The best way I can show you how the presentation of this book meets the objectives stated in the Preface is by drawing your attention to certain specific features. Described hereafter are the underlying design and motivation of presentation in the context of the development of theories of one-dimensional structural elements and the concept of stress. The same design philosophy and motivation permeate the rest of the book.

Figure 3.15 depicts the logic relating displacements strains stresses internal forces and moments external forces and moments. The logic is intrinsically very modular equations relating the fundamental variables are independent of each other. Hence, complexity can be added at any point without affecting the other equations. This is brought to the attention of the reader in Example 3.5, where the stated problem is to determine the force exerted on a car carrier by a stretch cord holding a canoe in place. The problem is first solved as a straightforward application of the logic shown in Figure 3.15. Then, in comments following the example, it is shown how different complexities (in this case nonlinearities) can be added to improve the accuracy of the analysis. Associated with each complexity are posttext problems (numbers written in parentheses) under the headings "Stretch yourself" or "Computer problems," which are well within the scope of students willing to stretch themselves. Thus the central focus in Example 3.5 is on learning the logic of Figure 3.15, which is fundamental to mechanics of materials. But the student can appreciate how complexities can be added to...