21 Best Civil Engineering Books to Read for Beginners

The books that civil engineers should read are the books that contain engineering concepts, successful civil engineering projects, biographies of famous civil engineers, and technical information on building and design. In our article, we have compiled the books that civil engineering students and every civil engineer should read.

To join the various topics of interest that we have shared in this way, today we present one that is constantly present in our environment. In this opportunity, we will be sharing with you the best Civil engineering books.

Being such a wide subject and of great application in our daily lives, we have redoubled efforts to create a selection of the most recommended books on this engineering.

You can find answers to your questions below in our article;

  • Civil engineering books
  • Must-Read Books for Civil Engineers
  • Civil engineer book recommendations
  • Civil engineering book recommendations
  • Civil engineering books to read

It is known as Civil Engineering to the branch of professional engineering that applies calculation, mechanics, physics, and hydraulics to design, build and maintain the infrastructures located in the environment. Some of these infrastructures are bridges, roads, canals, railways, airports, ports, dikes, and dams, among other constructions of the same nature.

Before Civil Engineering there was only military engineering. In fact, from there it derives its name, it was called Civil to differentiate it from its predecessor.

A civil engineer can perform in practically any position and at all levels. You can work in the public or private sector, both in large state projects and in private industry constructions, for example, hotels or casinos.

In the different books on Civil Engineering that we have selected for you, you will be able to read everything about the history, academic training, the subjects it covers, the fields of application, the sub-disciplines, and the works of this engineering.

Our selection of titles is made up of the best 21 books on Civil Engineering available at this time, which you can consult with the total confidence that you will find the information you require on the subject.

21 Must-Read Books for Civil Engineers

Throughout their careers, civil engineers work in areas such as the design, construction, development, and planning of structures in the public and private sectors. Civil engineering, which includes many different departments in its content, requires that engineers have competence in many areas.

Many civil engineering terms need to be learned to be a good civil engineer, civil engineering software, many construction sites, and project experience to be experienced, along with civil engineering books to read. You can view Must-Read Civil Engineering Books in the list below.

  1. Structure Analysis: Classical and Matrix Methods by Jack C. McCormac
  2. Materials for Civil Engineering by Michael S. Mamlouk and John P. Zaniewski
  3. Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering by William F. Smith
  4. Structural engineering. Plastic, dynamic, and seismic calculation of structures by Juan Manuel Orquin Casas
  5. Why Buildings Fall by Matthys P. Levy and Mario Salvadori
  6. Civil Works Design Manual Cap. B. 2. 5 Soil foundations: Section B: Geotechnics Topic 2: Soil mechanics by
  7. Gabriel Auvinet Guichard, Juan Félix Rodríguez Rebolledo and Moisés Juárez Camarena
  8. Civil Works Design Manual Cap. C.1.2 Actions: Section C: Structures Topic 1: General analysis and design criteria by Luis Esteva Maraboto
  9. Structures: Or Why Things Don’t Fall Down Author JE Gordon
  10. The Civil Engineering Handbook Author Wai-Fah Chen
  11. Civil PE Practice Exam and Guide Author Civil PE Testing Services
  12. Finite Elements in Structural Analysis Author Horst Werkle
  13. Circles In the Sky: The Life and Times of George Ferris by Graham Sommer and Ray Roddy
  14. Man of Iron: Thomas Telford and the Building of Britain Author Julian Glover
  15. Strength of Materials: Mechanics of Solids Author RS Khurmi
  16. Architecture: Form, Space & Order Author Francis DK Ching
  17. Civil Engineering Materials Author Shan Somayaji,
  18.  Advances in Water Resource Engineering Author Chih Ted Yang & Lawrence K. Wang
  19. The Tower and the Bridge: The New Art of Structural Engineering Author David P. Billington
  20. Understanding Concepts of Structural Analysis & Design Author Janak P. Parikh
  21. Structure analysis Author Devdas Menon

Some books are reviewed as follows:

Structure analysis: classical and matrix methods – Author: Jack C. McCormac

Aiming to be an introductory guide for the analysis of structures applicable for courses that cover civil engineering and architecture, Analysis of structures: classical and matrix methods seeks to adapt to the current trends of the analysis of structures that are supported by matrix methods and the use of the software while considering the classical methods of analysis such as lines of influence, conjugate beam analysis for deflections and approximate methods and deflection slope for statically indeterminate structures whose knowledge is inherently necessary to support the domain of the subject, Therefore, the author intends to combine both approaches comprehensively and harmoniously.

As a complement to the theoretical development presented in the book, a series of resources available online for both students and teachers are also provided, characterized by providing software tools that allow solving the proposed assignments, solutions manual, and an image gallery for educational purposes.

Materials for civil engineering – Author: Michael S. Mamlouk and John P. Zaniewski

Materials for civil engineering proposes with great care to provide the student and the engineering professional with a complete and detailed analysis of the elements used in the branch, highlighting their characteristics and properties.

Throughout this updated edition, the description of the materials most used in construction is distinguished, focusing on the quantitative and qualitative exposition of their characteristic properties together with microstructural analysis.

With an organization consisting of an introduction to materials engineering, the characteristics of materials used in civil and construction engineering, and laboratory methods for materials evaluation, the book is also used to reinforce understanding of the Topics developed, tests, and laboratory experiments supported by images and figures together with the posing of problems and evaluation questions.

By procuring the books in their original languages ​​from foreign shopping sites, you will take a very logical step to acquire a foreign language, which is one of the golden conditions of being a successful engineer.

Fundamentals of Materials Science and Engineering – Author: William F. Smith

Intended as a support tool in the initial stages of the course of engineering studies, Fundamentals of materials science and engineering, in an updated, expanded, and improved edition it proposes in a didactic and easily understandable way a comprehensive study of the structures and properties of the materials used in a wide variety of production processes, based on their characterization into three main groups: metallic, polymeric and ceramic, together with the consideration of their electrical, mechanical and physical properties.

With a perspective that considers scientific and technological advances in the field, the authors develop a continuous analysis of the evolution of materials and how new materials are increasingly generated from these that facilitate production processes, also based on images. , figures, tables, and diagrams that stimulate a more realistic vision of the properties and particular characteristics of the analyzed materials.

Structural engineering. Plastic, dynamic and seismic calculation of structures – Author: Juan Manuel Orquin Casas

Seeking to break a traditional paradigm within engineering schools where structural analysis study programs focus on structural analysis under static loads and the linear behavior of materials, Structural Engineering. Plastic, dynamic and seismic calculation of structures aims to efficiently propose the study of these types of calculation (plastic and dynamic) considering the various regulations applicable to earthquake-resistant construction given the importance and relevance of seismic engineering today and that they will continue and grow more and more in the future.

With a simple structure, the book raises the foundations of structural analysis considering the plastic calculation, dynamic calculation, and seismic calculation of structures together with a detailed explanation of a set of examples and solved exercises that facilitate in-depth understanding of the matter studied.

Why do buildings fall? – Author: Matthys P. Levy and Mario Salvadori

With practical language and without escaping the necessary technicality required by the subject, Why are buildings falling is a book that seeks to explain the structural behavior and useful life of man-made buildings, clarify how external environmental factors, the Use, and planning in your building affect its durability and solidity.

Throughout the book, the authors relate in detail a series of disasters related to emblematic constructions that occurred in the history of humanity, from pyramids and basilicas, concluding with recent disasters such as the Twin Towers where a series of elements are combined that at that time caused the collapse of said structures, wanting to raise awareness that even with advances in construction techniques, planning and sometimes luck are necessary so that these situations do not occur.

Civil Works Design Manual Chap – Author: Gabriel Auvinet Guichard, Juan Félix Rodríguez Rebolledo and Moisés Juárez Camarena

With the collaboration of important Mexican public, technical and academic organizations, the
Civil Works Design Manual Cap. B. 2. 5 Soil foundations: Section B: Geotechnics Topic 2: Soil mechanics is presented as a work that combines theoretical and practical aspects of engineering and that has the objective of being a useful tool in the design of civil and a support guide for engineering students and their familiarization with the topics that await them in their training and professional future.

Throughout this updated edition and which is divided into the topics of Hydrotechnics, Geotechnics, and Structures, recommendations, aids, and comments are proposed as a compliment, which continually promotes a criterion and an engineering solution to mold the reader and student with the actual applicability of the topic.

You can improve yourself in the field of engineering and learn about the most important civil engineering projects by reviewing our carefully prepared civil engineer book recommendations list. In addition, you can learn the necessary technical and historical information about civil engineering in our book recommendations.

Share your love