Engineering Mechanics

Engineering Mechanics is the one of the most basic subjects that is required
to study mechanical engineering from second year onwards. The subject will
expose you to concepts like friction, kinetics, kinematics, resolving
forces, trusses etc which forms the crux of design sciences. All these
concepts are required to study subjects like Strength of Materials, Theory
of Machines I,II , Machine Design, FEA, Mechanical Vibration etc.
Basically every subject in Mechanical Engineering will use these concepts of
engineering mechanics ranging from production technology to design
sciences to thermal sciences. Engineering mechanics is understood by many
to be the application of mechanics to solve problems. Yet, for engineers, this
definition is a bit vague, as it overlooks key questions like: What is being
applied? And how exactly are these constitutions working together?

To answer such questions, one must first examine the fundamentals of

engineering mechanics, and then see how these fundamentals work together
to solve engineering problems.

Forces, torques and dynamics will be some of the defined fundamentals, but
before the explaining begins, the importance of obtaining a holistic
understanding both of the elements and their interactions should first be
noted. The rationale for obtaining a holistic understanding is that civil
engineers will not only be expected to solve problems, but will also need to
explain how problems are, or could be, solved.

Most of the time engineers will be explaining to individuals who dont have a
firm grasp on the engineering vernacular. Therefore, for clear

communication, it will often be necessary to translate engineering

knowledge into something more consumable for the general public.

Engineers who possess fundamental knowledge of engineering mechanics

will stand apart from their colleagues, as they will be able to swiftly flow from
analyzing with other engineers to explaining potential problems to those not
mechanically savvy.