Basic Structural Theory


Book Description

This text introduces the basic equations of the theory of structures. Conventional presentations of these equations follow the ideas of elastic analysis, introduced nearly two hundred years ago. The present book is written against the background of advances made in structural theory during the last fifty years, notably by the introduction of so-called plastic theory. Tests on real structures in the twentieth century revealed that structural states predicted by elastic analysis cannot in fact be observed in practice, whereas plastic ideas can be used to give accurate estimates of strength. Strength is discussed in the first part of this book without reference to equations of elastic deformation. However, the designer is concerned also with stiffness, for which elastic analysis is needed, and the standard equations (suitable, for example, for computer programming) are presented. Finally, stability is analyzed, which again is essentially an elastic phenomenon, and it is shown that a higher "factor of safety" is required to guard against buckling than that required to guarantee straightforward strength. The emphasis throughout is on the derivation and application of the structural equations, rather than on details of their solution (nowadays best done by computer), and the numerical examples are deliberately kept simple.




Basic Theory of Structures


Book Description

Basic Theory of Structures provides a sound foundation of structural theory. This book presents the fundamental concepts of structural behavior. Organized into 12 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the essential requirement of any structure to resist a variety of loadings without changing its shape. This text then examines the application of the laws of statics to structures as a means of determining the external reactions induced at supports due to loading. Other chapters consider the dependence of stress components on the choice of reference plane. This book discusses as well the method of determining the internal forces in the bars of a truss, which depends upon applying the conditions of equilibrium. The final chapter deals with the variety of factors affecting the strength of concrete. This book is intended to be suitable for civil engineering students. Design and civil engineers will also find this book extremely useful.




Basic Structural Behaviour


Book Description

This title uses model structures to demonstrate the way different types of structural elements behave under a given set of circumstances and the way in which the form of the structure influences that behaviour. It enables students to develop intuitive feeling for structural behaviour by observing different forms of structure under load.




Structural Information Theory


Book Description

A coherent and comprehensive theory of visual pattern classification with quantitative models, verifiable predictions and extensive empirical evidence.




Basic Structural Analysis


Book Description

For a first course in structural analysis.




Understanding Structural Engineering


Book Description

In our world of seemingly unlimited computing, numerous analytical approaches to the estimation of stress, strain, and displacement-including analytical, numerical, physical, and analog techniques-have greatly advanced the practice of engineering. Combining theory and experimentation, computer simulation has emerged as a third path for engineering




The Cambridge Rawls Lexicon


Book Description

John Rawls is widely regarded as one of the most influential philosophers of the twentieth century, and his work has permanently shaped the nature and terms of moral and political philosophy, deploying a robust and specialized vocabulary that reaches beyond philosophy to political science, economics, sociology, and law. This volume is a complete and accessible guide to Rawls' vocabulary, with over 200 alphabetical encyclopaedic entries written by the world's leading Rawls scholars. From 'basic structure' to 'burdened society', from 'Sidgwick' to 'strains of commitment', and from 'Nash point' to 'natural duties', the volume covers the entirety of Rawls' central ideas and terminology, with illuminating detail and careful cross-referencing. It will be an essential resource for students and scholars of Rawls, as well as for other readers in political philosophy, ethics, political science, sociology, international relations and law.




The History of the Theory of Structures


Book Description

This book traces the evolution of theory of structures and strength of materials - the development of the geometrical thinking of the Renaissance to become the fundamental engineering science discipline rooted in classical mechanics. Starting with the strength experiments of Leonardo da Vinci and Galileo, the author examines the emergence of individual structural analysis methods and their formation into theory of structures in the 19th century. For the first time, a book of this kind outlines the development from classical theory of structures to the structural mechanics and computational mechanics of the 20th century. In doing so, the author has managed to bring alive the differences between the players with respect to their engineering and scientific profiles and personalities, and to create an understanding for the social context. Brief insights into common methods of analysis, backed up by historical details, help the reader gain an understanding of the history of structural mechanics from the standpoint of modern engineering practice. A total of 175 brief biographies of important personalities in civil and structural engineering as well as structural mechanics plus an extensive bibliography round off this work.




Classical Beam Theories of Structural Mechanics


Book Description

This book provides a systematic and thorough overview of the classical bending members based on the theory for thin beams (shear-rigid) according to Euler-Bernoulli, and the theories for thick beams (shear-flexible) according to Timoshenko and Levinson. The understanding of basic, i.e., one-dimensional structural members, is essential in applied mechanics. A systematic and thorough introduction to the theoretical concepts for one-dimensional members keeps the requirements on engineering mathematics quite low, and allows for a simpler transfer to higher-order structural members. The new approach in this textbook is that it treats single-plane bending in the x-y plane as well in the x-z plane equivalently and applies them to the case of unsymmetrical bending. The fundamental understanding of these one-dimensional members allows a simpler understanding of thin and thick plate bending members. Partial differential equations lay the foundation to mathematically describe the mechanical behavior of all classical structural members known in engineering mechanics. Based on the three basic equations of continuum mechanics, i.e., the kinematics relationship, the constitutive law, and the equilibrium equation, these partial differential equations that describe the physical problem can be derived. Nevertheless, the fundamental knowledge from the first years of engineering education, i.e., higher mathematics, physics, materials science, applied mechanics, design, and programming skills, might be required to master this topic.




Fundamentals of Structural Stability


Book Description

An understanable introduction to the theory of structural stability, useful for a wide variety of engineering disciplines, including mechanical, civil and aerospace.