全书共分十六单元，包括土木工程、建筑规划、流体运动、工程热力学等各专业共同需求的基本概念、原理和应用。对于基本原理在各方面的具体应用，可根据土木工程、建筑学、城市规划、建筑环境与能源应用工程、市政工程、环境工程等不同专业少学时课程选讲。各章都选配了典型习题和阅读材料供教师和学生拓展知识面选读、选作。本书对于继续深造的工程技术人员也很有参考价值。

Introduction to Civil Engineering
UNIT ONE
　Text Introduction to Mechanics of Materials
　Exercises
　Reading Material A Shezir Center
　Reading Muterial B Allowable Stress Design and Strength Design
UNIT TWO
　Text The Tensile Test
　Reading Material A PYopenies of Ductile and Brittle Materials"l
　Reading Material B Strength Theories
UNIT THREE
　Text Structure of Buildings
　Exercises
　Reading Material A Structural Planning and Design"
　Reading Material B Types of Loads and Types of Stress"
UNIT FOUR
　Text Properties of Concrete and Reinforced Concrete．
　Exercises 
　Reading Material A Property of Structural Steel
　Reading Material B Nature of Wood and Masonry
UNIT FIVE
　Text Building Code ( 1 )
　Exercises
　Reading Material A Building Code ( II )
　Reading Material B Building Code ( Ill)
UNITSIX
　Text Early History of Cement and Concrete
　Exercises
　Reading MateriaIA The Hydration Reaction
　Reading Material B Distress and Failure of Concrete
UNIT SEVEN
　Text Factory Design
　……
UNIT　NINE
UNIT　TEN
UNIT　ELEVEN
UNIT　TWELVE
UNIT　THIRTEEN
UNIT　FOURTEEN
UNIT　FIFTEEN
Keys to the Exercises
References