ABSTRACT
Important fundamentals of the statics and mechanics of materials which form the cornerstone of the theories of beams, plates, and shells have been provided in this chapter. The chapter begins by stating the purpose and scope of the text. This is followed by basic concepts of stress and strain, some equations of mechanics of materials and the theory of elasticity in condensed form, classification and general properties of common engineering materials, rational procedure in design, factor of safety, and types of loading and forces. Transformations of stress and strain are also presented.
Equilibrium conditions, reaction types, free-body diagrams, modes of load transmission, analysis and design principles, and case studies in analysis are discussed. Internal force and moment resultants on imaginary cutting planes through loaded members are introduced. The general sign convention for stresses, strains, and load resultants that will be used throughout the book is defined. The steps for formulating and solving a problem and tools employed for computations are also described. It is emphasized that a thorough grasp of the fundamentals will prove very valuable in attacking new and unfamiliar problems. The entire text attempts to provide synthesis and analysis that cut through clutter and save time for readers.
