Now in its second english edition mechanics of materials is the second volume of a three volume textbook series on engineering mechanics it was written with the intention of presenting to engineering students the basic concepts and principles of mechanics in as simple a form as the subject allows a second objective of this book is to guide the students in their efforts to solve problems in mechanics in a systematic manner the simple approach to the theory of mechanics allows for the . Preface mechanics of materials is the second volume of a three volume textbook on engineering mechanics volume 1 deals with statics while volume 3 contains dynamics the original german version of this series has been the bestselling textbook on mechanics for more than two decades its 11th edition is currently being published