The major indexes and abstracting services are available in electronic form, and also known as 'databases'.  These databases give the flexibility of searching by keyword, the option of downloading to your computer or transferring records by email, links to the full text in some cases and access from outside the Library.  Large journal publishers such as Blackwell, Elsevier, Kluwer, and some technical societies offer free indexes to their own publications.

The Library retains a few specialised indexes and abstracting services in print form  in the Reference Collection.  These services are arranged usually by broad subject categories and have indexes to authors and subjects.

For all aspects of mechanical engineering try Compendex and/or INSPEC.

INSPEC.  1898-
     The major international index covering physics, electrical engineering, electronics, computing and control, manufacturing, materials, robotics and telecommunications, from journal articles, conference papers, research reports, patents, books.  Use the Quick Search bar with a keyword search using the commands 'and', 'or', "".  Click here for hints on improving your search techniques.

Other technical databases which include aspects or mechanical engineering are -

CEDB: Civil Engineering DataBase  1973-
     Includes aerospace, composites, energy, structural engineering, engineering mechanics, management, and professional issues.
Provides links to the full text of ASCE articles where the Library has a subscription to the journal.

EnergyFiles `
     From the US DOE, a collection of databases including Energy Citations database and links to websites and the full text of reports on research projects since

Government reports announcements and index  1960-1996
Reference collection  505 G715
continued in
NTIS  1960-

Heat bibliography  1958-1975
Reference collection  536.05  H437

Heat transfer & fluid flow digest  1977-1984
Reference collection  536.05  H4377
continued in
HTFS digest  1985-2001
Reference collection  536.05  H4377

IAA: International aerospace abstracts  1961-1986
Reference collection  629.1305  I61
continued in
AEROSPACE  1969-
Online.

Institution of Engineers, Australia.  Author and subject index of publications 1920-1968; 1975-1981
Reference collection  620.6 I59a
continued in  ENGINE

International building services abstracts  1978-2004
Reference collection  697.05  I61

Lexis Nexis
Covers law,newspapers and  a range of academic journals across the social sciences.

Metallurgical abstracts  1934-1967
Reference collection  669.05  M581
continued in
Metals abstracts  1968-1995
Reference collection  669.05  M5882
continued in
METADEX 1968-
Online database, see the Engineering Librarian for access and costs.

MOBILITY  1906-
Online database, see the Engineering Librarian for access and costs.

NASA technical reports server (NTRS)
     Offers a single search acoss the databases of a number of NASA research centres.  Includes NACA reports.  A link is provided where the text of the report is available without charge.

PubMed
     The major database for all aspects of medicine and related subjects.  Useful for ergonomics, occupational health and safety, biomechanics, medical equipment.

RAM-PC: Recent Advances in Manufacturing  1984-

SAE transactions and literature developed  1966-1983
Reference collection 629.0405  S127
continued in
Annual index/abstracts of SAE technical papers  1984-
Reference collection 629.0405  S127.2
continued in
MOBILITY  1906-    (see the Engineering Librarian for access and costs).

STAR: scientific and technical aerospace reports  1963-1995
Reference collection  629.1305  S416
continued in
STAR: scientific and technical aerospace reports  1996-
Some material is available from NTRS.
also available in
AEROSPACE  1969-
Online database, see the Engineering Librarian for access and costs.

Weldasearch. 1990-
     TWI offers access to its database to registered users. Registration is automatic and free of charge.  Click here to go to the registration page.
 

There are a number of interdisciplinary indexes which include mechanical engineering, some of these may be useful for your topic -

Academic search premier  1985-
 
Australia/New Zealand reference centre. 
     Covers the text of Australian newspapers as well as a range of other journals.

Business source complete (EBSCO)  1984-   [date varies with individual publications]  

DISS: Dissertation abstracts  1861-
     An index to higher degree theses, primarily from North American universities.

Electric Library Australasia 1995-  

Expanded academic index  1980-  

Ingenta 1988-

Lexis Nexis  1980-  

Web of Science citation database   1980-
     Science Citation Index, one of the three parts of the Web of Science database, includes engineering journals.  This is an index to the references from papers, and enables you to see who else is referring to the core papers for your research.

Databases exist for many other disciplines, such as
 | Agriculture  |  Business  |  Computer science |  Environmental issues  |  Law  |  Medicine | Mathematics |  Philosophy  |