Mechanical Design Data Book: The Mechanical Engineer’s Data Companion
Outline of a free mechanical engineering data companion in four parts and thirteen chapters: units, materials, stress, fatigue, thermodynamics, fluids, fasteners, tolerances, gears, bearings and vibration. In writing, not yet available to download.
- 3 min read
Status: in writing. This page shows the planned outline so you can see what the book will cover. The manuscript is not finished and there is nothing to download yet. If you want a note when it is ready, get in touch.
A field reference of the data, formulas and standards a mechanical engineer reaches for during everyday design: units and conversions, materials, stress and deflection, thermodynamics and fluids, fasteners, tolerances, gears, bearings and vibration. Subtitle: The Mechanical Engineer’s Data Companion.
The planned outline
| Part | Chapters |
|---|---|
| I. Core engineering fundamentals and math | 1. Units, constants and conversion factors. 2. Essential engineering mathematics: geometry, trigonometry, calculus quick reference, statistics and tolerance stack-up. 3. Statics and dynamics data: forces and moments, centroids, kinematics, Newton’s laws and energy. |
| II. Materials and mechanics of solids | 4. Standard material properties: steels, aluminium and copper alloys, plastics, composites and ceramics. 5. Stress, strain and deformation: basic formulas, standard beam deflections, thin-walled pressure vessels, stress concentration factors. 6. Fatigue and failure: S-N data and endurance limits, von Mises and Tresca, bolted joint preload and thread engagement. |
| III. Thermodynamics and fluid mechanics | 7. Thermodynamic data and cycles: specific heats, gas laws, abridged steam tables, Carnot, Rankine and Otto efficiencies. 8. Heat transfer: conduction, convection and radiation data. 9. Practical fluid mechanics: fluid properties, Bernoulli and continuity, pipe friction and minor losses, pump and fan affinity laws. |
| IV. Mechanical design and components | 10. GD&T symbol glossary, ISO and ASME fits, surface finish. 11. Fasteners and seals: metric and unified threads, property classes, keys and splines, O-ring sizes. 12. Power transmission: gears, bearings and L10 life, belts and chains. 13. Vibration and noise: natural frequency, damping, decibel reference. |
| Appendix: reference tables and charts | A. Pipe and tubing standards. B. Beam and structural shapes. C. Hardness conversion. D. Temperature equivalents. E. ISO tolerance grades. |
Related reading now
- GD&T Feature Control Frame Handbook: the tolerancing chapter in depth.
- Sheet Metal Bend Calculator and Welded Structure DFM Toolkit: calculators in the same spirit.
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