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.




Structural Information Theory


Book Description

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




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.




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 Cognition of Basic Musical Structures


Book Description

In this book, David Temperley addresses a fundamental question about music cognition: how do we extract basic kinds of musical information, such as meter, phrase structure, counterpoint, pitch spelling, harmony, and key from music as we hear it? Taking a computational approach, Temperley develops models for generating these aspects of musical structure. The models he proposes are based on preference rules, which are criteria for evaluating a possible structural analysis of a piece of music. A preference rule system evaluates many possible interpretations and chooses the one that best satisfies the rules. After an introductory chapter, Temperley presents preference rule systems for generating six basic kinds of musical structure: meter, phrase structure, contrapuntal structure, harmony, and key, as well as pitch spelling (the labeling of pitch events with spellings such as A flat or G sharp). He suggests that preference rule systems not only show how musical structures are inferred, but also shed light on other aspects of music. He substantiates this claim with discussions of musical ambiguity, retrospective revision, expectation, and music outside the Western canon (rock and traditional African music). He proposes a framework for the description of musical styles based on preference rule systems and explores the relevance of preference rule systems to higher-level aspects of music, such as musical schemata, narrative and drama, and musical tension.




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.




Structural Mechanics


Book Description

This text book covers the principles and methods of load effect calculations that are necessary for engineers and designers to evaluate the strength and stability of structural systems. It contains the mathematical development from basic assumptions to final equations ready for practical use. It starts at a basic level and step by step it brings the reader up to a level where the necessary design safety considerations to static load effects can be performed, i.e. to a level where cross sectional forces and corresponding stresses can be calculated and compared to the strength of the system. It contains a comprehensive coverage of elastic buckling, providing the basis for the evaluation of structural stability. It includes general methods enabling designers to calculate structural displacements, such that the system may fulfil its intended functions. It is taken for granted that the reader possess good knowledge of calculus, differential equations and basic matrix operations. The finite element method for line-like systems has been covered, but not the finite element method for shells and plates.




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.