I was delighted when Butterworth-Heinemann asked me to edit a new edition of Mechanical Engineer’s Reference Book. Upon looking at its predecessor, it was clear that it had served the community well, but a major update was required. The book clearly needed to take account of modern methods and systems. The philosophy behind the book is that it will provide a qualified engineer with sufficient information so that he or she can identify the basic principles of a subject and be directed to further reading if required. There is a blurred line between this set of information and a more detailed set from which design decisions are made
