Fundamentals of Structural Mechanics (Hardcover)

Keith D. Hjelmstad

ISBN 10: 038723330X / ISBN 13: 9780387233307

Published by Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, NY, 2004

About this Item

Hardcover. The last few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the application of numerical computation to problems in solid and structural mechanics. The burgeoning of computational mechanics opened a pedagogical gap between traditional courses in elementary strength of materials and the finite element method that classical courses on advanced strength of materials and elasticity do not adequately fill. In the past, our ability to formulate theory exceeded our ability to compute. In those days, solid mechanics was for virtuosos. With the advent of the finite element method, our ability to compute has surpassed our ability to formulate theory. As a result, continuum mechanics is no longer the province of the specialist. What an engineer needs to know about mechanics has been forever changed by our capacity to compute. This book attempts to capitalize on the pedagogi cal opportunities implicit in this shift of perspective. It now seems more ap propriate to focus on fundamental principles and formulations than on classical solution techniques. The last few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the application of numerical computation to problems in solid and structural mechanics. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780387233307

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Fundamentals of Structural Mechanics (Hardcover)
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc., New York, NY
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 038723330X
• ISBN 13: 9780387233307
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

The last few decades have witnessed a dramatic increase in the application of numerical computation to problems in solid and structural mechanics. The burgeoning of computational mechanics opened a pedagogical gap between traditional courses in elementary strength of materials and the finite element method that classical courses on advanced strength of materials and elasticity do not adequately fill. In the past, our ability to formulate theory exceeded our ability to compute. In those days, solid mechanics was for virtuosos. With the advent of the finite element method, our ability to compute has surpassed our ability to formulate theory. As a result, continuum mechanics is no longer the province of the specialist. What an engineer needs to know about mechanics has been forever changed by our capacity to compute. This book attempts to capitalize on the pedagogi­ cal opportunities implicit in this shift of perspective. It now seems more ap­ propriate to focus on fundamental principles and formulations than on classical solution techniques.

From the Publisher

This readable, student-friendly text responds to the pedagogical needs created by the advent of computational mechanics by focusing more upon formulations and fundamental principles and less upon classical solution techniques. It covers three main areas--(1) the fundamental principles of continuum mechanics, (2) the theories of beams and plates, and (3) static stability theory--with three unifying strands connecting them--(1) a direct vector notation, (2) the principle of virtual work (or variational calculus), and (3) a unified approach to numerical computation.