IESL Part II Mechanical study plan

Inventory the full IESL Part II Mechanical syllabus and tag each topic as strong, shaky, or unknown

Build a formula sheet covering stress, strain, bending, torsion, and thin-walled pressure vessels from first principles

Solve 15 statics and mechanics-of-materials problems without notes, timing each attempt

Log every error with its root cause (sign convention, unit slip, concept gap) in a single error journal

Derive and apply failure criteria (von Mises, Tresca, principal stress) to combined-loading cases

Work through fatigue basics: S-N curves, endurance limit modifiers, and Goodman/Gerber diagrams

Compute safety factors for at least 10 shaft, bracket, and pressure-vessel scenarios

Redo every week-1 error from scratch and confirm the fix

Analyze beams for shear force and bending moment diagrams, including point, distributed, and moment loads

Calculate deflection using superposition and standard beam tables

Size a beam section against allowable stress and deflection limits

Interpret and sketch Mohr's circle for plane stress and plane strain

Apply thermodynamic first and second laws to open and closed systems

Analyze Rankine, Brayton, and vapor-compression cycles for efficiency and coefficient of performance

Compute heat-transfer rates for conduction, convection, and radiation in series networks

Complete a timed 30-question mixed mechanics-and-thermo set under exam conditions

Solve fluid statics problems: manometry, submerged-plane forces, and buoyancy

Apply Bernoulli and energy equations with head-loss terms to pipe networks

Compute Reynolds number, friction factor, and major/minor losses for piping systems

Select a pump operating point from a system curve and pump curve

Analyze kinematic chains, four-bar linkages, and gear trains for velocity ratio and output motion

Balance rotating masses and compute critical speed for a simple shaft

Solve vibration problems for single-degree-of-freedom spring-mass-damper systems

Specify bearings and select fits for a given radial and thrust load

Cover manufacturing and materials: tolerances, fits, surface finish, and common forming and joining processes

Cover control and instrumentation: sensor selection, signal conditioning, and PID behavior qualitatively

Cover engineering economics and project basics as they appear in the syllabus

Re-attempt the weakest 20 items from the error journal without notes

Sit two full-length timed mock exams and record section-by-section accuracy

Drill formula recall under a 10-minute daily sprint until the sheet is reproducible from memory

Review only error-journal items and confirmed weak topics; resist opening new material

Finalize exam-day logistics: approved calculator, reference materials, and time allocation per question