This text is the primary recommendation of the UK Engineering Council Faculty of Technology to all British universities as of approved standard and quality for use as a text for the Board's own examinations. It introduces the fundamental concepts and principles of statics and stress analysis as the essential reading for first year engineering students. Worked examples from the authors experience reinforce comprehension of key concepts. Tutorial solutions with explanation in extended detail have been provided for students. Key elements include: use of free-body diagrams to help problem solving; coverage of composite materials; torsion of circular and non-circular sections; and the matrix-displacement method.

Carl T F Ross, University of Portsmouth, UK