Which of the following mechanics of materials books for self study?

[thorgan]

Dear All,

I have done a search on this question in the forums but can't quite find the answer I am after and so would like your help?

My degree was in mechanical engineering, followed by a PhD in impact biomechanics using Abaqus. I then went on to work for Abaqus and then into the Nuclear industry. It was when I made that last move that I started to appreciate the value of hand calcs over detailed analysis more and more, and so I want to study it again to make a stronger basis of knowledge. I'd ultimately like to be able to do good scoping calcs before launching any FE (so am interested in strong beam stress analysis, buckling, torsion, maybe plate stresses etc.)

I am after some advice on what book I should buy (as my complete college notes were cruelly thrown out!), as I have found that I tend to just collect internet bookmarks rather than study them, so maybe if I go back to books I'll actually knuckle down. I will be doing this as self study, noting that I am mostly involved in project management nowadays and don't regularly get a chance to do calcs.

After reading these forums a bit and looking around, I've compiled the following list of books, and I'd like to buy just one. What I thought would help the advice I got would be a short insight into how I like to learn things:
Basically I always like to have things proved to me twice, using firstly an intuitive idea (usually with diagrams/examples) and in addition with a full mathematical proof (I don't like skipped steps - I'd prefer the explanation to be long and complete rather than short and a quick read).

With that in mind, can you help me pick from the following choices (or even if you think you study like me you may have a better option I'm not aware of?).



(1) Mechanics of Material (SI units) by Ferdinand P. Beer (Author), et al.

(2) Shigley's Mechancial Engineering Design (SI units) by Richard G Budynas (Author), Keith J Nisbett (Author)

(3) Mechanics of Engineering Materials by P.P. Benham (Author), et al.

(4) Mechanics of Materials by James M. Gere (Author), Stephen P. Timoshenko (Author)

(5) Mechanics of Materials by Russell C. Hibbeler (Author)

Many thanks,
Tim

 

[Ron]

(1) and (4) would be my choices. (5) would be my third choice.

I only choose these because familiarity with these books or with the author's other publications.

 

[dhengr]

See thread404-270930, “Statics / Mechanics of Materials References,” by Eltron, 28APR10, this exact forum. You probably want several ref. books on these subjects, for cross refs. and because none of them do everything or cover every subject well.

 

[CoryPad]

Reference 4

 

[GregLocock]

Anyone doing FEA or stress analysis should be familiar with Timoshenko. Any mechanical engineer should be familiar with Shigley. If you want to understand materials at a fundamental level then Ashby and Jones gave a very entertaining course on materials, and have released a textbook on the same lines.



Cheers

Greg Locock


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[JStephen]

What I have seen of Timoshenko's work has always been well done. It's also old stuff, so if you get into anything computer related, it won't cover that. Otherwise, it's good.

Timoshenko's got a "History of the Strength of Materials" as well, I think it's a Dover paperback.

 

[thorgan]

Dear All,

Thank you very much for your responses, particularly since similar questions have indeed been asked before.

I guess what I think was different about my question was in asking why you liked one book over another, or if the way I described my learning struck a chord with someone similar.

Maybe its worth combining some of the responses into a FAQ covering the books, their topics and their methods of explanation?

Thanks again - you've been great.

Tim

 

[GregLocock]

I like Timoshenko because he defines the field, analytically. I like JE Gordon because he describes the field, sensibly. I like Ashby and Jones because they define material behaviours, usefully.

Cheers

Greg Locock


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