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FE Mechanical Cheat Sheet

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Foundations

  • 16-25% of exam
  • Handbook Math + Stats Economics Ethics

Mechanics

  • 25-39% of exam
  • Statics Dynamics Strength FBD Picker

Materials + Design

  • 15-24% of exam
  • Materials Failure Bearings Design

Thermal + Fluids

  • 25-37% of exam
  • Fluids Thermodynamics Heat Transfer Flow Picker

Electrical + Controls

  • 9-15% of exam
  • Circuits Sensors Controls Uncertainty

Quick Facts

  • Exam FE Mechanical
  • Owner NCEES
  • Format CBT
  • Questions 110
  • Exam time 5 hr 20 min
  • Appointment 6 hours
  • Break 25 min
  • Fee $225
  • Reference Electronic handbook
  • Units SI + USCS
  • Score Pass/fail scaled

Exam Workflow FO

  • Unknown formula → Search handbook ( Use keywords )
  • Unit mismatch → Convert first ( Avoid traps )
  • Property state → Table lookup ( Saturated superheated )
  • Beam deflection → Beam tables ( Match supports )
  • Circuit phasors → Complex mode ( AC work )
  • Ethics conflict → Public welfare ( First duty )
  • Cash flows → Timeline ( Set time zero )
  • No clear model → Flag early ( Return later )

Exam + Handbook FO

  • Appointment 6 hours total
  • Exam clock 320 minutes
  • Pace 2.9 min each
  • NDA 2 minutes
  • Tutorial 8 minutes
  • Break 25 minutes
  • Handbook Searchable electronic PDF
  • Calculator NCEES approved only

Math + Stats FO

  • Derivative Slope rate
  • Integral Area accumulation
  • ODE Equation with derivatives
  • Matrix Linear system tool
  • Newton method Iterative root
  • Mean Average
  • Std dev Spread measure
  • Regression Best-fit relationship

Economics + Ethics FO

  • PW Present worth
  • FW Future worth
  • AW Annual worth
  • IRR Zero-NPW rate
  • B/C Benefits over costs
  • Sunk cost Ignore in decisions
  • Public welfare First duty
  • Conflict Disclose promptly

FBD First ME

  • Draw FBD before equations
  • Forces Moments Supports

Stress vs Strain ME

Stress

  • Load intensity
  • Force over area
  • Units pressure

Strain

  • Deformation ratio
  • Dimensionless
  • Length change
  • Load vs deformation

Model Picker ME

  • Body at rest → Statics ( Equilibrium )
  • Acceleration present → Dynamics ( F = ma )
  • Beam stress → Mechanics materials ( M c / I )
  • Pipe pump → Energy equation ( Head terms )
  • Sealed piston → Closed system ( No mass flow )
  • Turbine compressor → Steady flow ( Enthalpy change )
  • Wall heat → Thermal resistance ( Delta T path )
  • Shaft bearing → Machine design ( Failure mode )

Statics ME

  • FBD Draw forces first
  • Equilibrium Sum forces zero
  • Moment Force times arm
  • Couple Pure moment
  • Centroid Area balance point
  • Inertia Area shape property
  • Truss Two-force members
  • Friction mu times normal

Dynamics ME

  • Kinematics Motion geometry
  • Kinetics Forces cause motion
  • Second law F = ma
  • Work-energy Energy change
  • Impulse Momentum change
  • Rigid body Translate rotate
  • Vibration Oscillatory motion
  • Damping Energy dissipation

Mechanics Materials ME

  • Normal stress F over A
  • Shear stress V over A
  • Strain Deformation over length
  • Bending stress M c / I
  • Torsion T r / J
  • Mohr circle Stress transformation
  • Deflection Elastic displacement
  • Buckling Compression instability

Static vs Fatigue DE

Static

  • Single load
  • Yield check
  • Ultimate check

Fatigue

  • Cyclic load
  • Endurance matters
  • Stress range
  • Once vs repeated

Materials DE

  • Yield Plastic begins
  • Ultimate Peak stress
  • Ductility Plastic strain capacity
  • Hardness Indentation resistance
  • Toughness Fracture energy
  • Creep Time deformation
  • Fatigue Cyclic failure
  • Corrosion Material degradation

Design + Controls DE

  • Bearing life L10 reliability
  • Gear ratio Speed torque trade
  • Spring rate Force per deflection
  • Fastener preload Initial bolt tension
  • Weld Joined load path
  • Safety factor Strength over stress
  • GD&T Drawing tolerance language
  • Failure theory Yield criterion

Bernoulli Heads TH

  • Pressure, velocity, elevation, losses
  • Pressure Velocity Elevation Losses

Gauge vs Absolute TH

Gauge

  • Relative pressure
  • Zero at atmosphere
  • Common instrument

Absolute

  • True pressure
  • Needed for gases
  • Includes atmosphere
  • Reference matters

Fluids TH

  • Density Mass per volume
  • Viscosity Flow resistance
  • Reynolds Inertia over viscosity
  • Laminar Orderly flow
  • Turbulent Mixed flow
  • Bernoulli Streamline energy
  • Head loss Friction loss
  • NPSH Cavitation margin

Heat Modes TH

  • Heat moves: conduct, convect, radiate
  • Conduction Convection Radiation

Laminar vs Turbulent TH

Laminar

  • Orderly layers
  • Lower Reynolds
  • Predictable profile

Turbulent

  • Mixed motion
  • Higher Reynolds
  • More losses
  • Order vs mixing

Thermodynamics TH

  • System Chosen mass
  • Control volume Mass crosses boundary
  • First law Energy conserved
  • Second law Entropy increases
  • Enthalpy Flow energy property
  • Quality Vapor mass fraction
  • Rankine Steam power cycle
  • COP Useful cooling/work

Closed vs Control Volume TH

Closed system

  • Fixed mass
  • No mass flow
  • Boundary may move

Control volume

  • Mass crosses
  • Flow devices
  • Use enthalpy
  • Mass fixed vs flowing

Heat Transfer TH

  • Conduction Through solids
  • Convection Fluid surface transfer
  • Radiation Thermal emission
  • Thermal resistance Delta T over q
  • Fin Extended surface
  • LMTD Heat exchanger average
  • Effectiveness Actual over maximum
  • Biot Internal resistance ratio

Conduction vs Convection TH

Conduction

  • Through material
  • k controls
  • Area thickness

Convection

  • Surface to fluid
  • h controls
  • Boundary layer
  • Solid path vs fluid

Electrical + Controls SY

  • Ohm law V = I R
  • KCL Currents sum zero
  • KVL Voltages sum zero
  • Power Voltage times current
  • Impedance AC opposition
  • Sensor Measures physical variable
  • Feedback Output informs input
  • Uncertainty Measurement doubt

Common Traps

Gauge Needs Conversion

  • Gas law uses ≠ Absolute pressure

Mass Is Not Weight

  • lbm differs ≠ lbf force

Radius Not Diameter

  • Area uses radius ≠ Inertia sensitive

Kelvin For Radiation

  • Absolute temperature ≠ Celsius wrong

Efficiency Direction Matters

  • Input vs output ≠ Check wording

Tables Need Region

  • Saturated mixture ≠ Superheated vapor

Last Minute

  • 1. Use NCEES question ranges
  • 2. Practice handbook search terms
  • 3. Draw FBD before math
  • 4. Convert units before solving
  • 5. Use absolute gas pressure
  • 6. Check system boundary first
  • 7. Flag unclear models early
  • 8. Answer every question
  • 9. Public welfare comes first
  • 10. Check magnitude and units

FE Mechanical

  • Practice Questions 100 questions Study Guide 36 topics Cheat Sheet 96 facts Flashcards 50 cards Shorts 3 short s Videos 1 video Blogs 2 blogs Free CE Podcast