Mechanics of Materials

Mechanics of Materials is a multi-format,  __ page open textbook and accompanying problem set intended for use in one-semester introductory undergraduate Mechanics of Materials courses. Mechanics of Materials is an important foundation for students in several disciplines, including mechanical, civil, aerospace, and materials engineering. It is typically completed early in the core engineering curriculum, following Statics, and serves as a prerequisite to more advanced Solid Mechanics courses. 

The book and accompanying problem sets are authored by a team of professors at Virginia Tech in consultation and with contributions from experts who teach undergraduate Mechanics of Materials at a variety of institutions of higher education. 

Target Audience

This textbook and its accompanying materials are intended for degree-seeking, undergraduate students in a broad range of engineering disciplines including mechanical, civil, aerospace, and materials engineering. The authors have experience teaching this content in various types of institutions including research universities to 2-year community colleges. As such, the material is designed to be relevant to instruction at the widest range of educational settings. It is suitable for high-enrollment multi-section courses and  smaller intensive courses alike. This text covers fundamental skills and concepts that engineering students will rely on throughout their studies and their careers.

Motivation

Existing textbooks covering this material are expensive for students and tightly controlled by their publishers, which can make it difficult to adapt the material to the needs of the instructor and student. Some existing open educational resources aim to aid aspects of student learning, and this book and its companion problem sets expand on that goal by providing a cohesive resource that covers a typical Mechanics of Materials course from start to finish. It is free to use and instructors are free to adapt the book to their specific needs as permitted by the book’s Creative Commons (CC BY NC-SA) license.