Matrix Analysis of Frame Structures: A Modern Approach

Advancing computer technology has created new opportunities for sophisticated assessment and analysis of structural performance, especially using matrix and finite element methods. This textbook employs these methods using sophisticated computational techniques through simple step-by-step processes.

It covers the fundamentals required in any approach to structural analysis, strong form, equilibrium, and compatibility and includes an introduction to virtual work principles to express equilibrium and compatibility conditions of a frame structure, making use of Tonti diagrams. It shows how to construct a master stiffness matrix using an approach based on a system without rigid body modes. It then sets out in more detail the matrix approach to structural analysis, including the construction of the master stiffness matrix.

This textbook is essential for senior undergraduates and graduate students and is also useful for consulting engineers.

Suchart Limkatanyu is Full Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Prince of Songkla University in Thailand. He earned his B.Eng (with distinction) from the Prince of Songkla University in 1996 and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 2002. Prof. Limkatanyu’s research covers a variety of topics in structural engineering and applied mechanics with emphasis on computational mechanics of solids and structures. His research interests include seismic analysis, design, and retrofitting of bridges; nonlinear analysis of reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, and steel structures under static and dynamic loading; soil–pile interactions; and earthquake engineering.

Prof. Limkatanyu is considered one of the pioneers in formulating a consistent force-based frame model for nonlinear analyses of frame structures, and his publication on this model has been highly cited in the literature. Stemming from reinforced concrete frame models with bond interfaces, Prof. Limkatanyu developed a novel finite frame element to investigate the failure behavior of reinforced concrete beams strengthened with steel and fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) plates, and several researchers have subsequently adopted this model as a reference. In addition to structural-engineering problems, Prof. Limkatanyu has conducted research work on geotechnical engineering problems. Numerous soil-shallow foundation and soil–pile foundation models were proposed by him.

Recently, Prof. Limkatanyu has expanded his research interests to the field of nanotechnology and smart materials and has proposed several structural models (e.g. bar, beam, plate) with the inclusion of small-scale and surface effects inherent to nano-sized structures. These structural models have found a broad spectrum of modern applications in engineering and science such as bionanoactuators, nanosensors, nanowires, nanoprobes, and graphene sheets. Prof. Limkatanyu has over 20 years of experience of teaching Matrix Structural Analysis to graduate students. Based on his above-mentioned research work and teaching experience, he unified these two ingredients and put them together into his unique textbook on Matrix Analysis of Frame Structures. Furthermore, Prof. Limkatanyu also authored a mathematical book titled Introduction to the Calculus of Variations.