Mechanical

How can we select engineering materials?

How can we select engineering materials? In our previous article, we looked at elastic and magnetic hysteresis. In this article, we’re going to look at how we can select engineering materials. In other articles, we have previously looked at the different materials and their properties. However, it’s important that engineers understand how we can go […]

What is hysteresis?

What is hysteresis? In our previous article, we looked at the material modes of failure we need to be aware of in engineering. In this article we’re going to dive into elastic and magnetic hysteresis. Elastic Hysteresis Elastic hysteresis is the difference in strain of a material during loading of stress or strain, versus during […]

What are material modes of failure?

What are material modes of failure? In our previous article we looked at the properties of engineering materials. In this article, we’re going to dive into material modes of failure and what they are. What is failure? The definition of failure is that the component is no longer fit for use or its designed purpose. […]

What are the properties of engineering materials?

What are the properties of engineering materials? In our last article, we looked at engineering materials and their atomic structure. Now we’re going to dive into the properties of engineering materials. There are several different properties that apply to engineering materials, and we’re going to look at an overview of each of them. Physical Properties […]

Engineering materials and their atomic structure

Engineering materials and their atomic structure In our last article, we looked at how we can apply Bernoulli’s principle to engineering problems. Now we’re going to dive into engineering materials and their atomic structure. Engineering Materials Engineering can be defined as the application of science and technology to create or produce something. In order to […]

What is Bernoulli’s principle?

What is Bernoulli’s principle? In our previous article, we looked at ideal gas laws and how they can be used in engineering problems. In this article we’re going to look into Bernoulli’s principle and how it can affect engineering problems. Bernoulli’s principle Bernoulli’s principle is a fundamental law governing the motion of fluids. It relates […]

What are ideal gas laws?

What are ideal gas laws? In our previous article, we looked at how continuity can affect engineering problems. In this article, we’re going to look into what ideal gas laws are and how they can affect engineering problems. What are ideal gas laws? Ideal gas laws are a set of laws and equations that govern […]

How can continuity affect engineering problems?

How can continuity affect engineering problems? In our previous article, we looked at how heat and temperature can affect engineering problems. In this article, we’re going to look into continuity and how it affects engineering problems. What is continuity? If we consider a steady flow at velocity, v, of a fluid with a density of […]

How can heat and temperature affect engineering problems?

How can heat and temperature affect engineering problems? In our previous article, we looked at how pressure in fluids can affect engineering problems. In this article, we’re going to look into heat and temperature and how they affect engineering problems. Heat and temperature Heat is a type of energy, measured in Joules J. When heat […]

What is pressure in fluids, and how does it affect engineering problems?

What is pressure in fluids, and how does it affect engineering problems? In our previous articles, we looked at how to use various principles, such as moments of force, to solve engineering problems. In this article, we’re going to look into principles of fluids and how they affect engineering problems. Pressure due to height of […]

How do moments of force affect engineering problems?

How do moments of force affect engineering problems? In our last article, we looked at how we can apply principles of energy and power to engineering problems. Now we’re going to dive into how moments of force can be applied to engineering problems. Moments If we want to describe a force acting on a body, […]

How can we apply the principles of energy and power to practical problems?

How can we apply the principles of energy and power to practical problems? In our last articles, we looked at things like some of the forces that can affect engineering problems, and how we can solve problems involving distance and velocity. Now we’re going to look at how we can solve problems using the principles […]

What are the forces at a point that affect engineering problems?

What are the forces at a point that affect engineering problems? In our last article, we looked at how we can solve practical problems that involve distance and velocity. Now we’re going to look at forces at a point, what they are, and how they can affect engineering problems. Before we jump in, let’s check […]

How can we solve practical problems involving distance and velocity?

How can we solve practical problems involving distance and velocity? In our last article we looked at SI units, what they are and why we use them, giving us a solid introduction to Engineering Science. In this article, we’re going to see how we can solve some practical problems with engineering. Introduction to definitions Before […]

How can we describe SI units?

How can we describe SI units? If you’ve read any of our previous articles, you’ll see that we dive into various engineering topics, such as mechanical resonance or deflection of cantilever beams. In this article, we’re going to learn all about SI units, standard engineering prefix notation, and how we can describe them. Introduction to […]

How can we analyse a single-degree-of-freedom lumped parameter systems with damping?

How can we analyse a single-degree-of-freedom lumped parameter system with damping? In our previous article on undamped vibration, we looked at solving vibration problems with a single degree of freedom. In this article, we’re going to look at systems with damping and how to analyse them. We’ll focus on the mathematical analysis of a single-degree-of-freedom […]

How can we analyse undamped vibration problems.

How can we analyse undamped vibration problems. In our previous article on harmonic motion, we looked at how we can analyse problems involving simple harmonic motion, now we’re going to look at solving vibration problems with a single degree of freedom. Vibration Analysis In vibration analysis, there are two approaches we are interested in. One […]

How do we analyse problems involving harmonic motion?

How do we analyse problems involving harmonic motion? In our previous article on mechanical resonance, we looked at harmonic motion and how it affects structures. Now we’re going to jump into how we can solve issues that involve simple harmonic motion. What is simple harmonic motion? Many systems consist of components that vibrate in the […]

What are mechanical resonance and damping in engineering?

What are mechanical resonance and damping in engineering? In our previous articles, such as our article on axial load-carrying capacity, we focused on buckling and load-carrying calculations. In our next few articles, we’ll move on to focusing on the vibration of structures and how it can affect them. What is vibration in engineering? Let’s dive […]

How can we calculate the axial load-carrying capacity of a reinforced concrete column and classify it?

How can we calculate the axial load-carrying capacity of a reinforced concrete column and classify it? Following on from our previous article on the axial load-carrying capacity of a steel column, we’re going to look at the axial load-carrying capacity of a concrete column and also see how we can classify it. What is a […]

How do we calculate the axial load-carrying capacity of a steel column?

How can the axial load-carrying capacity of a steel column be determined? Following on from our previous article on evaluating the Euler buckling load, we’re going to look at some other calculations we need when looking at buckling of columns. Eccentrically loaded steel column design. The axial force can’t act centrically on the column, so, […]

How do we analyse the deflection of simply supported beams using calculus.

How do we analyse the deflection of simply supported beams using calculus. In our previous article on deflection in simply supported beams, we looked at calculating deflection using standard tables. In this article, however, our focus will be on calculating deflection using calculus. Relationship Between Deflection, Slope and Radius of Curvature As we mentioned in […]

Determine the deflection of en-castre beams.

Determine the deflection of en-castre beams. Following on from our previous article on deflection of beams with a combined load, we’re going to look at deflection in a different type of beam. What is an en-castre beam? En-castre beams, or fixed beams, have fixed supports at both ends. So, they don’t allow horizontal, vertical or rotational […]

Determine the deflection of beams due to combined loads

Determine the deflection of beams due to combined loads If you read our article deflection of beams with a single load, you’ll know about deflection of a beam. Now we’re going to investigate how deflection affects a beam with combined loads. Calculating deflections on a beam with combined loads. Deflections from combined loading on a […]

Determine the deflection of cantilever beams with a single load.

Determine the deflection of cantilever beams with a single load. If you read our previous article on what is deflection, you’ll have some idea of deflection and it’s magnitude. Now we’re going to investigate how we determine deflection. What is a cantilever beam? Cantilever beams are constrained at one end and free at their other […]

What is the deflection of a structure and what determines its magnitude?

What is the deflection of a structure and what determines its magnitude? If you’ve read our previous articles on how to determine forces on a joint or structure, you’ll know that there are many different calculations used in civil engineering. Now we’re going to change direction slightly and take a look at deflection and what […]

How do we analyse the effects of loading on cylinders?

How do we analyse the effects of loading on cylinders? Continuing on in our series looking at the various calculations used in Civil Structural Analysis, we’re going to dive into analysing the effects of loading on cylinders. What is a cylinder? Firstly, what is a cylinder? Many items like steam boilers or large pipes are […]

How to determine the forces acting in pin-jointed frame structures.

How to determine the forces acting in pin-jointed frame structures. We’re going to continue our series of articles on the calculations used to determine various forces and effects by jumping in to another calculation. What is a pin joint. Before looking at the forces acting in a pin joint, we need to know what a […]

Determine the effects of torsional loads on shafts.

Determine the effects of torsional loads on shafts. We’re going to continue our series of articles on the calculations used in civil and mechanical engineering by diving into torsional loads on shafts and their effects. The image below shows a motor supplied with power which causes a shaft to rotate. The rotating shaft causes the […]

Calculating the reaction forces and bending moment distributions in a simply supported beam.

Calculating the reaction forces and bending moment distributions in a simply supported beam. This is the second in a series of articles diving into the various calculations used in civil and mechanical engineering, such as our article on calculating stress. For this one, we’re going to look at reaction forces in a simply supported beam. […]

How to calculate stress for direct loading of components.

How to calculate stress for direct loading of components. If a rubber strip is pulled it stretches, and the more you pull it the more it stretches. There’s a relationship between the extension and the force applied, known as Hooke’s Law, and it can be expressed as a force extension graph: The top graph above […]

How does the grain size affect the strength of a material?

How does the grain size affect the strength of a material? In this article we are going to focus on how the grain size impacts on yield strength. What is a grain? A crystal can be modelled as a unit lattice in which atoms are arranged in a specific position, when a group of crystals […]

Material deformation techniques

Material deformation techniques This article discusses various methods where materials are forcibly deformed, and their physical or microstructural properties are altered. This is done to enhance certain mechanical or electrical properties. The deformation usually takes place at high or low temperatures, and this is reflected in the naming of the process. Cold Working This process […]