Imperfect Bifurcation in Structures and Materials: Engineering Use of Group-Theoretic Bifurcation Theory (Applied Mathematical Sciences)

This book provides a modern investigation into the bifurcation phenomena of physical and engineering problems. Systematic methods--based on asymptotic, probabilistic, and group-theoretic standpoints--are used to examine experimental and computational data from numerous examples (e.g., soil, sand, kaolin, concrete, domes, etc.). Engineers may find this book, with its minimized mathematical formalism, to be a useful introduction to modern bifurcation theory. For mathematicians, static bifurcation theory for finite dimensional systems, as well as its implications for practical problems, is illuminated by the numerous examples.

This book provides a modern investigation into the bifurcation phenomena of physical and engineering problems. Systematic methods - based on asymptotic, probabilistic, and group-theoretic standpoints - are used to examine experimental and computational data from numerous examples (soil, sand, kaolin, concrete, domes).
For mathematicians, static bifurcation theory for finite-dimensional systems, as well as its implications for practical problems, is illuminated by the numerous examples. Engineers may find this book, with its minimized mathematical formalism, to be a useful introduction to modern bifurcation theory.

This second edition strengthens the theoretical backgrounds of group representation theory and its application, uses of block-diagonalization in bifurcation analysis, and includes up-to-date topics of the bifurcation analysis of diverse materials from rectangular parallelepiped sand specimens to honeycomb cellular solids.

Reviews of first edition: "The present book gives a wide and deep description of imperfect bifurcation behaviour in engineering problems. ... the book offers a number of systematic methods based on contemporary mathematics. ... On balance, the reviewed book is very useful as it develops a modern static imperfect bifurcation theory and fills the gap between mathematical theory and engineering practice." (Zentralblatt MATH, 2003) "The current book is a graduate-level text that presents an overview of imperfections and the prediction of the initial post-buckling response of a system. ... Imperfect Bifurcation in Structures and Materials provides an extensive range of material on the role of imperfections in stability theory. It would be suitable for a graduate-level course on the subject or as a reference to research workers in the field." ( Applied Mechanics Reviews, 2003) "This book is a comprehensive treatment of the static bifurcation problems found in (mainly civil/structural) engineering applications.... The text is well written and regularly interspersed with illustrative examples. The mathematical formalism is kept to a minimum and the 194 figures break up the text and make this a highly readable and informative book. ... In summary a comprehensive treatment of the subject which is very well put together and of interest to all researchers working in this area: recommended." (UK Nonlinear News, 2002)