1987年開始，筆者在成功大學機械系擔任教職前後三十幾年，主要的授課科目以材料力學(一)(二)、基本固體力學(一)(即彈性力學)、破壞力學四門課為主，另外時而開授機械振動學、材料破壞分析。心想如果能夠將這些寶貴的教學經驗與心得，整理成完整的教科書，可以嘉惠學生。於是退休之後，完成材料力學、彈性力學、機械振動學與破壞力學四本教科書。

一般材料力學課程有兩種教法：傳統的教法是以提摩辛科(Timoshenko)為基礎，從一維問題開始，逐步演繹到較為複雜的二維，至於三維部分，只談到應力、應變的定義；另一種教法事先說明三維的基本公式，再逐步退化到簡單的二維或一維問題，如桿件受拉、彎、扭、挫曲的應力分析。本教科書採取第二種教法，如此可以使學生未來修更高階或彈性力學課程時，比較容易接受與了解。因為撰寫難易兼備的書籍，實在難度很高，於是，筆者參考如Ugural、Popov、Timoshenko、Crandall等書的特點，完成本書。

Since 1987, the author has been the professor of Mechanical Engineering Department NCKU for more than 30 years。Teaching courses are Mechanics of Materials (I & II), Fundamental Solid Mechanics (i.e. Theory of Elasticity), and others (Mechanical Vibrations, Failure and Fracture of Materials).  After retiring, I accomplished four textbooks (Theory of Elasticity, Fracture Mechanics, Mechanics of Materials, and Mechanical Vibrations).  These textbooks may provide effective learning to students.

There are two ways to teach Mechanics of Materials.  The first is to follow the textbook of Timoshenko published in 1930.  It starts from one-dimensional problems for rods, shafts, beams and columns and then extends to the theory of two-dimensional cases.  As to the three dimensions, it touches only the basic concept.  The second way is first to develop formulations of three-dimensional elasticity theory. All these formulations are then reduced into several simple forms to discuss the stress analysis in one-dimensional problems, such as rods, shafts, beam and columns.  This textbook employs the second method.  Therefore, students will be easy to learn and understand in more advanced courses.