University of Nebraska–Lincoln

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Mechanical Engineering Research Guide


Basic Reference Sources  |  Locating Books and Articles  |  Journal Articles  |  Electronic Journals  |  Standards  |  Technical Reports  |  Conference Proceedings  |  Patents  |  Other Internet Resources

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BASIC REFERENCE SOURCES
* Use the UNL Libraries catalog for more information about these resources.

  • Dictionary of Mechanical Engineering - ENGR REF TJ 9 .N3 1967B
    • Dictionary of terms used in mechanical engineering.
  • Mechanical Engineers' Reference Book - ENGR REF TJ 151.M395 1998
    • Nineteen sections representing the various aspects of mechanical engineering. Each section covers basic principles and provides references and a bibliography for further reading.
  • Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical Engineers - ENGR TJ 151.M37 10th ed. 1998
    • Comprehensive coverage of the field of mechanical engineering for students and practicing engineers.
  • Handbook of Mechanical Engineering Calculations - ENGR REF TJ 151.H327 1998
    • Includes some 5,000 calculation procedures and related calculations. The procedures take into consideration four factors: the environment, the economy, the environmental lobby, and the regulators, and show the engineer how to cope with these factors.
  • Handbook of Power, Utility and Boiler: Terms and Phrases - ENGR REF TJ 164.H28 1992
    • Gives definitions of words commonly used in connection with boilers and auxiliary equipment. The definitions are grouped in sections that are arranged in sequence as the fuel or products of combustion pass through a steam-generating unit.
  • Encyclopedic Dictionary of Gears and Gearing - ENGR REF TJ 184.S76 1995
    • Definitions of terms of importance to the gearing industry. Also provided is a quick reference to terms found in standards and vendor publications, and to a multitude of new terms that have their origin in the new language associated with the computer-aided and computer-integrated world.
  • Mcgraw-Hill Illustrated Encyclopedia of Robotics & Artificial Intelligence - ENGR REF TJ 210.4.G53 1994

  • Fuzzy Theory Systems - ENGR REF TJ 213.F896 1999 Volumes 1-4
    • Covers an important concept in the design of mechanical systems.
  • Mechanical Design Handbook - ENGR REF TJ 230.M433 1996
    • Concentrates on basic principles and data that optimize the mechanical design of machine design of structures, machines, and components.
  • The John Zink Combustion Handbook - ENGR REF TJ 254.5.J63 2001
    • Deals with basic theory of disciplines important to the understanding of any combustion process, treated from the context of the process and power generation industries, and with specific equipment design issues and applications in these industries.
  • Heat Exchanger Design Handbook - ENGR REF TJ 263.K87 2000
    • A consolidation of the basic concepts of design and theoretical relationships that are useful in the design of heat exchangers,material selection, fabrication, and industrial practices.
  • Pipe Characteristics Handbook - ENGR REF TJ 930.P47 1996
    • Tables of maximum allowable working pressures for steel pipe as a percent of specified minimum yield, and tables that specify pipe properties.
  • Handbook of Vacuum Science and Technology - ENGR REF TJ 940.H59 1998
    • Covers creation and measurement of vacuums, systems components and design, and applications of high-and ultra-high-vacuum technology.
  • Compressor Handbook - ENGR REF TJ 990.C623 2001
    • A practical guide for designers and manufacturers of compressors.
  • Handbook of Machining and Metalworking Calculations - ENGR REF TJ 1185.W354 2001
    • Basic and advance calculation procedure required for machining and metalworking applications.

LOCATING BOOKS AND ARTICLES
The Engineering Library at UNL contains over 123,000 books and 585 current periodical subscriptions. To find out where a book or a journal is in the engineering library, use the UNL Libraries catalog.


JOURNAL ARTICLES
Journals are an important source of information for mechanical engineers. To find articles on a specific subject use an index to periodicals. The Engineering Library at UNL has access to the following periodical indexes for this kind of information. These indexes will tell you what specific issue of a specific journal has an article on your subject.

  • Compendex. Index/Abstracts (1970-present)
    • Indexes U.S. and international literature in engineering and technology including major engineering journal articles, conference papers and reports, but patents and standards are indexed in separate sections. Subjects covered include: chemical and process engineering, computers and data processing, applied physics, electronics and communication, civil engineering and mechanical engineering. commands the entire spectrum of engineering, in depth, with abstracts from over 2,600 international journals, conference papers and technical reports. Updated weekly.
  • Transport (1950-present)
    • Click on databases on the right of the screen and select Transport 1988-2001 and Pre-1988. Then click "open selected databases". Find information about any aspect of any area of transportation, such as: vehicles, airplanes, railroads, highways, etc. Includes transportation research and transportation economics publications.
  • Inspec (1969-present)
    • Based on science abstracts service which has been provided since 1898. Contains more than 7 million citations. Abstracts to worldwide literature of physics, electronics, electrical engineering, control engineering, computers and computing, and information technology. Primary coverage: journal articles, conference proceedings, books, technical reports and dissertations. Corresponds to: physics abstracts; electronics, electrical & electronics abstracts; and computer & control abstracts.
  • Metadex (1966-present)
    • Materials science database. Coverage: raw materials, refining, processing, welding, fabrication, end use, corrosion, performance, recycling and more. Materials covered: all metals, polymers, ceramics and composites.
  • SciFinder Scholar (early 50's-present)
    • Integrated, user-friendly, point-and-click access to several chemical abstracts service databases. Any information needs regarding chemicals, chemistry, biochemistry, geochemistry, chemical physics, biotechnology, materials science, testing of materials, pesticides and pesticide residues, agrochemicals, chemical patents, elasticity, water chemistry, lasers, electrocardiography, molding, corrosion, composition of products, and much more.
  • Web of Science (Science Citation Index expanded) (1990-present)
    • Index of science and engineering journals. Find information about journals, authors and articles that are cited by other researchers.

Electronic Journals

Full text (complete articles) of many journals are available online to patrons of University of Nebraska Libraries. Go to the E-Resources page where you can find databases by title or subject.



Standards
To locate documented standards for manufacturing, trade, communication, materials, products, systems, and services.

  • ANSI - American National Standards Institute. TA368 A453

  • ASTM - American Society for Testing and Materials
    • Search for individual ASTM standards by ASTM designation or title/scope. TA401 A653
  • NIST - U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • Reference on constants, units, and uncertainty
  • National Standards Systems Network
    • An electronic index to the standards of over 600 national, foreign, regional, and international bodies. National resource for global standards serves as a central point to search for standards information from many sources and serves as an important gateway connecting those who seek standards to those that supply them.

Technical Reports
  • NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)
    • The NASA Technical Report Server is an experimental service that allows users to search the many different abstract and technical report servers maintained by various NASA centers and programs. Specifically, it is a unified interface to many separate wais servers. NTRS is both a superset of the various servers, and a canonical listing of the servers. NTRS provides reports from the following centers, and the search may be limited to selected combinations of centers:
      • Ames Research Center
      • Astronomy & Astrophysics
      • Dryden Flight Research Center
      • Goddard Institute for Space Studies
      • Goddard Space Flight Center
      • Jet Propulsion Laboratory
      • Johnson Space Center
      • Kennedy Space Center
      • Langley Research Center
      • Lanl Astrophysics E-Prints
      • lewis research center
      • marshall space flight center
      • naca reports (abstracts only)
      • naca reports (full text)
      • physics and geophysics (ads)
      • casitrs (reconselect)
      • selected current aerospace notices
      • space instrumentation (ads)
      • stennis space center
  • DOE Information Bridge
    • The Information Bridge provides an open source to full-text and bibliographic records of department of energy (DOE) research and development reports in physics, chemistry, materials, biology, environmental sciences, energy technologies, engineering, computer and information science, renewable energy, and other topics.
  • National Technical Information Service (NTIS)
    • Catalog of information about more than 370,000 technical reports and other government-produced information products. The most current 10 years of records are available on the web and 1980-1989 is available on cd/rom at the Engineering Library circulation desk.

Conference Proceedings
- To obtain information about an upcoming engineering conference, use Compendex.
- For a list of papers presented at conferences and other information about conferences, use the more general resource, Proceedings First.


Patent Information Sources and Web Sites
Tutorials for searching patents, information about patent search sites, and patent class definitions. The Cassis2 cdrom is available in the patent room in the Engineering Library for patent searching.
Other Internet Resources

For questions, or to set up an appointment for assistance with information sources, contact the Mechanical Engineering liaison librarian, Virginia Baldwin, in the Engineering Library in Nebraska Hall.