Introduction to Mechanical Engineering

Abstract The chapter provides an introduction to mechanical engineering, cov-

ering fundamental concepts of mechanical properties of materials and their use in

the design and manufacturing. It first explains the notion of mechanical properties

of materials and then elaborates on the proper definition of most relevant properties

as well as materials testing to obtain these properties. The role of mechanical

properties at the design stage in form of the design criterion is explained. The use of

material properties to assess equivalent stress and strain in complex loading con-

ditions is revealed. At the manufacturing stage, the notion of additive (material is

added to the workpiece), neutral (the volume of the workpiece is preserved), and

substantive (the volume of the workpiece is reduced) processes is introduced. The

relevant properties of materials in the neutral (forming) and substantive (cutting)

processes are considered.

1 Conceptual Introduction

The term “knowledge-based economy” results from a fuller recognition of the role

of knowledge and technology in economic growth. Knowledge in technology has

always been central to economic development. But only over recent years has its

relative importance been recognized, just as that importance is growing. This is

because, in today’s rapidly changing product marketplace, the critical requirements

for product quality, productivity, and reliability have been becoming the most

powerful driving force behind any new product design and development.

Products achieve success through a combination of sound technical design and

effective manufacturing process to achieve the requirements set by the design.

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