Between a nomad's tent and the Sears Tower lies a revolution in technology, materials, and structures. Here is a clear and enthusiastic introduction to buildings methods from ancient times to the present day, including recent advances in science and technology that have had important effects on the planning and construction of buildings: improved materials (steel, concrete, plastics), progress in antiseismic designs, and the revolutionary changes in both architectural and structural design made possible by the computer.

Whenever a building, bridge, tunnel or dam collapses, it is front page news. Now two of the world's premier structural engineers take readers on a journey through the history of structural disasters, from the Parthenon and Rome's Coliseum to the Hyatt Regency in Kansas City and the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. 200 illustrations.

The Story of Earthquakes and Volcanoes

"An excellent survey of earthquakes and their effects--their mystery, terror, and science, and how we are learning to control their forces."--Christopher Arnold, president, Building Systems Development

We expect everything to move except the earth! Anyone who has ever experienced an earthquake or seen news footage of cracking buildings and swaying bridges can appreciate the awe and fear that moving earth can inspire. This book unravels the mystery and the marvel of one of natures most unpredictable and terrifying phenomena: the earthquake.

With a lively text and over 100 illustrations, two of the worlds premier structural engineers take us on a fascinating trip from the Earths beginnings to recent developments in seismic technology. It is one told through the stories of the worst natural disasters of all time: Lisbon, San Francisco, Alaska, Vesuvius, Krakatau, Mount St. Helens. These earthshaking events form the background for an exploration of the nature of earthquakes and volcanoes, the prediction of their behavior, and an up-to-date description of the measures we can take to protect ourselves from their destructive nature.

Matthys Levy, an architectural engineer, has won numerous awards, including the AIA Institute Honor Award. Mario Salvadori is James Renwick Professor Emeritus of Civil Engineering and Professor Emeritus of Architecture at Columbia University. Both authors are principals of Weidlinger Associates, one of Americas leading structural engineering firms, and live in New York City.

41 4.2 Gleichgewicht 41 Stabilitat 4.3 45 Festigkeit 4.4 .. 47 4.5 Funktionalitat 49 Wi rtschaftl ich keit 4.6 49 4.7 Asthetik 52 4.8 Das optimale Tragwerk 53 5 Spannungsarten 55 Zug 5.1 ..... 55 5.2 Druck 57 5.3 Schub bzw. Scherung 59 5.4 Einfache Biegung 63 6 Tragwerke fiir Zug oder Druck 65 6.1 Seile 65 6.2 Seildacher 70 Fachwerke 6.3 76 Seilbogen 6.4 81 7 Balken .. 83 7.1 Kragbalken 83 7.2 Gelenkig gelagerter Einfeldbalken 91 7.3 Einspannung und Durchlaufbalken 95 Sekundar-Biegespannungen 7.4 100 8 Rahmen und Bogen 104 8.1 Bal ken und Stutzen 104 8.2 Der einfache Rahmen 105 8.3 Der Mehrfeldrahmen 110 8.4 Rahmen mit geknicktem Riegel, und Bogen 116 Dacher aus Bogen 8.5 .. 121 6 Einzelheiten zum Tragverhalten 9 124 9.1 Wie einfach sind, einfache Spannungen'? 124 9.2 H6chstspannungen .. 125 9.3 Die Bedeutung des plastischen FlieBens 129 Roste, Platten, Faltwerke 10 135 10.1 Zweiachsige Lastabtragung 135 10.2 Rechteckbal kenroste 136 10.3 Schragroste 140 10.4 Das Tragverhalten von Platten 141 10.5 Die Verwendung von Platten 147 Rippenplatten 151 10.6 ..