Explicitly reintroducing the idea of modeling to the analysis of structures, Analytical Estimates of Structural Behavior presents an integrated approach to modeling and estimating the behavior of structures. With the increasing reliance on computer-based approaches in structural analysis, it is becoming even more important for structural engineers to recognize that they are dealing with models of structures, not with the actual structures. As tempting as it is to run innumerable simulations, closed-form estimates can be effectively used to guide and check numerical results, and to confirm physical insights and intuitions. Spend Less Time Generating Numbers, and More Time Understanding What They Mean This book encourages readers to think about structures and their models in a way that is rooted in classic elementary elasticity-depending less on advanced mathematical techniques and more on the dimensions and magnitudes of the underlying physics. The authors stretch the mold, emphasizing and more explicitly describing the modeling process. The focus is on learning which calculations to perform and how to validate and interpret the results-skills that will be increasingly useful for professional engineers. Chapters cover: Key principles and techniques of mathematical modeling, including dimensional analysis, scaling, linearity, and balance and conservation laws Basic structural models How to develop and express physical intuition How to track the behavior of arches under lateral load Two methods of analyzing coupled discrete systems-Castigliano's theorems and Rayleigh's quotient-to lay a foundation for their application to continuous systems How to derive simple, accurate estimates of the transverse displacements of structures modeled in terms of coupled Timoshenko beams How to

Explicitly reintroducing the idea of modeling to the analysis of structures, Analytical Estimates of Structural Behavior presents an integrated approach to modeling and estimating the behavior of structures. With the increasing reliance on computer-based approaches in structural analysis, it is becoming even more important for structural engineers to recognize that they are dealing with models of structures, not with the actual structures. As tempting as it is to run innumerable simulations, closed-form estimates can be effectively used to guide and check numerical results, and to confirm physical insights and intuitions.

Spend Less Time Generating Numbers, and More Time Understanding What They Mean

This book encourages readers to think about structures and their models in a way that is rooted in classic elementary elasticity-depending less on advanced mathematical techniques and more on the dimensions and magnitudes of the underlying physics. The authors stretch the mold, emphasizing and more explicitly describing the modeling process. The focus is on learning which calculations to perform and how to validate and interpret the results-skills that will be increasingly useful for professional engineers.

Chapters cover:

• Key principles and techniques of mathematical modeling, including dimensional analysis, scaling, linearity, and balance and conservation laws
• Basic structural models
• How to develop and express physical intuition
• How to track the behavior of arches under lateral load
• Two methods of analyzing coupled discrete systems-Castigliano's theorems and Rayleigh's quotient-to lay a foundation for their application to continuous systems
• How to derive simple, accurate estimates of the transverse displacements of structures modeled in terms of coupled Timoshenko beams
• How to analyze the dimensional behavior and calculate numerical values of fundamental frequencies of structures modeled in terms of Euler-Bernoulli, Timoshenko, and coupled-beam systems

Taking a unique approach, Analytical Estimates of Structural Behavior is suitable for advanced undergraduates, as well as graduate students and practitioners, who want to spend less time and effort generating numbers, and more time understanding what those numbers mean.

Solid Mechanics: A Variational Approach, Augmented Edition presents a lucid and thoroughly developed approach to solid mechanics for students engaged in the study of elastic structures not seen in other texts currently on the market. This work offers a clear and carefully prepared exposition of variational techniques as they are applied to solid mechanics. Unlike other books in this field, Dym and Shames treat all the necessary theory needed for the study of solid mechanics and include extensive applications. Of particular note is the variational approach used in developing consistent structural theories and in obtaining exact and approximate solutions for many problems. Based on both semester and year-long courses taught to undergraduate seniors and graduate students, this text is geared for programs in aeronautical, civil, and mechanical engineering, and in engineering science. The authors' objective is two-fold: first, to introduce the student to the theory of structures (one- and two-dimensional) as developed from the three-dimensional theory of elasticity; and second, to introduce the student to the strength and utility of variational principles and methods, including briefly making the connection to finite element methods. A complete set of homework problems is included.

Integrated Mechanics Knowledge Essential for Any Engineer Introduction to Engineering Mechanics: A Continuum Approach, Second Edition uses continuum mechanics to showcase the connections between engineering structure and design and between solids and fluids and helps readers learn how to predict the effects of forces, stresses, and strains. The authors' "continuum checklist" provides a framework for a wide variety of problems in solid and fluid mechanics. The essence of continuum mechanics, the internal response of materials to external loading, is often obscured by the complex mathematics of its formulation. By gradually building the formulations from one-dimensional to two- and three-dimensional, the authors help students develop a physical intuition for solid and fluid behavior and for the very interesting behavior of those materials including many biomaterials, between these extremes. This text is an accessible first introduction to the mechanics of all engineering materials, and incorporates a wide range of case studies highlighting the relevance of the technical content in societal, historical, ethical, and global contexts. It also offers a useful perspective for engineers concerned with biomedical, civil, chemical, mechanical, or other applications. New in the Second Edition: The latest edition contains significantly more examples, problems, and case studies than the first edition. The 22 chapters in this text: Define and present the template for the continuum approach Introduce strain and stress in one dimension, develop a constitutive law, and apply these concepts to the simple case of an axially loaded bar Extend the concepts to higher dimensions by introducing the Poisson's ratio and strain and stress tensors Apply the continuum sense of solid mechanics to problems including torsion, pressure vessels, beams, and columns Make connections between solid and fluid mechanics, introducing properties of fluids and strain rate tensor Address fluid statics Consider applications in fluid mechanics Develop the governing equations in both control volume and differential forms Emphasize real-world design applications Introduction to Engineering Mechanics: A Continuum Approach, Second Edition provides a thorough understanding of how materials respond to loading: how solids deform and incur stress and how fluids flow. It introduces the fundamentals of solid and fluid mechanics, illustrates the mathematical connections between these fields, and emphasizes their diverse real-life applications. The authors also provide historical context for the ideas they describe and offer hints for future use.

Solid Mechanics: A Variational Approach, Augmented Edition presents a lucid and thoroughly developed approach to solid mechanics for students engaged in the study of elastic structures not seen in other texts currently on the market. This work offers a clear and carefully prepared exposition of variational techniques as they are applied to solid mechanics. Unlike other books in this field, Dym and Shames treat all the necessary theory needed for the study of solid mechanics and include extensive applications. Of particular note is the variational approach used in developing consistent structural theories and in obtaining exact and approximate solutions for many problems. Based on both semester and year-long courses taught to undergraduate seniors and graduate students, this text is geared for programs in aeronautical, civil, and mechanical engineering, and in engineering science. The authors' objective is two-fold: first, to introduce the student to the theory of structures (one- and two-dimensional) as developed from the three-dimensional theory of elasticity; and second, to introduce the student to the strength and utility of variational principles and methods, including briefly making the connection to finite element methods. A complete set of homework problems is included.

The study of structural analysis and design is a central subject in civil, aeronautical, and mechanical engineering. This book presents a modern and unified introduction to structural analysis, with a strong emphasis on how structures actually behave. The unifying theme is the application of energy methods, developed without the formal mathematics of the calculus of variations. The energy approach makes it possible to articulate the logical relationship between equilibrium and compatibility; emphasize the unity of structural analysis, particularly for indeterminate structures; and identify the roles of idealization and discretization in structural modeling. Thus, energy methods also serve as a prelude to the main ideas behind modern computational approaches to structural analysis and design. As an aid to upper-level undergraduate students in mastering this material, the text includes numerous worked examples, as well as homework problems.

System modeling and analysis is a standard activity in every engineering discipline. This text offers a broad-based introduction to systems engineering that incorporates material from mechanical, electrical, aerospace, and chemical engineering. The overall theme that distinguishes it from other texts is its unified treatment of disparate physical systems, emphasizing similarities in both the modeling and behavior of lumped-element systems. Every chapter includes a wide variety of examples, as well as exercise problems, drawn from real-world mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, chemical, and thermal systems. Aimed at second- and third-year undergraduates, this introductory text offers a unified entry into the multidisciplinary world of engineering. Solutions manual available.

Contrary to popular mythology, the designs of favorable products and successful systems do not appear suddenly, or magically. This second edition of Engineering Design demonstrates that symbolic representation and related problem-solving methods, offer significant opportunities to clarify and articulate concepts of design to lay a better framework for design research and design education. Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides a substantial body of material concerned with understanding and modeling cognitive processes. This book adopts the vocabulary and a paradigm of AI to enhance the presentation and explanation of design. It includes concepts from AI because of their explanatory power and their utility as possible ingredients of practical design activity. This second edition has been enriched by the inclusion of recent work on design reasoning, computational design, AI in design, and design cognition, with pointers to a wide cross section of the current literature.

The study of structural analysis and design is a central subject in civil, aeronautical, and mechanical engineering. This book presents a modern and unified introduction to structural analysis, with a strong emphasis on how structures actually behave. The unifying theme is the application of energy methods, developed without the formal mathematics of the calculus of variations. The energy approach makes it possible to articulate the logical relationship between equilibrium and compatibility; emphasize the unity of structural analysis, particularly for indeterminate structures; and identify the roles of idealization and discretization in structural modeling. Thus, energy methods also serve as a prelude to the main ideas behind modern computational approaches to structural analysis and design. As an aid to upper-level undergraduate students in mastering this material, the text includes numerous worked examples, as well as homework problems.