The original concept behind publishing the Mechanical Engineers' Handbook was to provide a single source for all critical information needed by mechanical engineers in the diverse industries and job functions they find themselves. No single engineer can be a specialist in all areas that they are called on to work and the handbook provides a quick guide to specialized areas so that the engineer can know the basics and where to go for further reading. Kutz's handbook was positioned to provide discussion, examples, and analysis of the topics covered as opposed to the straight data, formulas and calculations provided by other handbooks. Because of the widening breadth of subjects covered and specialization required from engineers we have divided the content beyond the single book to four separate, but related books.