This volume contains the papers presented at the Third International Conference on Thin-Walled Structures, Cracow, Poland on June 5-7, 2001.
There has been a substantial growth in knowledge in the field of Thin-Walled Structures over the past few decades. Lightweight structures are in widespread use in the Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical, Automobile, Chemical and Offshore Engineering fields. The development of new processes, new methods of connections, new materials has gone hand-in-hand with the evolution of advanced analytical methods suitable for dealing with the increasing complexity of the design work involved in ensuring safety and confidence in the finished products.
Of particular importance with regard to the analytical process is the growth in use of the finite element method. This method, about 40 years ago, was confined to rather specialist use, mainly in the aeronautical field, because of its requirements for substantial calculation capacity. The development over recent years of extremely powerful microcomputers has ensured that the application of the finite element method is now possible for problems in all fields of engineering, and a variety of finite element packages have been developed to enhance the ease of use and the availability of the method in the engineering design process.

ICSAS '99 - The Fourth International Conference on Steel and Aluminium Structures was a sequel to ICSAS '87 held in Cardiff, UK, to ICSAS '91 held in Singapore and to ICSAS '95 held in Istanbul, Turkey. The objective of the conference was to provide a forum for the discussion of recent findings and developments in the design and construction of various types of steel and aluminium structures.

The conference was concerned with the analysis, modelling and design of light-weight or slender structures in which the primary material is structural steel, stainless or aluminium. The structural analysis papers presented at the conference cover both static and dynamic behaviour, instability behaviour and long-term behaviour under hygrothermal effects. The results of the latest research and development of some new structural products were also presented at the conference. A total of 76 papers and 30 posters were presented at the conference by participants from 36 countries in all 6 continents.

The goals of wind wave research are relatively well defined: to be able to predict the wind wave field and its effect on the environment. That environment could be natural (beaches, the atmosphere etc.) or imposed by human endeavour (ports, harbours, coastal settlements etc.). Although the goals are similar, the specific requirements of these various fields differ considerably.

This book attempts to summarise the current state of this knowledge and to place this understanding into a common frame work. It attempts to take a balanced approach between the pragmatic engineering view of requiring a short term result and the scientific quest for detailed understanding. Thus, it attempts to provide a rigorous description of the physical processes involved as well as practical predictive tools.

Thin-plated structures are used extensively in building construction, automobile, aircraft, shipbuilding and other industries because of a number of favourable factors such as high strength-weight ratio, development of new materials and processes and the availability of efficient analytical methods. This class of structure is made by joining thin plates together at their edges and they rely for their rigidity and strength upon the tremendous stiffness and load-carrying capacity of the flat plates from which they are made. Many of the problems encountered in these structures arise because of the effects of local buckling. The knowledge of various facets of this phenomenon has increased dramatically since the 1960s. Problem areas which were hitherto either too complex for rigorous analysis or whose subtleties were not fully realized have in these years been subjected to intensive study. Great advances have been made in the areas of inelastic buckling. The growth in use of lightweight strong materials, such as fibre-reinforced plastics has also been a contributory factor towards the need for advances in the knowledge of the far post-buckling range. The conference is a sequel to the international conference organised by the University of Strathclyde in December 1996 and this international gathering will provide the opportunity for discussion of recent developments and trends in design of thin-walled structures.

The near-field earthquake which struck the Hanshin-Awaji area of Japan before dawn on January 17, 1995, in addition to snatching away the lives of more than 6,000 people, inflicted horrendous damage on the region's infrastructure, including the transportation, communication and lifeline supply network and, of course, on buildings, too. A year earlier, the San Fernando Valley area of California had been hit by another near-field quake, the Northridge Earthquake, which dealt a similarly destructive blow to local infrastructures. Following these two disasters, structural engineers and researchers around the world have been working vigorously to develop methods of design for the kind of structure that is capable of withstanding not only the far-field tectonic earthquakes planned for hitherto, but also the full impact of near-field earthquake.
Of the observed types of earthquake damage to steel structures, there are some whose causes are well understood, but many others continue to present us with unresolved problems. To overcome these, it is now urgently necessary for specialists to come together and exchange information.
The contents of this volume are selected from the Nagoya Colloquium proceedings will become an important part of the world literature on structural stability and ductility, and will prove a driving force in the development of future stability and ductility related research and design.

Wave energy, together with other renewable energy resources is expected to provide a small but significant proportion of future energy requirements without adding to pollution and global warming.
This practical and concise reference considers alternative application methods, explains the concepts behind wave energy conversion and investigates wave power activities across the globe.
Explores the potential of using the power generated by waves as a natural energy resource
Considers the power transfer systems needed to do this, and looks at the environmental impacts

Hurricanes are one of the most adverse aspects of the ocean environment, with the potential to cause a disastrous event for marine systems in the ocean. This is an invaluable reference for all involved in the field of naval, ocean and coastal engineering. The work clarifies hurricane generated sea conditions necessary for the design and operation of marine systems in a seaway, and provides information for the protection of near shore / onshore structures and the environment at the time of hurricane landing.
Reveals Information vital for avoidance of disastrous events experienced by ships and offshore structures
Includes detailed analysis of hurricane sea wave data obtained by buoys

"Rock Mass Classifications - A Practical Approach in Civil Engineering" was written in response to the many unanswered questions regarding this subject. Questions such as - Is Classification reasonably reliable? Can it be successful in crisis management of geohazards? Can a single Classification system be general for all rock structures? Is Classification a scientific approach? Laborious field research was undertaken in the Himalayan mountains by a team of scientists from the Central Mining Research Institute (CMRI), University of Roorkee (UOR), Central Soil and Material Research Station (CSMRS), U.P. Irrigation Research Institute (UPIRI), and Norwegian Geotechnical Institute (NGI) to answer these questions. The results obtained from the research work were systematically compiled to produce this book which bears particular relevance to civil, mining and petroleum engineers and geologists.

Endorsements
"It is a Handbook of Rock Engineering" - Zhao Jian, School of Civil & Structural Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
"I came across your new book - Rock Mass Classification, absolutely fantastic" - Subodh K. Jain, U.S.A

The Second Sino-US Symposium Workshop on Recent Advancement of Computational Mechanics in Structural Engineering was held between May 25-28, 1998, in Dalian, China. The objectives were: to share the insights and experiences gained from recent developments in theory and practice; to assess the current state of knowledge in various topic areas of mechanics and computational methods and to identify joint research opportunities; to stimulate future cooperative research and to develop joint efforts in subjects of common needs and interests; to build and to strengthen the long-term bilateral scientific relationship between academic and professional practicing communities.
Topics discussed covered the entire field of computational structural mechanics. These topics have advanced broad applications in the engineering practice of modern structural analysis, design and construction of buildings and other structures, and in natural hazard mitigation.

The air distribution in occupied spaces is a major issue of public concern. It is widely recognized that the quality of air and the nature of airflow can affect the health of occupants and the energy consumed in buildings and transport vehicles. ROOMVENT is the principal international conference in the field of air distribution. It was first initiated in 1987 by SCANVAC, the Scandinavian Federation of Heating, Ventilating and Sanitary Engineering Associations in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden.
The aim of the Conference is to bring together researchers from universities and research institutes, engineers from industry and government officials and policy makers, with the goal of experiencing the latest techniques for measuring and analyzing indoor air flow, the visualization of indoor air flow patterns, the evaluation of ventilation parameters and the most recent developments in computer simulation techniques of room airflow. It is hoped that the theme of ROOMVENT 2000 ""Ventilation for Health and Sustainable Environment"" will set the scene for room air distribution research and development for the new millennium.

Smart Buildings Systems for Architects, Owners and Builders is a practical guide and resource for architects, builders, engineers, facility managers, developers, contractors, and design consultants. The book covers the costs and benefits of smart buildings, and the basic design foundations, technology systems, and management systems encompassed within a smart building. Unlike other resources, Smart Buildings is organized to provide an overview of each of the technology systems in a building, and to indicate where each of these systems is in their migration to and utilization of the standard underpinnings of a smart building.
Written for any professional interested in designing or building smart Buildings systems, this book provides you with the fundamentals needed to select and utilize the most up to date technologies to serve your purpose. In this book, you'll find simple to follow illustrations and diagrams, detailed explanations of systems and how they work and their draw backs. Case studies are used to provide examples of systems and the common problems encountered during instillation. Some simple Repair and Trouble shooting tips are also included. After reading this book, builders, architects and owners will have a solid understanding of how these systems work which of these system is right for their project. Concise and easy to understand, the book will also provide a common language for ensure understanding across the board. Thereby, eliminating confusion and creating a common understanding among professionals.

Ethernet, TCP/IP protocols, SQL datebases, standard fiber optic
Data Networks and Voice Networks
Fire Alarm Systems, Access Control Systems and Video Surveillance Systems
Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning Systems and Electric Power Management Systems, Lighting Control Systems
Facility Management Systems

The success of a repair or rehabilitation project depends on the specific plans designed for it. Concrete Structures: Protection, Repair and Rehabilitation provides guidance on evaluating the condition of the concrete in a structure, relating the condition of the concrete to the underlying cause or causes of that condition, selecting an appropriate repair material and method for any deficiency found, and using the selected materials and methods to repair or rehabilitate the structure. Guidance is also provided for engineers focused on maintaining concrete and preparing concrete investigation reports for repair and rehabilitation projects. Considerations for certain specialized types of rehabilitation projects are also given. In addition, the author translates cryptic codes, theories, specifications and details into easy to understand language. Tip boxes are used to highlight key elements of the text as well as code considerations based on the International Code Council or International Building Codes. The book contains various worked out examples and equations. Case Studies will be included along with diagrams and schematics to provide visuals to the book.

Deals primarily with evaluation and repair of concrete structures
Provides the reader with a Step by Step method for evaluation and repair of Structures
Covers all types of Concrete structures ranging from bridges to sidewalks
Handy tables outlining the properties of certain types of concrete and their uses

Cold formed structural members are being used more widely in routine structural design as the world steel industry moves from the production of hot-rolled section and plate to coil and strip, often with galvanised and/or painted coatings. Steel in this form is more easily delivered from the steel mill to the manufacturing plant where it is usually cold-rolled into open and closed section members.
This book not only summarises the research performed to date on cold form tubluar members and connections but also compares design rules in various standards and provides practical design examples.

This new book on the fracture mechanics of concrete focuses on the latest developments in computational theories, and how to apply those theories to solve real engineering problems. Zihai Shi uses his extensive research experience to present detailed examination of multiple-crack analysis and mixed-mode fracture.
Compared with other mature engineering disciplines, fracture mechanics of concrete is still a developing field with extensive new research and development. In recent years many different models and applications have been proposed for crack analysis; the author assesses these in turn, identifying their limitations and offering a detailed treatment of those which have been proved to be robust by comprehensive use.
After introducing stress singularity in numerical modelling and some basic modelling techniques, the Extended Fictitious Crack Model (EFCM) for multiple-crack analysis is explained with numerical application examples. This theoretical model is then applied to study two important issues in fracture mechanics - crack interaction and localization, and fracture modes and maximum loads. The EFCM is then reformulated to include the shear transfer mechanism on crack surfaces and the method is used to study experimental problems.
With a carefully balanced mixture of theory, experiment and application, Crack Analysis in Structural Concrete is an important contribution to this fast-developing field of structural analysis in concrete.
* Latest theoretical models analysed and tested
* Detailed assessment of multiple crack analysis and multi-mode fractures
* Applications designed for solving real-life engineering problems

The effect of manmade activities is primarily local but can extend far away from the location of intervention. This underlines the importance of establishing coastal zone management plans covering large stretches of coastlines.
In recent years, interest in Low Crested Structures (coastal defense structures with a low-crest) has been growing together with awareness of the sensitivity to environmental impacts produced by coastal defenses.
The relation between wave climate, beach erosion, beach defence means, habitat changes and beach value, which clearly exists based on EC research results, suggests the necessity of an integrated approach when designing coastal protection schemes. In accordance with this need, the present design guidelines cover structure stability and construction problems, hydro and morphodynamic effects, environmental effects (colonisation of the structure and water quality), societal and economic impacts (recreational benefits, swimming safety, beach quality).
Environmental Design Guidelines for Low Crested Coastal Structures is specifically dedicated to Low Crested Structures, and provides methodological tools both for the engineering design of structures and for the prediction of performance and environmental impacts of such structures. A briefing of current best practice for local and national planning authorities, statutory agencies and other stakeholders in the coastal zone is also covered.
Presented in a generic way, this book is appropriate throughout the European Union, taking into account current European Commission policy and directives for the promotion of sustainable development and integrated coastal zone management.
* Fills the gap between engineering and ecology in coastal defense planning
* Shows the reader how to perform an integrated design of coastal defense schemes
* Presents latest insights on hydro-morphodynamics induced by structures
* Provides directly applicable tools for the design of low crested structures
* Highlights socio-economic perspectives in coastal defense design

Climate for the 21st century is expected to be considerably different from the present and recent past. Industrialization growth combined with the increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and massive deforestation are well above the values over the past several decades and are expected to further grow. Air temperature is rising rapidly well as does the weather variability producing frequent extreme events. Six of the ten warmest years occurred in the 1990s. Temperatures predicted for the 21st century ranges well above the present day value.
The time period of the last 100-200 years covered by the direct meteorological observations is too short and does not provide material to reliably assess what may happen over the next hundred(s) years. A faithful prediction of the future requires understanding how climate system works, i.e. to reconstruct past climate much further in the past. Borehole paleoclimatology enables climate reconstruction of the past several millennia, unlike proxy methods provides direct past temperature assessment and can well broaden the areal range to the remote regions poorly covered with meteorological observations. Considerable debates have recently focused on the causes of the present-day warming, i.e. to distinguish between the natural and anthropogenic contribution to the observed temperature increase, eventually to quantify their regional distribution. Complex interpretation of borehole data with the proxies and additional socio-economic information can hopefully help. On observed data taken in various places all over the world we demonstrate suitable examples of the interaction between the subsurface temperature response to time changes in vegetation cover, land-use (farming) and urbanization. Precise temperature-time monitoring in shallow subsurface can further provide the magnitude of the present-day warming within relatively short time intervals.
As far as we know, there exists so far no book dealing entirely with the subject of the Borehole climatology. Only relatively rarely this method is mentioned in otherwise plentiful literature on climate reconstruction or on climate modelling. There are, however, series of papers focussing on various borehole--climate related studies in numerous journals (e.g. Global and Planetary Change, Climate Change, Tectonophysics, Journal of Geophysical Research, Geophysical Research Letters, etc). Time to time a special issue appears to summarize papers on this topic presented during specialized symposia.
Key Features
- Description of a new useful alternative paleoclimate reconstruction method
- A suitable source of information for those wishing to learn more about climate change
- Material for lecturing and use in the classroom
- Ample practical examples of borehole temperature inversions worldwide
- Ample illustrations and reference list
- Authors have a good knowledge of the problem based on more than 20 years of experience, one of them actually pioneered the method
Key Features
- Description of a new useful alternative paleoclimate reconstruction method
- A suitable source of information for those wishing to learn more about climate change
- Material for lecturing and use in the classroom
- Ample practical examples of borehole temperature inversions worldwide
- Ample illustrations and reference list
- Authors have a good knowledge of the problem based on more than 20 years of experience, one of them actually pioneered the method

This book presents some fundamental concepts behind the basic theories and tools of discrete element methods (DEM), its historical development, and its wide scope of applications in geology, geophysics and rock engineering. Unlike almost all books available on the general subject of DEM, this book includes coverage of both explicit and implicit DEM approaches, namely the Distinct Element Methods and Discontinuous Deformation Analysis (DDA) for both rigid and deformable blocks and particle systems, and also the Discrete Fracture Network (DFN) approach for fluid flow and solute transport simulations. The latter is actually also a discrete approach of importance for rock mechanics and rock engineering. In addition, brief introductions to some alternative approaches are also provided, such as percolation theory and Cosserat micromechanics equivalence to particle systems, which often appear hand-in-hand with the DEM in the literature. Fundamentals of the particle mechanics approach using DEM for granular media is also presented.
- Presents the fundamental concepts of the discrete models for fractured rocks, including constitutive models of rock fractures and rock masses for stress, deformation and fluid flow
- Provides a comprehensive presentation on discrete element methods, including distinct elements, discontinuous deformation analysis, discrete fracture networks, particle mechanics and Cosserat representation of granular media
- Features constitutive models of rock fractures and fracture system characterization methods detaiing their significant impacts on the performance and uncertainty of the DEM models

Reinforced concrete is one of the most widely used modern materials of construction. It is comparatively cheap, readily available, and suitable for a variety of building and construction applications.
This reference provides a detailed resource covering all aspects of this important material. Both servicability and durability aspects are well covered, with all the information needed maximise the life of buildings constructed from it.
Containing an up-to-date and comprehensive collection of technical information and data from world renound authors, it will be a valuable source of reference for academics, researchers, students and professionals alike.
*Provides information vital to prolong the life of buildings constructed from this versatile material
* Brings together a disparate body of knowledge from many parts of the world into a concise and authoritative text
*Containing an up-to-date and comprehensive collection of technical information

Engineering rock mechanics is the discipline used to design structures built in rock. These structures encompass building foundations, dams, slopes, shafts, tunnels, caverns, hydroelectric schemes, mines, radioactive waste repositories and geothermal energy projects: in short, any structure built on or in a rock mass. Despite the variety of projects that use rock engineering, the principles remain the same. Engineering Rock Mechanics clearly and systematically explains the key principles behind rock engineering.
The book covers the basic rock mechanics principles; how to study the interactions between these principles and a discussion on the fundamentals of excavation and support and the application of these in the design of surface and underground structures. Engineering Rock Mechanics is recommended as an across-the-board source of information for the benefit of anyone involved in rock mechanics and rock engineering.

Due to an ever-decreasing supply in raw materials and stringent constraints on conventional energy sources, demand for lightweight, efficient and low-cost structures has become crucially important in modern engineering design. This requires engineers to search for optimal and robust design options to address design problems that are commonly large in scale and highly nonlinear, making finding solutions challenging. In the past two decades, metaheuristic algorithms have shown promising power, efficiency and versatility in solving these difficult optimization problems.

This book examines the latest developments of metaheuristics and their applications in structural engineering, construction engineering and earthquake engineering, offering practical case studies as examples to demonstrate real-world applications. Topics cover a range of areas within engineering, including big bang-big crunch approach, genetic algorithms, genetic programming, harmony search, swarm intelligence and some other metaheuristic methods. Case studies include structural identification, vibration analysis and control, topology optimization, transport infrastructure design, design of reinforced concrete, performance-based design of structures and smart pavement management. With its wide range of everyday problems and solutions, Metaheursitic Applications in Structures and Infrastructures can serve as a supplementary text for design courses and computation in engineering as well as a reference for researchers and engineers in metaheuristics, optimization in civil engineering and computational intelligence.
Review of the latest development of metaheuristics in engineering.Detailed algorithm descriptions with focus on practical implementation.Uses practical case studies as examples and applications.

Offshore oil and gas production was conducted throughout the entire 20th century, but the industry's modern importance and vibrancy did not start until the early 1970s, when the North Sea became a major producer. Since then, the expansion of the offshore oil industry has been continuous and rapid.
Pipelines, and more generally long tubular structures, are major oil and gas industry tools used in exploration, drilling, production, and transmission. Installing and operating tubular structures in deep waters places unique demands on them. Technical challenges within the field have spawned significant research and development efforts in a broad range of areas.
Volume I addresses problems of buckling and collapse of long inelastic cylinders under various loads encountered in the offshore arena. Several of the solutions are also directly applicable to land pipelines. The approach of Mechanics of Offshore Pipelines is problem oriented. The background of each problem and scenario are first outlined and each discussion finishes with design recommendations.
* New and classical problems addressed - investigated through a combination of experiments and analysis
* Each chapter deals with a specific mechanical problem that is analyzed independently
* The fundamental nature of the problems makes them also applicable to other fields, including tubular components in nuclear reactors and power plants, aerospace structures, automotive and civil engineering structures, naval vehicles and structures