Mechanical Engineering Principles

Mechanical Engineering Principles offers a student-friendly introduction to core engineering topics

This book introduces mechanical principles and technology through examples and applications rather than theory. John Bird and Carl Ross do not assume any previous background in engineering studies, and as such this book can act as a core textbook for several engineering courses. This approach enables students to develop a sound understanding of engineering principles and their use in practice. These theoretical concepts are supported by 320 fully worked problems, nearly 600 further problems with answers, and 276 multiple-choice questions giving the reader a firm grounding on each topic.

The new edition is up to date with the latest BTEC National specifications and can also be used on undergraduate courses in mechanical, civil, structural, aeronautical and marine engineering, together with naval architecture. A chapter has been added at the beginning on revisionary mathematics since progress in engineering studies is not possible without some basic mathematics knowledge. Minor modifications and some further worked problems have also been added throughout the text.



Colour layout helps navigation and highlights key points


Student-friendly approach with numerous worked problems, multiple-choice and short-answer questions, exercises, revision tests and nearly 400 diagrams


Supported with free online material for students and lecturers



Readers will also be able to access the free companion website at: www.routledge/cw/bird where they will find videos of practical demonstrations by Carl Ross. Full worked solutions of all 600 of the further problems will be available for lecturers/instructors use, as will the full solutions and marking scheme for the 8 revision tests.

John Bird:
Senior Lecturer, HMS Sultan
Author of several highly acclaimed textbooks on engineering and mathematical subjects, John Bird is the former Head of Applied Electronics in the Faculty of Technology at Highbury College, Portsmouth, U.K. More recently, he has combined freelance lecturing at Portsmouth University, with technical writing and Chief Examiner responsibilities for City and Guilds Telecommunication Principles and Mathematics, and examining for the International Baccalaureate Organisation. John Bird is currently a Senior Training Provider at the Royal Naval School of Marine Engineering in the Defence College of Marine and Air Engineering at H.M.S. Sultan, Gosport, Hampshire, U.K. The school, which serves the Royal Navy, is one of Europe’s largest engineering training establishments.

Carl Ross:
Professor of Structural Dynamics, University of Portsmouth, UK
Born in India, Carl Ross studied Naval Architecture, specialising in the stress analysis of pressure vessels. His research has led to a number of advances in submarine technology and he has also published several standard works in the field of structural dynamics. Whilst in college he was the University boxing champion of the British Isles.

1. Revisionary Mathematics Revision Test 1 Revisionary mathematics 2. The effects of forces on materials 3. Tensile testing 4. Forces acting at a point 5. Simply supported beams 6. Forces in structures 7. Bending moment and shear force diagrams 8. First and second moments of area 9. Bending of beams 10. Torque 11. Twisting of shafts 12. Linear and angular motion 13. Linear momentum and impulse 14. Force, mass and acceleration 15. Work, energy and power 16. Friction 17. Motion in a circle 18. Simple harmonic motion 19. Simple machines Revision Test 6 Friction, motion in a circle, simple harmonic motion and simple machines 20. Heat energy and transfer 21. Thermal expansion 22. Hydrostatics 23. Fluid flow 24. Ideal gas laws 25. The measurement of temperature Revision Test 8 Hydrostatics, fluid flow, gas laws and temperature measurement A list of formulae for mechanical engineering principles Greek alphabet Answers to multiple-choice questions Index