Created by

Prasad S. Shirodkar

Chapter 1: Introduction to Engineering Mechanics

Definition of Engineering Mechanics, Historical Development of Engineering Mechanics, Newtons Laws

Introduction
Mechanics is defined as a branch of physical science which describes and predicts the conditions of rest or motion of body, under the action of forces. A popular example of application of principle of mechanics is Hawk Eye. The mechanics discipline separates into classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. Historically classical mechanics came first, while the quantum mechanics has been developed recently. Classical mechanics originated with Newtons Laws of Motion, while quantum mechanics originated in 1900. Quantum mechanics deals with problems at molecular and sub atomic level (microscopic). Classical mechanics deals with problems at macroscopic level. Einsteins general and special theories of relativity have expanded the scope of Newtonian mechanics, and made fundamental corrections to them. These corrections become significant and dominant as objects approach the speed of light. These corrections are also needed for quantum mechanics. Classical mechanics is further divided into several subjects. The subject of Applied Mechanics or Engineering Mechanics is one of the several subjects forming Classical Mechanics.

Engineering Mechanics (Applied Mechanics)

Applied mechanics, as the name suggests, deals with practical application of mechanics. It bridges the gap between classical theory, and its application to technology. Mechanics can be divided into three branches Rigid body mechanics Deformable body mechanics (also known as mechanics of materials or strength of materials) Fluid mechanics

To study mechanics of materials and fluid mechanics we first need to understand rigid body mechanics. Rigid body mechanics deals with design and analysis of structural members, mechanical components or electrical devices. Rigid body mechanics is further divided into two areas viz., Statics and Dynamics

Statics and Dynamics

Statics: Statics is the branch of mechanics concerned with the analysis of loads (force, torque/moment) on physical systems in a state where the relative positions of subsystems do not vary over time. In statics the body is at rest or moving with uniform velocity.

Dynamics: In dynamics the bodies are in accelerated motion. Dynamics can be further divided into kinematics and kinetics. Kinematics is also sometimes described as geometry of motion. It deals with displacement, velocities, and accelerations of various parts of mechanisms. Kinetics is the study of forces which cause motion.

Historical development
Table 1.1: Historical development of mechanics 400 BC 384-322 BC 287-212 BC 1452-1519 1473-1543 1548-1620 1564-1642 1564-1642 1629-1695 1642-1727 1654-1722 1667-1748 1707-1793 1717-1783 1736-1813 1792-1843 1858-1947 Archytus of Tarentum - Theory of Pulleys Aristotle Theory of motion Archimedes - Lever equilibrium, buoyancy principle Leonardo da Vinci - Equilibrium, concept of moments Copernicus - Proposed that the earth revolves around the sun Stevinus - Inclined planes, parallelogram law for addition of forces Stevinus, Galileo - Virtual work principles Galileo - Dynamics of pendulums, falling bodies Huygens - Accurate measurement of the acceleration due to gravity Newton - Law of universal gravitation, laws of motion Varignon - Work with moment and force relationships Bernoulli - Application of virtual work to equilibrium Euler - Rigid body systems, moments of inertia D Alembert - Concept of inertia force Lagrange - Formalized generalized equations of motion Coriolis - Work with moving frames of reference Planck - Quantum mechanics

1879-1955

Einstein - Theory of relativity

The subject of statics was developed as early as 400 BC because its principles can be formulated simply from measurements of geometry and force. In the time period between 287 212 BC, Archimedes developed the principle of lever, buoyancy. Archimedes made this very famous statement: Give me a place to stand on, and I will move the Earth Later some researchers found out that, to achieve this feat in a uniform gravitational field with g (approx) = 9.81 m / s2, for a human of mass 70kg to balance a sphere of 1 Earth mass, with center of gravity of earth located at a distance of 1m from the fulcrum, would be roughly equal to 8.51022m. In astronomical terms, this distance is approximately equal to the Circinus galaxy (roughly 3.6 times the distance to the Andromeda Galaxy). The principle of equilibrium and moment were presented much later by Leonardo da Vinci (1452 1519). Ancient philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) put forth several theories to explained motion of objects. According to him, the dynamics (motion) of an object depends on the nature of the substance that was moving. Aristotle taught that the substances making up the Earth were different from substances making up the heaven. According to him all objects were classified into categories of earth, water, air, or fire. Aristotle believed that a stone fell to the ground because the stone and the earth were similar in substance. Similarly, smoke rose away from Earth, because it was similar to air. He also believed that object only moved as long as they were pushed. According to Aristotle, if a 10 kg object and 1 kg object is dropped from same height; the 10 kg object would fall 10 times faster than 1kg object, because the object weighed 10 times more. These statements presented by Aristotle, were in the form of philosophies, and were not verified experimentally. These views remained widely supported until the 1500s. Many of these theories were flawed. For example, Aristotelian view could not explain why an arrow shot from a bow continues to fly through the air, after it left the bow and the string no longer applied the force to the arrows. The correct principles of dynamics were developed much later by Galileo Galeli (1564 1642) through his experiments on falling bodies. He invented the pendulum in 1602, to use it as an accurate time keeping device in his experiments. The most famous experiment performed by Galileo was dropping objects from Tower of Pisa. In this experiment he demonstrated that 10 kg object, and 1 kg object, when dropped simultaneously from same height, would reach the surface at the same time.

The most significant contributions in dynamics were made by Sir Isaac Newton (16421727). He formulated the three fundamental laws of motions, and the law of universal gravitational attraction.

Newtons Three Laws of Motion

Built on theories presented by Galileo, Kepler, and others, Newton worked out the three laws of motion governing the movement of all object at all times in all circumstances. He published them in his book Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (mathematic principle of natural philosophy) in 1687. Newton's First Law of Motion (Law of Inertia): Everybody continues to be in a state of rest or uniform motion with constant velocity, in the same direction, unless acted upon by external unbalanced force. Hence according to Newton, the first law of motion can be applied to any frame of reference which is not subjected to any external unbalanced force, and moving with a uniform velocity ( V ). This implies that,

V = constant, where V is the velocity vector

Hence, for the Newtons first law to be applicable, the frame of reference should neither be rotating nor accelerating, and there should be no unbalanced force acting on the reference frame. Such a frame of reference in which Newtons first law of motion is applicable is called as inertial frame of reference, and the resistance offered by a body to change its state of motion is called as Inertia. For example, a soccer ball sitting at rest will continue to do so unless it is acted upon by an external unbalanced force of a kick to change its state of rest. As against this a non-inertial frame of reference does not have a constant velocity. It is accelerating. A non inertial frame of reference has following characteristics A non inertial frame of reference could be travelling in a straight line with changing velocity. Such an inertial reference frame is an accelerating or decelerating frame of reference. The frame of reference can be travelling along a curved path with constant velocity or variable velocity In a non inertial frame of reference the Newtons laws of motion do not hold Examples: An Elevator, a mass attached to a string rotating about a fixed axis, etc. Newtons Second Law of Motion:

If an imbalanced force is applied to a body, the body will accelerate in the direction of imbalanced force, with a magnitude directly proportional to the imbalanced force. Hence F\ a

Thus from the equation we can see that Newtons First Law of Motion is a special case of Newtons Second Law of Motion. According to Newtons First Law of Motion, V = constant, hence a = 0, F = unbalanced external force = 0. Newton's Third Law of Motion:

F =m a

Every action have equal, and opposite reaction. Force required to propel a jet engine is also generated though action and reaction. The engine produces hot exhaust gases which flow out of the back of the engine. In reaction, a thrusting force is produced in the opposite direction. Another example of action and reaction force can be a bat striking a ball.

F F