AIC Engineering Knowledge Base

Technical Library

A curated engineering library by Alexandria Industrial Control for engineers, technicians, maintenance teams, and automation professionals. Start with Classic Control, then move into instrumentation, PLCs, process control, electrical fundamentals, motor drives, electronics, Industry 4.0, and industrial troubleshooting.

2 AIC original technical books
18+ Selected engineering references
9 Main engineering tracks
Free Educational access for engineers
External reference notice: External references are linked for educational purposes from official, open-access, government, or public educational sources. Alexandria Industrial Control does not claim ownership of external materials.

Recommended Start

The fastest route for new visitors: start with control fundamentals, then instrumentation, then PLC and industrial automation references.

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Engineering Books & References

Filter the library by engineering track. Each card includes level, recommended audience, reference type, and link check date.

Filtered Library
AIC Original Book CONTROL

Classic Control Course

Prepared by Eng. Hesham Abdelhady
Alexandria Industrial Control
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Technicians, junior engineers, maintenance teams Type: AIC Original Book Link checked: May 2026
  • Basic control concepts
  • Contactors, relays, timers, overloads
  • Motor control circuits
  • Star-Delta and reversing circuits
  • Sensors, pneumatic basics, and calculations
AIC Original Book INSTRUMENT

Industrial Instrumentation Guide

Prepared by Eng. Hesham Abdelhady
Alexandria Industrial Control
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Instrumentation technicians, engineers, maintenance teams Type: AIC Original Book Link checked: May 2026
  • Industrial measurement and control
  • Pressure, level, flow, and temperature
  • Discrete and analog instrumentation signals
  • Transmitters, sensors, PV, SP, LRV, URV
  • P&ID and process control fundamentals
External PDF INST

Lessons In Industrial Instrumentation

By Tony R. Kuphaldt | Version 3.01
Level: Intermediate to Advanced Best for: Instrumentation engineers and senior technicians Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Industrial instrumentation fundamentals
  • Measurement, control, calibration, and troubleshooting
  • Discrete, analog, pneumatic, and digital instrumentation
  • PLC, process control, PID, and final control elements
  • Long-form reference for instrumentation teams

External educational reference. Author credits and rights remain with the original author.

External PDF MEASURE

Measurement and Instrumentation

John Dyer & Chad Davis | University of Oklahoma
Level: Intermediate Best for: Measurement, sensors, DAQ and instrumentation study Type: Open educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Measurement concepts and methods
  • Measurement error and uncertainty
  • Data acquisition fundamentals
  • Signal conditioning and sensor types
  • Measurement noise and engineering projects

External OER reference. The link opens the PDF download endpoint from Open Textbook Library.

External PDF PLC

Automating Manufacturing Systems with PLCs

By Hugh Jack | PLC Automation Reference
Level: Intermediate Best for: PLC learners moving from relay logic to automation Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • PLC-based automation systems
  • Ladder logic and discrete control
  • PLC wiring and practical control design
  • Manufacturing automation examples
  • Useful after classic control fundamentals

External educational reference. Author credits and rights remain with the original author.

External PDF E-MECH

Electromechanical Systems

Chad Davis | University of Oklahoma
Level: Intermediate Best for: Automation, sensors, machines and DAQ basics Type: Open educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Digital logic and character encoding
  • Measurement and instrumentation overview
  • Sensors and power systems
  • Electric machines and communications
  • DAQ and electromechanical applications

External OER reference. The link opens the PDF download endpoint from Open Textbook Library.

External PDFs ELECTRICAL

Lessons In Electric Circuits

By Tony R. Kuphaldt | Direct PDF volumes
Level: Basic to Advanced Best for: Electrical fundamentals, electronics, digital circuits Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • DC and AC electrical fundamentals
  • Semiconductors and digital circuits
  • Reference equations and experiments
  • Useful foundation before PLC and control systems
External PDF EE-I

Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I

Don H. Johnson | OpenStax CNX / Rice University
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Signals, systems, and electrical foundations Type: Open educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Signals and systems fundamentals
  • Time and frequency domain concepts
  • Analog signal processing
  • Digital signal processing basics
  • Useful background for automation and instrumentation
External PDF DC

DC Electrical Circuit Analysis

James M. Fiore | A Practical Approach
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Electrical technicians and circuit analysis students Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • DC circuit fundamentals
  • Series and parallel circuits
  • Mesh and nodal analysis
  • Thevenin and Norton equivalents
  • Capacitors, inductors, and transient response
External PDF AC

AC Electrical Circuit Analysis

James M. Fiore | A Practical Approach
Level: Intermediate Best for: AC theory, industrial electrical foundations Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • AC waveform fundamentals
  • RLC circuits and impedance
  • Filters and resonance
  • Transformers and power concepts
  • Practical continuation after DC circuits
Open Access PDF MACHINES

Analysis of Electrical Machines

Open Access Book | OAPEN Library
Level: Advanced Best for: Motor analysis, electrical machines, drives study Type: Open access reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Electrical machine analysis
  • Transient and steady-state behavior
  • MATLAB/Simulink-based analysis
  • Finite element method concepts
  • Motor and drive engineering studies
Open Access PDF DRIVES

Design and Control of Electrical Motor Drives

MDPI / Energies Reprint
Level: Advanced Best for: VFD, servo, motor drives and advanced control study Type: Open access reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Motor drive modeling and control
  • Induction motor and PMSM drives
  • Brushless DC and reluctance motor drives
  • Advanced control strategies
  • VFD and servo-related study
Open Access PDF EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency in Electric Motors & Drives

MDPI / Energies Reprint
Level: Intermediate to Advanced Best for: Energy saving, VFD selection discussions, motor systems Type: Open access reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Energy efficiency in electric motors
  • Power converters and related systems
  • High-efficiency drives and applications
  • Energy-saving approaches
  • Drive efficiency topics
External PDFs PROCESS

Chemical Process Dynamics and Controls

University of Michigan / Open Textbook
Level: Intermediate to Advanced Best for: Process control, PID, P&ID and chemical/process plants Type: Open educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Process control fundamentals
  • Sensors and actuators
  • Piping and Instrumentation Diagrams
  • PID control and control architectures
  • Process and instrumentation teams
Control Theory PID

Introduction to Control Systems

Malgorzata Zywno | Open Textbook
Level: Intermediate Best for: Control theory, PID, stability and controller design Type: Open access textbook Link checked: May 2026
  • System modeling and transfer functions
  • Simulation and control analysis
  • Stability and time response
  • PID control and tuning
  • Root locus and controller design
External PDF OP-AMP

Operational Amplifiers & Linear Integrated Circuits

James M. Fiore | Theory and Application
Level: Intermediate Best for: Signal conditioning and industrial electronics Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Op-amp fundamentals
  • Negative feedback and amplifier circuits
  • Instrumentation amplifiers
  • Filters, regulators, ADC and DAC basics
  • Signal conditioning applications
External PDF SEMI

Semiconductor Devices

Lessons In Electric Circuits | Semiconductor Volume
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Industrial electronics, control boards, troubleshooting Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Diodes and rectifiers
  • Transistors and switching devices
  • Power and signal semiconductor basics
  • Control boards and troubleshooting
  • Industrial electronics foundation
External PDF DIGITAL

Digital Circuits

Lessons In Electric Circuits | Digital Volume
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Digital logic, automation basics, PLC preparation Type: External educational reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Digital logic fundamentals
  • Logic gates and digital systems
  • Binary concepts and digital control basics
  • Useful before PLC and embedded systems
  • Automation troubleshooting support
Open Access PDF I4.0

Automation Control Systems & Process Control for Industry 4.0

MDPI / Processes Reprint
Level: Advanced Best for: Smart manufacturing, industrial data, advanced automation Type: Open access reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Process automation and control systems
  • Smart manufacturing concepts
  • Machine learning in manufacturing
  • Industrial big data analytics
  • Automation and digitalization topics
Government PDFs DOE I&C

Instrumentation and Control

DOE Fundamentals Handbook | 2 Volumes
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Fundamentals, operators, technicians, training Type: Government reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Temperature detectors
  • Pressure, level, and flow detection
  • Position indication systems
  • Principles of control systems
  • Instrumentation fundamentals
Government PDFs DOE ELEC

Electrical Science

DOE Fundamentals Handbook | 4 Volumes
Level: Basic to Intermediate Best for: Electrical maintenance, troubleshooting, training Type: Government reference Link checked: May 2026
  • Basic electrical theory
  • DC and AC circuits
  • Motors, generators, and transformers
  • Voltage regulators and electrical distribution
  • Test instruments and measuring devices

Suggested Learning Path

1

Classic Control

Start with switches, contactors, relays, timers, overloads, and motor control circuits.

2

Instrumentation

Move to sensors, transmitters, 4-20 mA, HART, pressure, level, flow, and temperature.

3

Electrical & Motors

Study DC, AC, circuit analysis, motors, transformers, drives, and measuring instruments.

4

PLC & Automation

Study ladder logic, PLC wiring, discrete control, practical machine automation, and DAQ.

5

Process & Industry 4.0

Continue with P&ID, PID, final control elements, calibration, analytics, and smart manufacturing.

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