Engineering Statics

M. Rashad Islam, M. Abdullah Al Faruque, Bahar Zoghi, Sylvester A. Kalevela

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781000204308
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Physical Sciences
• Subtopic: Mechanics

Engineering Statics presents the cutting-edge topics in engineering statics, focusing on practical applications knowledge, with numerous real-world examples, practice problems, and case studies throughout. It covers theory concisely and uses plain language and coverage that can be completed in a one-semester course. It also covers the related concepts required to take the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

Features:

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• Written in plain language, with numerous realistic step-by-step examples.

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• Covers topics required to understand and prepare for the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) exam.

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• Includes practical case studies, concise theory and numerous solved practice problems.

Engineering Statics is suitable for undergraduate students in civil and mechanical engineering courses, as well as those in Engineering Technology and Applied courses. This book includes material suitable for first and second-year undergraduate courses, as well as more senior students.

The authors believe that this text will be very helpful for students to succeed in their degree programs and professional careers.

1 Introduction

1.1 MECHANICS

Mechanics is a branch of science dealing with the state of bodies – at rest, in motion or resulting in deformation when acted upon by a force system. Upon applying a force system to a body, at least one of the following outcomes may occur: the body may move; if there is not adequate restraint, or it may not move but noticeably deform. Generally, if the deformation is noticeable, then it is discussed under deformable-body mechanics (very often called strength of materials or mechanics of materials). If the deformation is negligible or no movement occurs, then it is discussed under rigid-body mechanics. Both are divided into two areas, statics and dynamics, as shown in Figure 1.1. Statics deals with bodies at rest, and dynamics deals with bodies in motion. The branch of mechanics that deals with liquids is called fluid mechanics.

1.2 PRINCIPLES OF MECHANICS

Engineering mechanics is formulated on the basis of Newton’s three laws of motions which are stated as follows:

First Law. An object at rest remains at rest unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force.

Second Law. If an unbalanced force acts on a body, the body will experience an acceleration proportional to the magnitude of the unbalanced force and the same direction of the unbalanced force.

Third Law. For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This statement means that for every force on an object there is a reaction force that is equal in magnitude, but opposite in direction or sense.

An overview of Newton’s three laws of motion indicates that the second law provides the basis for the study of dynamics. The concept of engineering statics is largely dependent on the first and third laws of motion. For example, the concrete beam shown in Figure 1.2 has its self-weight which acts downward. Two vertical supports carry (or resist) this self-weight. As the self-weight is downward, the supports apply equal-upward reaction to resist this self-weight. Here, the downward self-weight and the upward vertical reaction are numerically equal and opposite.

Another example is shown in Figure 1.3 where a truss is being lifted up to place it at the top of a residential building under construction. The truss has its self-weight which acts downward. The cable attached to the truss carries this self-weight. The cable tension is equal to this self-weight. Here, the downward self-weight and the upward cable tension are numerically equal and opposite.

FIGURE 1.1 Branches of engineering mechanics.

FIGURE 1.2 An isolated beam with two supports. (Photo by Armando Perez taken in Pueblo, Colorado)

FIGURE 1.3 Lifting a truss during the construction of a building. (Photo taken in Pueblo, Colorado)

1.3 BASIC QUANTITIES

The three basic quantities used in mechanics are time, length, and mass.

Time means the duration spent on certain activities, action, etc. Time is naturally an absolute quantity and does not depend on any other outside object and proceeds uniformly at a fixed rate. The time interval between two events is equal for all observers.

Length is the linear measurement ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• About the Authors
• Chapter 1 Introduction
• Chapter 2 Coplanar Force Systems
• Chapter 3 Equilibrium of Particle and Rigid Body
• Chapter 4 Trusses
• Chapter 5 Arches, Cables and Pulleys
• Chapter 6 Frame Structures
• Chapter 7 Axial Force, Shear Force and Bending Moment in Beams
• Chapter 8 Space Force Systems
• Chapter 9 Centroids of Area
• Chapter 10 Moment of Inertia of Area
• Chapter 11 Friction
• Index