For the past forty years Beer and Johnston have been the uncontested leaders in the teaching of undergraduate engineering mechanics. Their careful presentation of content, unmatched levels of accuracy, and attention to detail have made their texts the standard for excellence. The revision of their classic "Mechanics of Materials" features an updated art and photo program as well as numerous new and revised homework problems. The text's superior Online Learning Center includes an extensive Self paced, Mechanics, Algorithmic, Review and Tutorial S.M.A.R.T., created by George Staab and Brooks Breeden of The Ohio State University, that provides students with additional help on key concepts. The custom website also features animations for each chapter, lecture powerpoints, and other online resources for both instructors and students.
About the Author
Ferdinand Pierre Beer was a French mechanical engineer and university professor. He spent most of his career as a member of the faculty at Lehigh University, where he served as the chairman of the mechanics and mechanical engineering departments. His most significant contribution was the coauthorship of several textbooks in the field of mechanics, which have been widely cited and utilized in engineering education. In 1947, he arrived at Lehigh University, where he taught for 37 years. When a department of mechanics was formed in 1957, Beer was named its first chairman. In 1968, Beer became the chairman of the Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics Department after the two separate fields were merged into one department. He served in that capacity until 1977. In 1970, Beer was named the chairman of the newly formed University Forum, which was composed of 125 students and faculty members with the goal of promoting discussion between the two bodies. Lehigh professor Fazil Erdogan said that, while "at other universities around the country, students were rioting and conducting sitins gained the confidence of the students. He had a calming effect on students and, in this critical time, he offered a not inconsiderable service to Lehigh."
E. Russell Johnston Jr., professor emeritus of civil engineering, died Jan. 24, 2010. He taught at UConn for 26 years, instructing thousands of students in the principles of structures, mechanics, and materials during his career. He served as head of the civil engineering department from 1972 to 1977.
Prior to joining UConn, he served on the faculty at Lehigh University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He best known internationally for his collaborations with the late Ferdinand Beer, with whom he coauthored the books Mechanics for Engineers, Vector
