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Search 119 engineering formulas across 6 disciplines. Each one carries its equation, every variable with units, and the conditions it is valid under - so you can check an assumption, not just copy a result.

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119
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EngiRef

Engineering formulas, materials, constants, unit conversions, reference tables, and study tools.

10Sections
468Records
6Disciplines
17Categories
119Formulas
56Materials

Mechanical / Statics

Normal Stress

Stress is force per unit area acting on a material

\sigma = \frac{F}{A}
σ (Pa)F (N)A (m²)

Mechanical / Statics

Normal Strain

Strain is the ratio of deformation to original length

\varepsilon = \frac{\Delta L}{L_0}
ε ΔL (m)L₀ (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Hooke's Law

Linear relationship between stress and strain in elastic region

\sigma = E \varepsilon
σ (Pa)E (Pa)ε

Mechanical / Statics

Shear Stress

Average shear stress from transverse force

\tau = \frac{V}{A}
τ (Pa)V (N)A (m²)

Mechanical / Statics

Torque

Torque (moment) from a perpendicular force

\tau = F \cdot r
τ (N·m)F (N)r (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Moment of Inertia (Rectangle)

Second moment of area for a rectangular cross-section about centroidal axis

I = \frac{bh^3}{12}
I (m⁴)b (m)h (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Moment of Inertia (Circle)

Second moment of area for a circular cross-section

I = \frac{\pi d^4}{64}
I (m⁴)d (m)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Newton's Second Law

Force equals mass times acceleration

F = ma
F (N)m (kg)a (m/s²)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Kinetic Energy

Energy of motion

KE = \frac{1}{2}mv^2
KE (J)m (kg)v (m/s)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy due to height in a uniform gravitational field

PE = mgh
PE (J)m (kg)g (m/s²)h (m)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Power (Work/Time)

Average power over a time interval

P = \frac{W}{t}
P (W)W (J)t (s)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Power (Rotational)

Mechanical power from torque and angular velocity

P = \tau \omega
P (W)τ (N·m)ω (rad/s)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Linear Momentum

Product of mass and velocity

p = mv
p (kg·m/s)m (kg)v (m/s)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Impulse

Change in momentum from force over time

J = F \cdot \Delta t
J (N·s)F (N)Δt (s)

Mechanical / Machine Design

Gear Ratio

Ratio of gear teeth or angular velocities

GR = \frac{N_2}{N_1} = \frac{\omega_1}{\omega_2}
GR N₂ N₁

Mechanical / Machine Design

Spring Force (Hooke's Law)

Force exerted by a spring

F = kx
F (N)k (N/m)x (m)

Mechanical / Machine Design

Helical Spring Rate

Spring constant for helical compression spring

k = \frac{Gd^4}{8D^3n}
k (N/m)G (Pa)d (m)D (m)

Mechanical / Machine Design

Factor of Safety

Ratio of yield strength to working stress

FS = \frac{S_y}{\sigma}
FS Sᵧ (Pa)σ (Pa)

Mechanical / Machine Design

V-Belt Length

Length of V-belt for two pulleys

L = 2C + \frac{\pi(D+d)}{2} + \frac{(D-d)^2}{4C}
L (m)C (m)D (m)d (m)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Ohm's Law

Voltage equals current times resistance

V = IR
V (V)I (A)R (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Electrical Power (V×I)

Power equals voltage times current

P = VI
P (W)V (V)I (A)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Electrical Power (I²R)

Power dissipated in a resistance

P = I^2R
P (W)I (A)R (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Resistors in Series

Total resistance of two resistors in series

R_{total} = R_1 + R_2
Rₜₒₜₐₗ (Ω)R₁ (Ω)R₂ (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Resistors in Parallel

Total resistance of two resistors in parallel

\frac{1}{R_{total}} = \frac{1}{R_1} + \frac{1}{R_2}
Rₜₒₜₐₗ (Ω)R₁ (Ω)R₂ (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Capacitance

Capacitance is charge stored per unit voltage

C = \frac{Q}{V}
C (F)Q (C)V (V)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Capacitor Energy

Energy stored in a capacitor

E = \frac{1}{2}CV^2
E (J)C (F)V (V)

Electrical / DC Circuits

RC Time Constant

Time constant of RC circuit

\tau = RC
τ (s)R (Ω)C (F)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Impedance Magnitude

Impedance magnitude of a series RLC circuit

Z = \sqrt{R^2 + (X_L - X_C)^2}
Z (Ω)R (Ω)Xₗ (Ω)Xc (Ω)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Inductive Reactance

Opposition to current by inductor

X_L = 2 \pi f L = \omega L
Xₗ (Ω)f (Hz)L (H)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Capacitive Reactance

Opposition to current by capacitor

X_C = \frac{1}{2 \pi f C} = \frac{1}{\omega C}
Xc (Ω)f (Hz)C (F)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Resonant Frequency

Frequency at which XL equals XC

f_0 = \frac{1}{2 \pi \sqrt{LC}}
f₀ (Hz)L (H)C (F)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Power Factor

Cosine of the phase angle between voltage and current

PF = \cos(\phi)
PF φ (°)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Real Power (AC)

Actual power consumed in AC circuit

P = VI\cos(\phi)
P (W)V (V)I (A)φ (°)

Civil / Beams

Cantilever Beam Deflection (Point Load)

Maximum deflection at free end of cantilever with point load

\delta = \frac{FL^3}{3EI}
δ (m)F (N)L (m)E (Pa)

Civil / Beams

Simply Supported Beam Deflection

Maximum deflection at center of simply supported beam

\delta_{max} = \frac{FL^3}{48EI}
δₘₐₓ (m)F (N)L (m)E (Pa)

Civil / Beams

Bending Stress

Stress due to bending moment

\sigma = \frac{My}{I}
σ (Pa)M (N·m)y (m)I (m⁴)

Civil / Beams

Section Modulus

Geometric property for bending strength

S = \frac{I}{c}
S (m³)I (m⁴)c (m)

Civil / Beams

Shear Stress in Beams

Shear stress distribution in beams

\tau = \frac{VQ}{It}
τ (Pa)V (N)Q (m³)I (m⁴)

Civil / Columns

Euler Buckling Load

Critical buckling load for slender columns

P_{cr} = \frac{\pi^2 EI}{(KL)^2}
Pcr (N)E (Pa)I (m⁴)K

Civil / Columns

Slenderness Ratio

Ratio determining column buckling behavior

\lambda = \frac{KL}{r}
λ K L (m)r (m)

Civil / Columns

Radius of Gyration

Geometric property for column stability

r = \sqrt{\frac{I}{A}}
r (m)I (m⁴)A (m²)

Civil / Hydraulics

Manning's Equation

Velocity in open channel flow

V = \frac{1}{n}R^{2/3}S^{1/2}
V (m/s)n R (m)S

Civil / Hydraulics

Hydraulic Radius

Ratio of flow area to wetted perimeter

R = \frac{A}{P}
R (m)A (m²)P (m)

Thermodynamics / Laws

First Law of Thermodynamics

Energy balance: change in internal energy equals heat added minus work done

\Delta U = Q - W
ΔU (J)Q (J)W (J)

Thermodynamics / Laws

Ideal Gas Law

Equation of state for ideal gases

PV = nRT
P (Pa)V (m³)n (mol)R (J/(mol·K))

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Heat Transfer (Sensible)

Heat required to change temperature

Q = mc\Delta T
Q (J)m (kg)c (J/(kg·K))ΔT (K)

Thermodynamics / Cycles

Carnot Efficiency

Maximum possible efficiency of heat engine

\eta = 1 - \frac{T_C}{T_H}
η Tc (K)Tₕ (K)

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Fourier Heat Conduction (1D)

Heat transfer through a solid by conduction

Q = -k A \frac{dT}{dx}
Q (W)k (W/(m·K))A (m²)dT/dx (K/m)

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Newton's Law of Cooling

Heat transfer by convection

Q = hA(T_s - T_\infty)
Q (W)h (W/(m²·K))A (m²)Tₛ (K)

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Stefan-Boltzmann Radiation

Emitted radiative power from a diffuse gray surface

Q = \varepsilon \sigma A T^4
Q (W)ε σ (W/(m²·K⁴))A (m²)

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Reynolds Number

Dimensionless number indicating laminar or turbulent flow

Re = \frac{\rho vD}{\mu}
Re ρ (kg/m³)v (m/s)D (m)

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Continuity Equation

Conservation of mass in fluid flow

A_1 v_1 = A_2 v_2
A₁ (m²)v₁ (m/s)A₂ (m²)v₂ (m/s)

Fluids / Pipe Flow

Darcy-Weisbach Equation

Head loss due to friction in pipe flow

h_f = f \frac{L}{D} \frac{v^2}{2g}
hf (m)f L (m)D (m)

Fluids / Pipe Flow

Pump Power

Power required by pump

P = \frac{\rho g Q H}{\eta}
P (W)ρ (kg/m³)g (m/s²)Q (m³/s)

Fluids / Fluid Statics

Hydrostatic Pressure

Pressure due to fluid column

P = \rho gh
P (Pa)ρ (kg/m³)g (m/s²)h (m)

Fluids / Fluid Statics

Buoyancy Force

Upward force on submerged object

F_b = \rho g V
Fb (N)ρ (kg/m³)g (m/s²)V (m³)

Materials / Stress & Strain

Poisson's Ratio

Ratio of lateral to axial strain

\nu = -\frac{\varepsilon_{transverse}}{\varepsilon_{axial}}
ν εₜ εₐ

Materials / Stress & Strain

Shear Modulus

Relationship between elastic modulus and shear modulus

G = \frac{E}{2(1+\nu)}
G (Pa)E (Pa)ν

Materials / Stress & Strain

Bulk Modulus

Resistance to uniform compression

K = \frac{E}{3(1-2\nu)}
K (Pa)E (Pa)ν

Materials / Stress & Strain

True Stress

Stress based on instantaneous area

\sigma_t = \sigma_e(1 + \varepsilon_e)
σₜ (Pa)σₑ (Pa)εₑ

Materials / Failure Theories

Von Mises Stress

Equivalent stress for 2D plane stress

\sigma_v = \sqrt{\sigma_1^2 - \sigma_1\sigma_2 + \sigma_2^2}
σᵥ (Pa)σ₁ (Pa)σ₂ (Pa)

Materials / Fatigue

Basquin Equation (Fatigue)

High-cycle fatigue life prediction

\sigma_a = \sigma_f^\prime (2N_f)^b
σₐ (Pa)σ'f (Pa)Nf b

Mechanical / Statics

Torsional Shear Stress

Shear stress in a shaft due to torsion

\tau = \frac{Tr}{J}
τ (Pa)T (N·m)r (m)J (m⁴)

Mechanical / Statics

Angle of Twist

Angular deflection of shaft under torsion

\phi = \frac{TL}{GJ}
φ (rad)T (N·m)L (m)G (Pa)

Mechanical / Statics

Polar Moment of Inertia (Solid Circle)

Polar moment of inertia for solid circular shaft

J = \frac{\pi d^4}{32}
J (m⁴)d (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Polar Moment of Inertia (Hollow Circle)

Polar moment of inertia for hollow circular shaft

J = \frac{\pi (d_o^4 - d_i^4)}{32}
J (m⁴)dₒ (m)dᵢ (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Hoop Stress (Thin-Wall Cylinder)

Circumferential stress in thin-walled pressure vessel

\sigma_h = \frac{pr}{t}
σₕ (Pa)p (Pa)r (m)t (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Longitudinal Stress (Thin-Wall Cylinder)

Axial stress in thin-walled pressure vessel

\sigma_l = \frac{pr}{2t}
σₗ (Pa)p (Pa)r (m)t (m)

Mechanical / Statics

Stress in Thin-Wall Sphere

Stress in thin-walled spherical pressure vessel

\sigma = \frac{pr}{2t}
σ (Pa)p (Pa)r (m)t (m)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Work (Constant Force)

Work done by a constant force

W = Fd\cos(\theta)
W (J)F (N)d (m)θ (°)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Centripetal Force

Force required for circular motion

F = \frac{mv^2}{r}
F (N)m (kg)v (m/s)r (m)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Angular Momentum

Rotational momentum of a body

L = I\omega
L (kg·m²/s)I (kg·m²)ω (rad/s)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Rotational Kinetic Energy

Kinetic energy of rotating body

KE = \frac{1}{2}I\omega^2
KE (J)I (kg·m²)ω (rad/s)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Simple Pendulum Period

Period of small oscillations

T = 2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{L}{g}}
T (s)L (m)g (m/s²)

Mechanical / Dynamics

Spring-Mass Period

Period of spring-mass oscillation

T = 2 \pi \sqrt{\frac{m}{k}}
T (s)m (kg)k (N/m)

Mechanical / Statics

Friction Force

Friction force between surfaces

F_f = \mu N
Fᶠ (N)μ N (N)

Mechanical / Statics

Parallel Axis Theorem

Moment of inertia about parallel axis

I = I_c + Ad^2
I (m⁴)Ic (m⁴)A (m²)d (m)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Inductor Energy

Energy stored in an inductor

E = \frac{1}{2}LI^2
E (J)L (H)I (A)

Electrical / DC Circuits

RL Time Constant

Time constant of RL circuit

\tau = \frac{L}{R}
τ (s)L (H)R (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Capacitors in Series

Total capacitance of capacitors in series

\frac{1}{C_{total}} = \frac{1}{C_1} + \frac{1}{C_2}
Cₜₒₜₐₗ (F)C₁ (F)C₂ (F)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Capacitors in Parallel

Total capacitance of capacitors in parallel

C_{total} = C_1 + C_2
Cₜₒₜₐₗ (F)C₁ (F)C₂ (F)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Transformer Voltage Ratio

Voltage ratio equals turns ratio

\frac{V_1}{V_2} = \frac{N_1}{N_2}
V₁ (V)V₂ (V)N₁ N₂

Electrical / AC Circuits

Three-Phase Power

Total power in three-phase system

P = \sqrt{3} V_L I_L \cos(\phi)
P (W)Vₗ (V)Iₗ (A)φ (°)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Apparent Power

Product of RMS voltage and current

S = VI
S (VA)V (V)I (A)

Electrical / AC Circuits

Reactive Power

Power stored and returned by reactive elements

Q = VI\sin(\phi)
Q (VAR)V (V)I (A)φ (°)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Voltage Divider

Output voltage of resistive voltage divider

V_{out} = V_{in} \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2}
Vₒᵤₜ (V)Vᵢₙ (V)R₁ (Ω)R₂ (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Current Divider

Current through one branch of parallel resistors

I_1 = I_{total} \frac{R_2}{R_1 + R_2}
I₁ (A)Iₜₒₜₐₗ (A)R₁ (Ω)R₂ (Ω)

Electrical / DC Circuits

Coulomb's Law

Force between two point charges

F = k_e \frac{q_1 q_2}{r^2}
F (N)kₑ (N·m²/C²)q₁ (C)q₂ (C)

Electrical / AC Circuits

RMS to Peak Voltage

Relationship between peak and RMS for sinusoids

V_{peak} = V_{rms} \sqrt{2}
Vₚₑₐₖ (V)Vᵣₘₛ (V)

Civil / Beams

Simply Supported Beam (Uniform Load)

Maximum deflection under uniform distributed load

\delta_{max} = \frac{5wL^4}{384EI}
δₘₐₓ (m)w (N/m)L (m)E (Pa)

Civil / Beams

Cantilever Beam (Uniform Load)

Maximum deflection of cantilever under uniform load

\delta_{max} = \frac{wL^4}{8EI}
δₘₐₓ (m)w (N/m)L (m)E (Pa)

Civil / Beams

Maximum Moment (Simply Supported, Uniform)

Maximum bending moment at center

M_{max} = \frac{wL^2}{8}
Mₘₐₓ (N·m)w (N/m)L (m)

Civil / Beams

Maximum Moment (Simply Supported, Point Load)

Maximum bending moment at center

M_{max} = \frac{PL}{4}
Mₘₐₓ (N·m)P (N)L (m)

Civil / Columns

Euler Critical Stress

Critical buckling stress for slender columns

\sigma_{cr} = \frac{\pi^2 E}{(KL/r)^2}
σcr (Pa)E (Pa)K L (m)

Civil / Hydraulics

Chezy Equation

Velocity in open channel flow

V = C\sqrt{RS}
V (m/s)C (m^(1/2)/s)R (m)S

Thermodynamics / Laws

Combined Gas Law

Relates pressure, volume, and temperature changes

\frac{P_1 V_1}{T_1} = \frac{P_2 V_2}{T_2}
P₁ (Pa)V₁ (m³)T₁ (K)P₂ (Pa)

Thermodynamics / Laws

Specific Heat Ratio

Ratio of specific heats at constant pressure to volume

\gamma = \frac{c_p}{c_v}
γ cₚ (J/(kg·K))cᵥ (J/(kg·K))

Thermodynamics / Cycles

Adiabatic Process

Pressure-volume relation for adiabatic process

PV^\gamma = constant
P (Pa)V (m³)γ

Thermodynamics / Cycles

Otto Cycle Efficiency

Thermal efficiency of ideal Otto cycle

\eta = 1 - \frac{1}{r^{\gamma-1}}
η r γ

Thermodynamics / Cycles

Diesel Cycle Efficiency

Thermal efficiency of ideal Diesel cycle

\eta = 1 - \frac{1}{r^{\gamma-1}} \frac{r_c^\gamma - 1}{\gamma(r_c - 1)}
η r rc γ

Thermodynamics / Cycles

Refrigeration COP

Coefficient of performance for refrigeration

COP_R = \frac{Q_L}{W} = \frac{T_L}{T_H - T_L}
COPᵣ Qₗ (J)W (J)Tₗ (K)

Thermodynamics / Cycles

Heat Pump COP

Coefficient of performance for heat pump

COP_{HP} = \frac{Q_H}{W} = \frac{T_H}{T_H - T_L}
COPₕₚ Qₕ (J)W (J)Tₕ (K)

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Log Mean Temperature Difference

Effective temperature difference for heat exchangers

LMTD = \frac{\Delta T_1 - \Delta T_2}{\ln(\Delta T_1 / \Delta T_2)}
LMTD (K)ΔT₁ (K)ΔT₂ (K)

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Overall Heat Transfer Coefficient

Combined convection-conduction-convection resistance

\frac{1}{U} = \frac{1}{h_1} + \frac{t}{k} + \frac{1}{h_2}
U (W/(m²·K))h₁ (W/(m²·K))h₂ (W/(m²·K))t (m)

Thermodynamics / Heat Transfer

Thermal Resistance (Conduction)

Thermal resistance of a plane wall

R = \frac{L}{kA}
R (K/W)L (m)k (W/(m·K))A (m²)

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Bernoulli Equation

Conservation of energy along a streamline

P_1 + \frac{1}{2}\rho v_1^2 + \rho g h_1 = P_2 + \frac{1}{2}\rho v_2^2 + \rho g h_2
P (Pa)ρ (kg/m³)v (m/s)g (m/s²)

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Torricelli's Theorem

Velocity of fluid flowing from an orifice

v = \sqrt{2gh}
v (m/s)g (m/s²)h (m)

Fluids / Pipe Flow

Minor Head Loss

Head loss through fittings and valves

h_m = K \frac{v^2}{2g}
hₘ (m)K v (m/s)g (m/s²)

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Drag Force

Aerodynamic or hydrodynamic drag force

F_D = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 C_D A
Fᴅ (N)ρ (kg/m³)v (m/s)Cᴅ

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Lift Force

Aerodynamic or hydrodynamic lift force

F_L = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 C_L A
Fₗ (N)ρ (kg/m³)v (m/s)Cₗ

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Froude Number

Ratio of inertial to gravitational forces

Fr = \frac{v}{\sqrt{gL}}
Fr v (m/s)g (m/s²)L (m)

Fluids / Fluid Dynamics

Mach Number

Ratio of flow velocity to speed of sound

Ma = \frac{v}{a}
Ma v (m/s)a (m/s)

Fluids / Pipe Flow

Hagen-Poiseuille Equation

Volumetric flow rate for laminar pipe flow

Q = \frac{\pi \Delta P d^4}{128 \mu L}
Q (m³/s)ΔP (Pa)d (m)μ (Pa·s)

Materials / Failure Theories

Tresca Criterion (Max Shear Stress)

Maximum shear stress failure criterion

\tau_{max} = \frac{\sigma_1 - \sigma_3}{2}
τₘₐₓ (Pa)σ₁ (Pa)σ₃ (Pa)

Materials / Stress & Strain

Stress Concentration

Maximum stress at geometric discontinuity

\sigma_{max} = K_t \sigma_{nom}
σₘₐₓ (Pa)Kₜ σₙₒₘ (Pa)

Materials / Fatigue

Goodman Diagram (Fatigue)

Modified Goodman line for fatigue design

\frac{\sigma_a}{S_e} + \frac{\sigma_m}{S_{ut}} = 1
σₐ (Pa)σₘ (Pa)Sₑ (Pa)Sᵤₜ (Pa)

Materials / Fatigue

Miner's Rule (Cumulative Damage)

Linear damage accumulation rule

\sum \frac{n_i}{N_i} = 1
nᵢ Nᵢ

Materials / Failure Theories

Fracture Toughness (Irwin, LEFM)

Mode I stress intensity factor (Irwin's linear-elastic fracture mechanics relation)

K_I = Y \sigma \sqrt{\pi a}
Kᵢ (MPa·√m)Y σ (Pa)a (m)

Materials / Stress & Strain

True Strain

True strain from engineering strain

\varepsilon_t = \ln(1 + \varepsilon_e)
εₜ εₑ