This document provides an introduction to the course 19ME305-STRENGTH OF MATERIALS. It discusses how strength of materials is a branch of mechanics that deals with how solid bodies react to different types of forces and loading. The objective of studying strength of materials is that it is essential for the safe design of structures in fields like mechanical and civil engineering. It also lists some fundamental types of loading as tensile, compressive, shear, and bending forces. Finally, it outlines some important mechanical properties of materials that are relevant to strength of materials like strength, elasticity, plasticity, hardness, ductility, brittleness, and malleability.