2nd Edition

Understanding and Using Structural Concepts

    394 Pages 555 B/W Illustrations
    by CRC Press

    394 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Understanding and Using Structural Concepts, Second Edition provides numerous demonstrations using physical models and practical examples. A significant amount of material, not found in current textbooks, is included to enhance the understanding of structural concepts and stimulate interest in learning, creative thinking, and design.

    This is achieved through:

    • Connecting abstract theory with visual and practical examples
    • Providing simple illustrative demonstration models, which can be used in conventional class teaching, to capture the essence of the concepts
    • Including associated engineering examples, which demonstrate the application of the concepts and help to bridge the gap between theory and practice
    • Incorporating the development of teaching material and innovative examples relating to structural concepts based on current research work

    In addition to new models and examples, Understanding and Using Structural Concepts, Second Edition provides a third part, Synthesis. This considers the relationships between static and modal stiffnesses, static and dynamic problems, experimental and theoretical studies, and theory and practice. All of these relationships are linked to structural concepts. This book will be of interest to all engineers, from students to consultants. It will be useful to civil and structural engineering students, including graduate students, in all years of their courses as well as the more technically-minded architecture students and practicing engineers.

    Overview of Structural Concepts
    What Are Structural Concepts?
    Why Study Structural Concepts?
    Approaches to Learning Structural Concepts
    Organisation of the Text
    How to Use This Book

    STATICS

    Equilibrium
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Centre of Mass

    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Effect of Different Cross Sections

    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Stress Distribution
    Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Bending
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Shear and Torsion
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Span and Deflection
    Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Direct Force Paths
    Definitions, Concepts and Criteria
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Smaller Internal Forces
    Concepts and a Criterion
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Buckling
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Prestress
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Horizontal Movements of Structures Induced by Vertical Loads
    Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    DYNAMICS

    Energy Exchange
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Pendulums
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Free Vibration
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Resonance
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Damping in Structures
    Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Vibration Reduction
    Definitions and Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Model Demonstrations
    Practical Examples

    Human Body Models in Structural Vibration
    Concepts
    Theoretical Background
    Demonstration Tests
    Practical Examples

    SYNTHESIS

    Static and Modal Stiffnesses
    General Comments on Stiffness
    Definitions of the Static Stiffness and Modal Stiffness
    The Relationship between Static and Modal Stiffnesses of a Structure
    Verification
    Application
    Discussion
    Summary

    Static and Dynamic Problems
    Preliminary Comments
    Maximum Displacement and Fundamental Natural Frequency
    Buckling Load and Fundamental Natural Frequency
    Periodic Dynamic Loads and Corresponding Static Loads
    Tension Force and Fundamental Natural Frequency
    Summary

    Experimental and Theoretical Studies
    Characteristics of Experimental and Theoretical Studies
    Modelling the Relationships between Experimental and Theoretical Studies
    Comparison Model
    Integration Model
    Verification Model
    Explanation Model
    Creation Model
    Extension Model
    Links between the Relationship Models

    Theory and Practice
    Preliminary Comments
    Theoretical and Practical Sources for Structural Concepts
    Relationship between Theory and Practice
    Bridging the Gaps between Theory and Practice
    Summary

    Biography

    Tianjian Ji, MSc, PhD, CEng, FIStructE, is a senior lecturer at the University of Manchester. He worked on the design of structures and on structural investigation with consultants, China Academy of Building Research and Building Research Establishment Ltd., UK, for over 10 years before joining Manchester University in 1996. He has taught courses in structural analysis and structural design at all levels and has carried out research into structural dynamics and structural concepts. Together with Adrian Bell, he received the award for Excellence in Structural Engineering Education from the Institution of Structural Engineers, UK, in 2014. Adrian Bell , BEng, MSc, PhD, is a senior lecturer at the University of Manchester. He has worked with consultants on the design of a wide range of structures including long-span roofs and tower structures. He has taught courses in structural analysis and structural design at all levels for over 30 years and has carried out research into cable, steel and masonry structures. Together with Tianjian Ji, he received the award for Excellence in Structural Engineering Education from the Institution of Structural Engineers, UK, in 2014.Brian Ellis , BSc, PhD, DSc, CEng, MIStructE, was a technical director at the Building Research Establishment Ltd., UK. He worked at the Building Research Establishment for most of his career, where he undertook a wide range of work primarily related to structural dynamics. A significant part of the work involved testing and monitoring various structures in situ. He was also involved in work on national and international standards. Following his retirement, he has undertaken a limited amount of consultancy work.

    "Tianjian Ji and his co-authors have assembled a wealth of models, practical and visual examples to illustrate structural concepts, many of which students find confusing. They show that many structural concepts can be understood in quite simple, physical terms, without recourse to mathematics. Their text offers a valuable and interesting supplement to the more analytical structures books with which many students will be familiar."
    —Martin Williams, University of Oxford, UK

    "… an excellent source for both undergraduate and postgraduate students on any engineering course. … of great value to researchers and practitioners involved with the analysis of structures. There is a very good coverage of the subject: as it covers both the statics and dynamics of structures. The book also brings together theoretical and experimental approaches in analyzing structures and how the gap between them may be bridged. This is quite unique in structural analysis books."
    —Messaoud Saidani, Coventry University, UK

    "This is an excellent book. The authors are well known for their use of physical models to demonstrate structural concepts and this book will make their ideas more widely available."

    -- Peter Bullman in The Structural Engineer