Mechanical Measurements (5th Edition)

Product description

In the field of mechanical measurements, Mechanical Measurements continues to set the standard. With an emphasis on precision and clarity, the authors have consistently crafted a text that has helped thousands of students grasp the fundamentals of the field. Mechanical Measurements gives students a methodical, well thought-out presentation that covers fundamental issues common to all areas of measurement in Part One, followed by individual chapters on applied areas of measurement in Part Two. This modular format fits several different course formats and accommodates a wide variety of skill levels. The separate areas of applied measurements help students see the relevance of mechanical measurement to their own field of interest and offer motivation by addressing real-world measurement problems. The new fifth edition builds on these hallmark features and contains many new topics that reflect changes in the field. A revised chapter on uncertainty analysis reflects the new ASME standards for estimation of uncertainties and provides students with more detailed coverage of the subject. A revised chapter on signal processing gives students more complete coverage of measurement circuit analysis and includes procedures for finding responses of filters and op amps. The increased material on digital measurements provides improved coverage of analog to digital conversion and digital sampling theory, more effectively explaining how computers acquire and store data. The enhanced coverage of electronic instrumentation and electronic sensors helps students better understand this critical area.

From the Inside Flap

After more than 30 years, the basic purpose of this book can still be expressed by the following three paragraphs extracted from the Preface of the first edition of Mechanical Measurements, published in 1961.

Experimental development has become a very important aspect of mechanical design procedure. In years past the necessity for “ironing out the bugs” was looked upon as an unfortunate turn of events, casting serious doubts on the abilities of a design staff. With the ever-increasing complexity and speed of machinery, a changed design philosophy has been forced on both the engineering profession and industrial management alike. An experimental development period is now looked upon, not as a problem to avoid, but as an integral phase of the whole design procedure. Evidence supporting this contention is provided by the continuing growth of research and development companies, subsidiaries, teams, and armed services R & D programs.

At the same time, it should not be construed that the experimental development (design) approach reduces the responsibilities attending the preliminary planning phases of a new device or process. In fact, knowledge gained through experimental programs continually strengthens and supports the theoretical phases of design.

Measurement and the correct interpretation thereof are necessary parts of any engineering research and development program. Naturally, the measurements must supply reliable information and their meanings must be correctly comprehended and interpreted. It is the primary purpose of this book to supply a basis for such measurement.

With the fifth edition of Mechanical Measurements considerable changes and improvements have occurred. Foremost a new co-author, Dr. John H. Lienhard, has been added. In addition, more than half of the chapters in the book have been substantially revised. Some specific changes are as follows:

The uncertainty material in Chapter 3 has been fully revised and follows the ASME standards.

New material on discrete sampling and discrete Fourier transforms has been added in Chapter 4 and also in Chapter 8.

New material on semiconductor sensors has been added in Chapter 6 and also in Chapter 16.

The sections on filters and op-amps in Chapter 7 have been revised and updated.

Laser-based velocity and displacement measurement has been