PEC EPE Mechanical study plan

Derive and apply axial, torsional, and bending stress-strain relationships, including tapered members, composite sections, and thermal expansion restraint.

Compute principal stresses, maximum shear, and Mohr's circle for combined loading, then apply Tresca and von Mises criteria to justify a safe section size.

Solve beam deflection problems by integration, superposition, and Castigliano's theorem, and predict column failure using Euler and Johnson curves for pinned, fixed, and free end conditions.

Compress section properties, stress-concentration factors, and failure theories into a single reference sheet you can reproduce from memory.

Design against fatigue using S-N curves, Marin modification factors, and Goodman, Gerber, and Soderberg failure lines for fluctuating stresses.

Size a shaft under combined bending and torsion with a keyway, then verify the key and coupling for shear and bearing stress.

Select a rolling bearing from catalog dynamic load rating and L10 life, and compute gear train ratios, pitch-line velocity, and tooth bending stress.

Analyze bolted and welded joints and helical springs for preload, eccentric loading, and factor of safety.

Compute present worth, annual worth, future value, NPV, IRR, and payback for competing equipment alternatives and choose the better option under a stated discount rate.

Apply depreciation methods and break-even analysis to a production capacity decision.

Build a CPM network, run the forward and backward pass, identify critical path and total float, and price a crash decision against daily indirect cost.

Estimate PERT activity probability for finishing by a target date, and apply cost-estimating and learning-curve relationships.

Resolve ethical scenarios involving conflict of interest, confidentiality, competence limits, and public safety by citing the engineering council's code of ethics and stating which duty prevails.

Distinguish mandatory from aspirational code provisions, and explain proper practice for sealing, signing, and revising engineering documents.

Apply contract types, tendering, delay and variation claims, and risk allocation to a construction or plant-project scenario.

Re-run ten previously missed mechanics and machine-design items untimed and without notes to confirm retention.

Solve calculus, linear algebra, differential equation, probability, and statistics problems of the type used to model mechanical systems.

Apply the first and second laws to closed and open systems, evaluate entropy changes, and analyze Rankine, Brayton, Otto, Diesel, and vapor-compression cycles for efficiency and work output.

Solve steady conduction networks, convection correlations, and radiation exchange problems for combined-mode heat transfer.

Size a heat exchanger using both LMTD and NTU-effectiveness methods and compare the answers.

Apply the energy and Bernoulli equations to pipe and duct systems, including friction factor from Moody chart, minor losses, and pump head added.

Match a pump curve to a system curve, determine operating point, and check NPSH available against required to avoid cavitation.

Solve hydrostatic force on submerged plane and curved surfaces and check buoyancy and stability.

Compute heat-transfer coefficients for internal and external flow and apply them to a practical cooling problem.

Trace hydraulic and pneumatic circuits for cylinders, directional valves, flow controls, accumulators, and relief valves, and diagnose causes of drift, overheating, and pressure loss.

Compare casting, forming, machining, and welding processes and predict their characteristic defects from process conditions.

Interpret tolerance, fit, surface finish, and GD&T callouts on a mechanical drawing and check them against functional requirements.

Relate material properties and heat treatment to service failure, and identify corrosion and fatigue fracture modes from a described failure.

Take two full-length timed mock exams under exam-day conditions and record per-domain accuracy.

Rank weak domains by weighted contribution to the total score, since weighted gaps cost more than raw question counts.

Re-drill the 30 highest-value missed items and rebuild your formula sheet from scratch to expose remaining gaps.

Rehearse exam-day logistics: calculator check, unit-conversion routine, and a per-question time budget for the number of items on the paper.