Statics & Strength of Materials

Welcome to the course website for Statics (EGR 201) and Strength of Materials (ME 201) at Alvernia University. These courses cover essential engineering concepts in engineering statics and strength of materials, providing a foundation for mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering disciplines. The course material is designed to help you master concepts related to free-body diagrams, equilibrium equations, and stress analysis. 

You will find files of the lecture slides and Mathematica code in the Box Folder and embedded slides and videos for each section in the “Course Content” tab. 

Problem prompts are located in the slides at the top of each section. Be sure to refer to the prompt before watching the problem-solving video.

Author

Joseph M. Mahoney, Ph.D.

Chair of Engineering and Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Alvernia University (Reading, PA)

Joseph.Mahoney@alvernia.edu 

https://sites.google.com/view/jmmahoney 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jmm694 

https://www.youtube.com/@drjmm84 

Course modules

The course content is organized into six modules. Each module includes several sections with learning goals, slides, videos, and practice problems.

Module 1: Particle equilibrium

Build confidence with vectors and force components, then apply equilibrium to particles and basic moment ideas for engineering statics.

Module 2: Rigid body equilibrium

Model supports and reactions, write 2D and 3D equilibrium equations, and analyze common statics structures including trusses, frames, and machines.

Module 3: Internal loads

Connect external loading to internal effects through centroids, friction and impending motion, area moments of inertia, and internal load relationships.

Module 4: Stress and strain

Introduce strength of materials fundamentals including stress, strain, mechanical properties, axial deformation, and torsional deformation.

Module 5: Beam bending

Develop shear and moment diagrams and use them to compute normal bending stress and transverse shear stress, with supporting elasticity concepts.

Module 6: Combined loading

Combine loading cases for real components (including pressure vessels), use stress transformations, and introduce buckling for columns and stability.

For visitors and educators

This site offers teaching materials for engineering statics and strength of materials, including free-body diagram practice, equilibrium modeling, internal forces, and introductory stress analysis. Educators and self-learners are welcome to explore the modules and adapt ideas for their own courses. Please respect copyright and fair use, and contact the instructor if you would like to reuse substantial portions of these materials.

Recommended texts

1. Hibbeler, R. C. Engineering Mechanics: Statics, 15th ed. Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780134814971. 

2. Hibbeler, R. C. Mechanics of Materials, 10th ed. Pearson. ISBN-13: 9780134319650.