An Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Richly illustrated, this text reflects the author's experiences and philosophy while teaching his introductory course, Fundamentals of Mechanical Engineering, at Carnegie Mellon University. He introduces students to the vocabulary, skills, applications, and excitement of the mechanical engineering profession. The text balances problem solving skills, communications skills, design engineering analysis, real world applications and practical technology.

A Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Iowa State University, Dr. Jonathan Wickert teaches and conducts research in the areas of applied mechanics, dynamics, and mechanical vibration. As a researcher and consultant, he has worked with companies and federal agencies on a diverse range of engineering problems including computer disk drives and tape libraries, the manufacture of sheet metal, and various consumer products. Dr. Wickert received his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. He has served as associate editor of engineering journals, as a division chair in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and as chair of the undergraduate mechanical engineering program at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Wickert has received awards in recognition of his teaching and research from the Society of Automotive Engineers, the American Society for Engineering Education, and the Information Storage Industry Consortium. He was also elected a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.