress design and load and resistance factor design are presented. A Careful Balance Between SI and U.S. Customary Units Is Consistently Maintained. Because it is essential that students be able to handle effectively both SI metric units and U.S. customary units, half the concept applications, sample problems, and problems to be assigned have been stated in SI units and half in U.S. customary units. Since a large number of problems are available, instructors can assign problems using each system of units in whatever proportion they find desirable for their class.

Optional Sections Offer Advanced or Specialty Topics. Topics such as residual stresses, torsion of noncircular and thin-walled members, bending of curved beams, shearing stresses in non-symmetrical members, and failure criteria have been included in optional sections for use in courses of varying emphases. To preserve the integrity of the subject, these topics are presented in the proper sequence, wherever they logically belong. Thus, even when not covered in the course, these sections are highly visible and can be easily referred to by the students if needed in a later course or in engineering practice. For convenience all optional sections have been indicated by asterisks.