Subject Guide: Mechanical Engineering

Finding Overviews and Data

Use encyclopedias and handbooks to find background information and overviews for your research. They also often contain specialized information such as formulas, methods, practices, tables, and data. The list below is not comprehensive, but is meant to give a sampling of the types of reference books available.

AccessScience
Online version of the the McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science & Technology and the McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms.
ASM Handbooks Online
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics.
Dekker Encyclopedia of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology.
ENGnetBASE
Compilation of over 200 engineering handbooks published by CRC Press. Selected mechanical engineering titles include:
- Computer-Aided Design, Engineering and Manufacturing: Systems Techniques and Applications, Volume I. (Other 6 volumes also on ENGnetBASE.) 2001.
- CRC Handbook of Thermal Engineering. 2000.
- Fuel Cell Technology Handbook. 2003.
- Handbook of Micro/Nanotribology, 2nd ed. 1999.
- Mechanical Engineering Handbook, 2nd ed. c2005.
- Mechanical Systems Design Handbook: Modeling, Measurement, and Control. 2002.
- MEMS Handbook. 2002.
- Modern Tribology Handbook. 2001.
MATHnetBASE
Compilation of mathematics handbooks and guides published by CRC Press. Selected titles include:
- Advanced Mathematics and Mechanics Applications using MATLAB, 3rd ed. 2003.
- CRC Standard Mathematical Tables and Formulae, 31st ed. 2003.
- Mathematical Methods in Physics and Engineering with Mathematica. 2003.
- MATLAB Primer, 6th ed. 2002.
- Numerical Library in Java for Scientists and Engineering. 2004.
Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology. 3rd ed. 18 vols. Academic Press, 2002.
Q123.E497 2002 Reference
Encyclopedia of Vibration. 3 vols. Academic Press, 2002.
TA355.E497 2002 Reference
Handbook of Mechanical Engineering Calculations. McGraw-Hill, 1998.
TJ151.H327 1998 Reference
Handbook of Industrial Robotics. 2nd ed. Wiley, 1999.
TS191.8.H36 1999 Reference
Knovel.
Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers. 10th Ed. McGraw-Hill, 1996.
TJ151. M37 1996 Reference
Standard Handbook of Machine Design. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, 1996.
TJ230 S8235 1996 Reference
Tool and Manufacturing Engineers Handbook. 4th ed. 9 vols. SME, 1983-1998.
TS176.A431 1983 Reference

The Reference Collection in the Engineering Library has a wide range of handbooks and encyclopedias. Browsing the reference shelves by subject will usually be productive. To access other online reference tools, consult our complete list of Electronic Books.