Advanced Method of Structural Analysis

Theory of the engineering structures is a fundamental science. Statements and methods

of this science are widely used in different fields of engineering. Among them

are the civil engineering, ship-building, aircraft, robotics, space structures, as well

as numerous structures of special types and purposes – bridges, towers, etc. In recent

years, even micromechanical devices become objects of structural analysis.

Theory of the engineering structures is alive and is a very vigorous science.

This theory offers an engineer-designer a vast collection of classical methods of

analysis of various types of structures. These methods contain in-depth fundamental

ideas and, at the present time, they are developed with sufficient completeness

and commonness, aligned in a well-composed system of conceptions, procedures,

and algorithms, use modern mathematical techniques and are brought to elegant

simplicity and perfection.





Preface

We now live in a computerized world. A role and influence of modern engineering

software for analysis of structures cannot be overestimated. The modern

computer programs allow providing different types of analysis for any sophisticated

structure. As this takes place, what is the role of classical theory of structures

with its in-depth ideas, prominent conceptions, methods, theorems, and principles?

Knowing classical methods of Structural Analysis is necessary for any practical

engineer. An engineer cannot rely only on the results provided by a computer. Computer

is a great help in modeling different situations and speeding up the process

of calculations, but it is the sole responsibility of an engineer to check the results

obtained by a computer. If users of computer engineering software do not have sufficient

knowledge of fundamentals of structural analysis and of understanding of

physical theories and principal properties of structures, then he/she cannot check

obtained numerical results and their correspondence to an adopted design diagram,

as well as explain results obtained by a computer. Computer programs “. . . can make

a good engineer better, but it can make a poor engineer more dangerous” (Cook

R.D, Malkus D.S, Plesha M.E (1989) Concepts and applications of finite element

analysis, 3rd edn. Wiley, New York). Only the knowledge of fundamental theory

of structures allows to estimate and analyze numerical data obtained from a computer;

predict the behavior of a structure as a result of changing a design diagram

and parameters; design a structure which satisfies certain requirements; perform

serious scientific analysis; and make valid theoretical generalizations. No matter


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