Put a New Class of Structural Composites to Use

Real Solutions for Predicting Load

Initially designed as thermal barrier materials for aerospace applications and fusion reactors, functionally graded materials (FGMs) are now widely employed as structural components in extremely high-temperature environments. However, little information is commonly available that would allow engineers to predict the response of FGM plates and shells subjected to thermal and mechanical loads.

Functionally Graded Materials: Nonlinear Analysis of Plates and Shells is the first book devoted to the geometrically nonlinear response of inhomogeneous isotropic and functionally graded plates and shells. Concerned that the high loads common to many structures may result in nonlinear load deflection relationships due to large deformations, author Hui-Shen Shen has been conducting investigations since 2001, paying particular attention to the nonlinear response of these plates and shells to nonlinear bending, postbuckling and nonlinear vibration.

Nearly all the solutions presented are the results of investigations conducted by the author and his collaborators. The rigor of these investigative procedures allows the results presented within these pages to stand as a benchmark against which the validity and accuracy of other numerical solutions may be measured

This volume contains the papers presented at the 9th International Symposium on Rock Fragmentation by Blasting, held in Granada, Spain, 13-17 August 2009. A state-of-the-art collection of articles on developments in rock blasting and explosives engineering, with contributions on rock characterization, explosives and initiation systems, blast design and monitoring, fragmentation assessment, numerical modeling, vibrations from blasting, environmental and economical aspects of rock blasting, and more. Containing unique knowledge, case studies, ideas and insights, this volume is must-have literature for researchers and practitioners in the field of explosives and blasting.

Proper treatment of structural behavior under severe loading - such as the performance of a high-rise building during an earthquake - relies heavily on the use of probability-based analysis and decision-making tools. Proper application of these tools is significantly enhanced by a thorough understanding of the underlying theoretical and computational concepts as provided by this book.

Detailing the computational aspects of stochastic analysis within the field of structural mechanics, this book first presents a few motivating examples that demonstrate the various random effects within the context of simple structural analysis models. It moreover briefly reviews the fundamental concepts from continuum mechanics and puts them in the perspective of modern numerical tools, such as the finite element method. More advanced topics are developed step by step while gradually increasing the complexity of the structural and probabilistic analyses.

This volume is intended for structural analysts and advanced students who wish to explore the benefits of stochastic analysis. It will provide researchers and decision makers working on structural and infrastructural systems with the necessary probabilistic information needed for strategic developments in construction, inspection and maintenance.

In recent years knowledge of concrete and concrete structures has increased, as has its applications. New types of concrete challenged scientists and engineers, and ecological constraints encouraged the implementation of life cycle design of concrete structures, moving the focus more and more to maintenance and uprating of structures. And since buildings are not only designed for safety and serviceability, but also for flexibility and adaptability, the design of performance based materials and structures has become more and more important.

Tailor Made Concrete Structures. New Solutions for our Society comprises the proceedings of the International fib Symposium 2008 (Amsterdam, 19-22 May 2008), and considers these new perspectives and developments, including sections on new materials (i.e. fire resisting concrete, ultra-high performance fibered concrete, textile reinforced concrete, bacteria-based self healing concrete) and codes for the future (i.e. the American P2P Iniative, fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) applications in construction, Codes for SFRC Structures).

The book includes contributions from leading scientists and professionals in concrete and concrete structures worldwide, and covers:

Life cycle design

Design strategies for the future

Underground structures

Monitoring and Inspection

Diagnosis

Innovative materials

Codes for the future

Modifying and adapting structures

Architectural Concrete

Developing a modern infrastructure

Designing structures against extreme loads

Increasing the speed of construction

Tailor Made Concrete Structures. New Solutions for our Society includes the state-of-the-art in research on concrete and concrete structures, and will be invaluable to professionals, structural engineers and scientists.

Increases in computer power have now enabled engineers to combine materials science with structural mechanics in the design and the assessment of concrete structures. The techniques developed have become especially useful for the performance assessment of such structures under coupled mechanistic and environmental actions. This allows effective management of infrastructure over a much longer life cycle, thus satisfying the requirements for durability and sustainability.

This ground-breaking new book draws on the fields of materials and structural mechanics in an integrated way to address the questions of management and maintenance. It proposes a realistic way of simulating both constituent materials and structural responses under external loading and under ambient conditions. Where the research literature discusses component or element technology related to performance assessment, this book uniquely covers the subject at the level of the whole system including soil foundation, showing engineers how to model changes in concrete structures over time and how to use this for decision making in infrastructure maintenance and asset management.

Although progressing very well over the last years, the design criteria for bored and auger piles are still not fully under control and in acceptable synergism with the real pile foundation behaviour. Although there has been a lot of research in the past years worldwide on deep foundation engineering, the strong and competitive market has absolutely favorized the ingenuity of the contractora (TM)s world. A striking example of this is of such developments linked ideas on energy piles; one of the key topics in this book. This book presents the current status of screw or bore pile-soil interaction findings and developments.

The Rise of Smart Cities: Advanced Structural Sensing and Monitoring Systems provides engineers and researchers with a guide to the latest breakthroughs in the deployment of smart sensing and monitoring technologies. The book introduces readers to the latest innovations in the area of smart infrastructure-enabling technologies and how they can be integrated into the planning and design of smart cities. With this book in hand, readers will find a valuable reference in terms of civil infrastructure health monitoring, advanced sensor network architectures, smart sensing materials, multifunctional material and structures, crowdsourced/social sensing, remote sensing and aerial sensing, and advanced computation in sensor networks.

Internationally, the mechanized excavation of tunnels has intensified in the last two decades, as the number of tunnels being constructed for subways and railway underpasses increases. The subject of mechanized tunnelling in urban areas has not previously received the attention that it deserves, despite there being specific hazards associated with the construction of tunnels in metropolitan areas, including poor ground conditions, water tables higher than the level of tunnels, and subsidence leading to damage to the existing structures on the surface. The application of technologies for achieving the stability of the tunnel and for minimizing surface settlement is described in this book. Accurate characterization of the ground; rigorous assessment and management of risk from design to maintenance; the correct choice of a tunnel boring machine and a plan for the advancement of the tunnel; specific excavation procedures and real-time monitoring of excavation parameters are all discussed in this thorough work.

Uncertainties play a dominant role in the design and optimization of structures and infrastructures. In optimum design of structural systems due to variations of the material, manufacturing variations, variations of the external loads and modelling uncertainty, the parameters of a structure, a structural system and its environment are not given, fixed coefficients, but random variables with a certain probability distribution. The increasing necessity to solve complex problems in Structural Optimization, Structural Reliability and Probabilistic Mechanics, requires the development of new ideas, innovative methods and numerical tools for providing accurate numerical solutions in affordable computing times. This book presents the latest findings on structural optimization considering uncertainties. It contains selected contributions dealing with the use of probabilistic methods for the optimal design of different types of structures and various considerations of uncertainties. The first part is focused on reliability-based design optimization and the second part on robust design optimization. Comprising twenty-one, self-contained chapters by prominent authors in the field, it forms a complete collection of state-of-the-art theoretical advances and applications in the fields of structural optimization, structural reliability, and probabilistic computational mechanics. It is recommended to researchers, engineers, and students in civil, mechanical, naval and aerospace engineering and to professionals working on complicated costs-effective design problems.

The book focuses on the recent innovations in computational techniques, material and digital fabrication technology that are revolutionizing the design, analysis and construction of surface structures. Powerful analysis tools now enable the accurate prediction of structural behaviour and manufacturing processes. Material innovations in the area of cementitious and other composites, glass, or smart materials, to just name a few, are challenging architects to find appropriate forms and applications. Digitally supported fabrication technology has taken a quantum leap since the time of the master shell builders 40 years ago, unfolding new potential to realize complex structural shapes in new and innovative ways. These innovations are presented in the context of an in-depth introduction to the fundamentals of surface structures providing the necessary knowledge for the successful design of shells and tensile systems in a broad variety of materials. Many of the principles are demonstrated using new material of some of the masterpieces in surface architecture. The book is structured into three parts. The first part familiarizes the reader with the topic of surface structures. It provides a historic overview and explains the underlying structural principles and traditional construction techniques. Part II introduces design methods, emphasizing recent developments in computational design and analysis that have greatly facilitated the design and construction of surface structures. Part III presents case studies demonstrating use of innovative and emerging materials.

This volume elucidates the design rules for connections in steel and composite structures which are set out in Eurocode3 and 4. Numerous examples illustrate the application of the respective design rule.

Applying advanced structural and reliability assessment to the design, fabrication and operation of marine structures boosts public and commercial confidence and increases the competitiveness of waterborne transportation. Advancements in Marine Structures draws on recent experience and progress in the analysis and design of marine structures, exploring a full range of methods and modelling procedures and relates the practical application of these methodologies to real structures. The book contains papers presented at the first MARSTRUCT International Conference, held in Glasgow, UK, from 12th to 14th March 2007. The topics include: Methods and Tools for Loads and Load Effects; Methods and Tools for Strength Assessment; Experimental Analysis of Structures; Materials and Fabrication of Structures; Methods and Tools for Structural Design and Optimisation; and, Structural Reliability, Safety and Environmental Protection. The book will be of special interest to academics, researchers and consultants in marine structures and related areas.

In order to apply the damage tolerance design philosophy to design marine structures, accurate prediction of fatigue crack growth under service conditions is required. Now, more and more people have realized that only a fatigue life prediction method based on fatigue crack propagation (FCP) theory has the potential to explain various fatigue phenomena observed. In this book, the issues leading towards the development of a unified fatigue life prediction (UFLP) method based on FCP theory are addressed. Based on the philosophy of the UFLP method, the current inconsistency between fatigue design and inspection of marine structures could be resolved. This book presents the state-of-the-art and recent advances, including those by the authors, in fatigue studies. It is designed to lead the future directions and to provide a useful tool in many practical applications. It is intended to address to engineers, naval architects, research staff, professionals and graduates engaged in fatigue prevention design and survey of marine structures, in fatigue studies of materials and structures, in experimental laboratory research, in planning the repair and maintenance of existing structures, and in rule development. The book is also an effective educational aid in naval architecture, marine, civil and mechanical engineering. Prof. Weicheng Cui is the Dean of Hadal Science and Technology Research Center of Shanghai Ocean University, China. Dr. Xiaoping Huang is an associate professor of School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Dr. Fang Wang is an associate professor of Hadal Science and Technology Research Center of Shanghai Ocean University, China.

This classic and essential work has been thoroughly revised and updated in line with the requirements of new codes and standards which have been introduced in recent years, including the new Eurocode as well as up-to-date British Standards.

It provides: a general introduction; details of analysis and design of a wide range of structures and examination of design according to British and then European Codes.

Highly illustrated with numerous line diagrams, tables and worked examples, Reynolds's Reinforced Concrete Designer's Handbook is a unique resource providing comprehensive guidance that enables the engineer to analyze and design reinforced concrete buildings, bridges, retaining walls, and containment structures.

Written for structural engineers, contractors, consulting engineers, local and health authorities, and utilities, this is also excellent for civil and architecture departments in universities and FE colleges.

This bookcontains papers covering a wide range of studies on life-cycle performance analysis, design, maintenance, monitoring, management, and cost of civil infrastructure systems. Topics include reliability and optimization as design basis tools, monitoring systems, life-cycle cost analysis and management, bridge management systems, and quality control acceptance criteria. The book also discusses seismic reliability analysis of deteriorating structures, bridge inspection strategies, life-cycle cost analysis of structures on a network level, optimal risk-based design of infrastructures, updating bridge reliability using load monitoring data and statistics of extremes, rehabilitation of bridges, and lifetime analysis and structural repair of civil infrastructure systems.

A new analytical method that uses the capacity axis of a section to determine its minimum capacity for biaxial bending as well as provide the reference for equilibrium of external and internal forces has been developed. Introducing this method, Structural Analysis: The Analytical Method illustrates the procedures for predicting the capacities of circular and rectangular sections in concrete and steel materials. By applying basic mathematics to the standard principles in structural analysis, the author derived for the first time all the equations required for solving the true capacity of circular and rectangular sections in structural design. Previous authors have been unable to employ basic mathematics and thus resorted to approximate methods, such as the standard interaction formula for biaxial bending or more sophisticated methods illustrated in current literature on the subject of determining the capacity of above structural sections. The book begins with a discussion of the capacities of rectangular and circular footing foundation for a given allowable soil-bearing pressure followed by the author's latest integration of the Boussinesq's elastic equation for the dispersion of surface loads in determining the exact average pressure to use in the standard soil settlement formula. The author provides all the equations and tabulated values of key point's capacities of commercially-produced steel pipe, rectangular tubing, and steel I-sections. He then lists the derived equations for the determination of the ultimate strength capacity curve of reinforced concrete columns and concrete-filled tubular columns without using the rectangular stress block method of analysis. Elucidating an elegant, straightforward, and precise method, thus limiting guesswork, this book makes it easier to confirm the adequacy and safety of designs by direct comparison of the external loads to the internal capacities of circular and rectangular sections in structural analysis and design.

Civil Engineering has recently seen enormous progress in the core field of the construction of deep foundations. This book is the result of the International Workshop on Recent Advances in Deep Foundations (IWDPF07), which was held in Yokosuka, Japan from the 1st to the 2nd of February, 2007. Topics under discussion in this book include recent research achievements and case histories; and current advances in the applied aspects of deep foundations, such as reliability-based design, field tests and experimental field work. The book also features the latest numerical simulation methods and theoretical findings. There are nine keynote lectures, focusing on foundation engineering in different parts of the world, and thirty-three state-of-the-art papers from eminent international experts. The techniques covered include sheet piles, piles, pile-ground improvement and ground improvement, while dynamic aspects and design are also discussed.. This book is intended for an international audience of researchers and professionals in soil and foundation engineering.

The construction materials industry is a major user of the world's resources. While enormous progress has been made towards sustainability, the scope and opportunities for improvements are significant. To further the effort for sustainable development, a conference on Sustainable Construction Materials and Technologies was held at Coventry University, Coventry, U.K., from June 11th - 13th, 2007, to highlight case studies and research on new and innovative ways of achieving sustainability of construction materials and technologies. This book presents selected, important contributions made at the conference. Over 190 papers from over 45 countries were accepted for presentation at the conference, of which approximately 100 selected papers are published in this book. The rest of the papers are published in two supplementary books. Topics covered in this book include: sustainable alternatives to natural sand, stone, and Portland cement in concrete; sustainable use of recyclable resources such as fly ash, ground municipal waste slag, pozzolan, rice-husk ash, silica fume, gypsum plasterboard (drywall), and lime in construction; sustainable mortar, concrete, bricks, blocks, and backfill; the economics and environmental impact of sustainable materials and structures; use of construction and demolition wastes, and organic materials (straw bale, hemp, etc.) in construction; sustainable use of soil, timber, and wood products; and related sustainable construction and rehabilitation technologies.

Covers theory and background of local buckling, presenting simple design calculations which address this intriguing phenomenon. Attempts to master the process of buckling are described, citing both successes and failures. A number of failure case studies are presented as well. The final section of the book presents easy-to-follow design examples which conform to the latest Eurocode. Intended to introduce senior students in Bridge and Structural Engineering to the phenomenon of buckling, with special focus on thin-walled plated bridge girders. Suitable as a course instruction guide for its highly visual and descriptive style. Moreovere a good reference on buckling for practising and consulting engineers.

Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC), known in the UK as Aircrete, has gained world-wide recognition as a high quality, innovative construction material which has been extensively used in a wide range of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Recently there have been a number of innovative developments in AAC manufacturing processes, product properties and construction methods, resulting in enhanced performance to meet increasingly stringent building design requirements whilst ensuring environmental compliance. Indeed, AAC products have shown potential for being a universal material that can underwrite commercial, social, and sustainable development. Innovations and developments in AAC production and usage, forms part of the Proceedings of the two-day International Conference organised by the Concrete and Masonry Research Group at Kingston University, held in September 2005. The Conference deals with issues such as raw materials, manufacturing techniques and product characteristics that satisfy ever more demanding energy, design, structural and environmental requirements for sustainable development.

The material properties, spatial configuration and variation in the construction of steel structures means they often have the potential for reconstruction. This book provides civil engineers with the necessary information to approach projects of reconstruction and reinforcement of steel structures such as buildings, masts, towers, chimneys, storage tanks and bridges.
The book analyses the causes of failures, presents up-to-date information on the methodology and equipment used for diagnosis of failures, and includes a survey of repair and reconstruction techniques. The methods described are illustrated by examples of successful real-life case studies, and relevant codes are examined where appropriate.
Assessment and Refurbishment of Steel Structures is a comprehensive combination of both theory and practice, and is an essential reference for engineers engaged in the modernisation and repair of civil engineering steel structures.

This book deals with the use of aluminium for structural and non-structural applications and provides an introduction to designing structures made from aluminium or aluminium alloy elements. It comprises a ready reference to the material properties and behaviour of aluminium, and its use in structural design. In the context of information about the material itself, fabrication, structural design and corrosion, structural analysis, serviceability, element design and fatigue the author considers the strengths of designing with aluminium alloy members and how any weaknesses can be overcome. Reference is made throughout to EN 1999, Eurocode 9, and its design methods are discussed and illustrated. With most of its structural strength properties close to steel and with consideration for the special properties of aluminium alloys, there is considerable scope to make better use of this material in construction. Many years of working with aluminium have provided the author with the knowledge to avoid pitfalls and problems in design, fabrication and protection of structures, thus avoiding costly remedial work.

Contents:
Preface. Examples. 1. Site Investigations. 2. Foundation design. 3. Foundations in cohesive soils. 4. Foundations in sands and gravels. 5. Building in mining localities. 6. Sites with trees. 7. Developing on sloping sites. 8. Building on filled ground. 9 Ground improvement. 10. Building up to existing buildings. 11. Contaminated land.

Ordinary concrete is strong in compression but weak in tension. Even reinforced concrete, where steel bars are used to take up the tension that the concrete cannot resist, is prone to cracking and corrosion under low loads. Prestressed concrete is highly resistant to stress, and is used as a building material for bridges, tanks, shell roofs, floors, buildings, containment vessels for nuclear power plants and offshore oil platforms. With a wide range of benefits such as crack control, low rates of corrosion, thinner slabs, fewer joints and increased span length; prestressed concrete is a stronger, safer, more economical and more sustainable building material. The introduction of the Eurocodes has necessitated a new approach to the design of prestressed concrete structures and this book provides a comprehensive practical guide for professionals through each stage of the design process. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of design * Fully consistent with Eurocode 2, and the associated parts of Eurocodes 1 and 8 * Examples of challenges often encountered in professional practice worked through in full * Detailed coverage of post-tensioned structures * Extensive coverage of design of flat slabs using the finite element method * Examples of pre-tensioned and post-tensioned bridge design * An introduction to earthquake resistant design using EC 8 Examining the design of whole structures as well as the design of sections through many fully worked numerical examples which allow the reader to follow each step of the design calculations, this book will be of great interest to practising engineers who need to become more familiar with the use of the Eurocodes for the design of prestressed concrete structures. It will also be of value to university students with an interest in the practical design of whole structures.

Wave Propagation Analysis of Smart Nanostructures presents a mathematical framework for the wave propagation problem of small-scale nanobeams and nanoplates manufactured from various materials, including functionally graded composites, smart piezoelectric materials, smart magneto-electro-elastic materials, smart magnetostrictive materials, and porous materials. In this book, both classical and refined higher-order shear deformation beam and plate hypotheses are employed to formulate the wave propagation problem using the well-known Hamilton's principle. Additionally, the influences of small-scale nanobeams on the mechanical behaviors of nanostructures are covered using both nonlocal elasticity and nonlocal strain gradient elasticity theories. Impacts of various terms, such as elastic springs of elastic foundation, damping coefficient of viscoelastic substrate, different types of temperature change, applied electric voltage and magnetic potential, and intensity of an external magnetic field on the dispersion curves of nanostructures, are included in the framework of numerous examples.