Good engineering dynamics book?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for a good engineering dynamics textbook suitable for self-study, particularly in the context of an online dynamics class. Participants share their experiences with various books and resources, highlighting the challenges of finding a suitable text.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant seeks recommendations for a good dynamics book, expressing frustration with previous texts.
  • Another participant notes that responses will vary widely based on individual experiences with different textbooks.
  • A suggestion is made to consider "Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics" by A. Pytel and J. Kiusalaas, along with links to additional resources and equations.
  • Another participant mentions using Pytel and Kiusalaas's book and later studying "Classical Dynamics" by Donald T. Greenwood for further understanding.
  • A participant expresses a strong negative opinion about the Beer Johnson series, stating they are difficult to learn from.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of a solid mathematical foundation for understanding engineering dynamics, contrasting it with statics.
  • Another recommendation is made for the Schaum's Outline Series in Engineering, specifically "Theory and Problems in Lagrangian Dynamics" by Dare A. Wells, citing its usefulness for self-study due to its problem sets.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that recommendations will vary based on personal experiences, and there is no consensus on a single "best" textbook. Some express skepticism about the availability of a good dynamics book, while others provide specific titles they found helpful.

Contextual Notes

Participants mention the necessity of a strong mathematical background for studying dynamics, indicating that the choice of textbook may depend on the reader's prior knowledge and learning style.

mrmotobiker
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hey,

does anyone have a recommendation of a good dynamics book? the dynamics class I'm taking this semester doesn't have a specific book. I've been through too many books and i just wanted to get some input on a good, easy to teach yourself book. this is an online dynamics class by the way.

thanks.
 
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You're going to get a thousand different answers from a thousand different people. Everyone will pretty much state what they had as a text in their dynamics classes.
 
I agree with Fred - one will receive as many answers as respondents.

However - try this -

http://www.esm.psu.edu/courses/emch12/rpmcnitt/lecture.html
Nice equation set - http://www.esm.psu.edu/courses/emch12/intdyn/course-docs/Equation-Sheet.pdf

TEXT (required): "Engineering Mechanics - Dynamics" by A. Pytel and J. Kiusalaas from - http://www.esm.psu.edu/courses/emch12/rpmcnitt/default.html


or
Engineering Dynamics (EngM373)
Department of Engineering Mechanics
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
(Prepared by Mehrdad Negahban, 1996 - 2005)

http://em-ntserver.unl.edu/NEGAHBAN/EM373/Intro.htm

Enjoy.

Actually, I have come across a really great book which I highly recommend to engineers.
http://www.science.mcmaster.ca/~geo/faculty/emeriti/middleton/index.html (Johns Hopkins), "Mechanics in the Earth and Environmental Science," Cambridge University Press, 1994.

It presents a nice clear and succinct discussion of the mathematics and philosophy of mechanics and modeling. Good introduction to vector and tensor applications, although it may not be sufficiently mathematically rigorous for some.

http://www.cambridge.org/catalogue/catalogue.asp?isbn=9780521441247

Can also be found at Amazon and other booksellers.
 
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I remember when i took dynamics i usedAndre Pytel and Jaan Kiusalaas book, after it, i studied Classical Dynamics by Donald T. Greenwood (self study), just to get more info (afterall Pytel and Kiusalaas reference it in their book).
 
I do not recommend the dynamics books from the Beer Johnson series... they are terrible books, they are hard to learn from.
 
thanks. i guess the only way to know is to buy one and try one for myself.
 
Well in my experience, there is no such thing as a good engineering dynamics book!.

Engineering Dynamics requires a good foundation of math knowledge (Trigonometry, Vector Algebra, Vector Calculus and i'll throw in some intro to ODEs), which is different from Statics (basically trigonometry and Vector Algebra).
 
The standard textbook used to be Greenwood's book (at least, in some parts of the world).

If you are going to self-study, I recommend the Schaum's Outline Series in Engineering, "Theory and Problems in Lagrangian Dynamics", by Dare A. Wells. It has tons of solved and unsolved problems - ideal for learning by yourself.
 

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