This book presents simplified analytical methodologies for static and dynamic problems concerning various elastic thin plates in the bending state and the potential effects of dead loads on static and dynamic behaviors. The plates considered vary in terms of the plane (e.g. rectangular or circular plane), stiffness of bending, transverse shear and mass. The representative examples include void slabs, plates stiffened with beams, stepped thickness plates, cellular plates and floating plates, in addition to normal plates. The closed-form approximate solutions are presented in connection with a groundbreaking methodology that can easily accommodate discontinuous variations in stiffness and mass with continuous function as for a distribution. The closed-form solutions can be used to determine the size of structural members in the preliminary design stages, and to predict potential problems with building slabs intended for human beings' practical use.

This book presents a simple analytical method based on the extended rod theory that allows the earthquake resistance of high-rise buildings to be easily and accurately evaluated at the preliminary design stage. It also includes practical software for applying the extended rod theory to the dynamic analysis of actual buildings and structures. High-rise buildings in large cities, built on soft ground consisting of sedimentary rock, tend to have low natural frequency. If ground motion due to an earthquake occurs at distant hypocenters, the vibration wave can be propagated through several sedimentary layers and act on skyscrapers as a long-period ground motion, potentially producing a resonance phenomenon that can cause severe damage. Accordingly, there is a pressing need to gauge the earthquake resistance of existing skyscrapers and to improve their seismic performance. This book was written by authors who have extensive experience in tall-building seismic design in Japan. The software included enables readers to perform dynamic calculations of skyscrapers' resistance to vibrations. As such, it offers a valuable resource for practitioners and engineers, as well as students of civil engineering.