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.
The category of problems which examines the mechanical behaviour of contact regions constitutes an important branch of applied mechanics with extensive engineering applications. The results of such research can be applied to the study of mechanics of composite materials, tribology, soil-foundation interaction, mechanics of rock interfaces, modelling of damage phenomena and micro-mechanics. In classical studies, the modelling of interface responses has focussed on purely idealized forms of interface phenomena which range from frictionless contact to bonded contact, with Coulomb friction or finite friction occupying an intermediate position. Current research has attempted to improve such modelling by endowing the interface with its own characteristic constitutive responses. This research indicates the significant manner in which non linear, frictional, dilatant, hardening and softening interface constitutive responses can influence the global and local interface responses of engineering interest. The technical sessions held in New Mexico (sponsored by the Elasticity Committee of the Engineering Mechanics Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers) brought together new advances in the theoretical formulation, analysis and the application of material interface modelling to problems of engineering interest. This book contains the papers presented plus invited contributions from leading researchers.
A wide range of topics in the area of mechanics of materials and structures are covered in this volume, ranging from analysis to design. There is no special emphasis on a specific area of research. The first section of the book deals with topics on the mechanics and damage of concrete. It also includes two papers on granular packing structure changes and cumulative damage in polymers. In the second part more theoretical topics in mechanics are discussed, such as shell theory and nonlinear elasticity. The following section dicusses areas dealing primarily with plasticity, viscoelasticity, and viscoplasticity. These include such topics as dynamic and cyclic plasticity. In the final section the subject is structural dynamics, including seismic analysis, composite frames and nonlinear analysis of bridges. The volume is compiled in honor of Professor Maciej P. Bieniek who has served as a teacher and researcher at several universities, and who has made many significant contributions in the evaluation, rehabilitation, and design of infrastructures.
This book is essentially made up of the lecture notes delivered by seven authors at the International Centre for Mechanical Sciences in Udine in June 1979. It attempts to provide an up-to-date and concise summary of the authors' understanding of micropolar materials. Both asymmetric elasticity and fluids are covered. The chapters range from the discussion of micropolar molecular models to the analysis of structure models, from linear to nonlinear theories and from electromagnetic, thermal, viscous effects to lattice defects. The subjects are treated from both theoretical and experimental points of view. Students with physics, mathematics and mechanical backgrounds as well as professionals will find this treatise useful for study and reference.
Through its inclusion of specific applications, The Mathematical Theory of Elasticity, Second Edition continues to provide a bridge between the theory and applications of elasticity. It presents classical as well as more recent results, including those obtained by the authors and their colleagues. Revised and improved, this edition incorporates add