Engineering Mechanics is one of the most important foundational subjects for nearly all engineering disciplines. This is especially true for civil engineering, mechanical engineering, as well as for mathematics and the natural sciences. The goal of mechanics is to determine the motion of technical systems and the forces associated with that motion. To this end, technical processes are described using idealized models that can be analyzed mathematically. The mathematical solutions are then translated back into engineering language. This cycle of modeling – mathematical analysis – technical interpretation is a defining characteristic of Engineering Mechanics. It also explains the initial difficulties many students face when learning the subject. The course Engineering Mechanics is divided into four parts, each providing an introduction to a major area of mechanics. The first part covers the statics of rigid bodies. The second part is devoted to the statics of deformable bodies, while the third part deals with the dynamics of both rigid and deformable bodies. The fourth and final part provides an introduction to tensor calculus and engineering vibration theory. The necessary knowledge and problem-solving skills are taught through lectures and accompanying exercises.

Dynamics

• Kinematics and kinetics of a particle, a system of particles, and a rigid body
• Impact and collision
• Kinetics of bodies with variable mass
• Fundamental principles of mechanics, d'Alembert’s principle
• Introduction to vibration theory
• Introduction to hydrodynamics

• D. Gross, W. Hauger, J. Schröder, W.A. Wall (2024) Technische Mechanik 3: Kinetik. Springer Vieweg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 16th Edition. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-69441-1
• D. Gross, W. Ehlers, P. Wriggers, J. Schröder, R. Müller (2022) Formeln und Aufgaben zur Technischen Mechanik 3: Kinetik, Hydrodynamik. Springer Vieweg, Berlin, Heidelberg, 13th Edition. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-662-66190-1