Mechanics of Structures

The second edition of this bestseller presents a unified approach to the variational and computational mechanics of solids and structures. It covers the fundamentals of the theory of elasticity and variational theorems, along with generalized variational theorems and applications. The authors present matrix structural mechanics, finite elements, weighted residuals, finite differences, and boundary element methods in a rational, unified manner. This edition includes a novel treatment of stability theory, a catalog of operator solid mechanics matrices, and a one-dimensional introduction to the finite element method. The authors have also included more examples and homework problems.

Resoundingly popular in its first edition, the second edition of Mechanics of Structures: Variational and Computational Methods promises to be even more so, with broader coverage, expanded discussions, and a streamlined presentation.

The authors begin by describing the behavior of deformable solids through the differential equations for the strength of materials and the theory of elasticity. They next introduce variational principles, including mixed or generalized principles, and derive integral forms of the governing equations. Discussions then move to computational methods, including the finite element method, and these are developed to solve the differential and integral equations.

New in the second edition:

A one-dimensional introduction to the finite element method, complete with illustrations of numerical mesh refinement
Expansion of the use of Galerkin's method.
Discussion of recent developments in the theory of bending and torsion of thin-walled beams.
An appendix summarizing the fundamental equations in differential and variational form
Completely new treatment of stability, including detailed examples
Discussion of the principal values of geometric properties and stresses
Additional exercises

As a textbook or as a reference, Mechanics of Structures builds a unified, variational foundation for structure mechanics, which in turn forms the basis for the computational solid mechanics so essential to modern engineering.

"[This book] represents clear progress in this recent custom of popularizing structural mechanics . The book includes several important and deep topics that are often neglected in other works of the same kind. It shows a great effort towards completeness. It collects all classical variational principles of continuum mechanics . [T]he merit of the book resides in its colossal attempt to recombine three branches of the theory of elasticity (foundations, structures, numerical methods), which tend to diverge." - Meccanica, Vol. 39, 2004

Autorentext
Wunderlich, Walter; Pilkey, Walter D.

Inhalt
Formulations for Linear Problems of Elasticity. Formulations for Dynamic and Stability Problems. Bars and Plates. Appendices.