Book excerpt: Featuring in-depth discussions on tensile and compressive properties, shear properties, strength, hardness, environmental effects, and creep crack growth, "Mechanical Properties of Engineered Materials" considers computation of principal stresses and strains, mechanical testing, plasticity in ceramics, metals, intermetallics, and polymers, materials selection for thermal shock resistance, the analysis of failure mechanisms such as fatigue, fracture, and creep, and fatigue life prediction. It is a top-shelf reference for professionals and students in materials, chemical, mechanical, corrosion, industrial, civil, and maintenance engineering; and surface chemistry.