Statics

Statics deals with stationary objects — this is of considerable important in engineering education because we often build objects intended to remain in equilibrium.

See CIV100 — Statics.

Key concepts

• Force
  • Dot product
  • Cross product
• Moment
• Free-body diagram
• Rigid body equilibrium
• Trusses
  • Method of joints
  • Method of sections
  • Zero-force members
• Internal force
  • Shear force
• Friction
• Centroid
• Hydrostatics
• Mass moments of inertia

Resources

• Dr Blake Melnick’s (Auburn University) video series is absolutely indispensable
• Engineering Mechanics: Statics, by Russell C. Hibbeler

The basics

Our fundamental guiding principle is that the sum of forces and moments is zero in all dimensions.

$$\sum F=0$$ $$\sum M=0$$