Gerald Wempner – författare

As the theories and methods have evolved over the years, the mechanics of solid bodies has become unduly fragmented. Most books focus on specific aspects, such as the theories of elasticity or plasticity, the theories of shells, or the mechanics of materials. While a narrow focus serves immediate purposes, much is achieved by establishing the common foundations and providing a unified perspective of the discipline as a whole.Mechanics of Solids and Shells accomplishes these objectives. By emphasizing the underlying assumptions and the approximations that lead to the mathematical formulations, it offers a practical, unified presentation of the foundations of the mechanics of solids, the behavior of deformable bodies and thin shells, and the properties of finite elements. The initial chapters present the fundamental kinematics, dynamics, energetics, and behavior of materials that build the foundation for all of the subsequent developments. These are presented in full generality without the usual restrictions on the deformation. The general principles of work and energy form the basis for the consistent theories of shells and the approximations by finite elements. The final chapter views the latter as a means of approximation and builds a bridge between the mechanics of the continuum and the discrete assembly.Expressly written for engineers, Mechanics of Solids and Shells forms a reliable source for the tools of analysis and approximation. Its constructive presentation clearly reveals the origins, assumptions, and limitations of the methods described and provides a firm, practical basis for the use of those methods.

As the theories and methods have evolved over the years, the mechanics of solid bodies has become unduly fragmented. Most books focus on specific aspects, such as the theories of elasticity or plasticity, the theories of shells, or the mechanics of materials. While a narrow focus serves immediate purposes, much is achieved by establishing the common foundations and providing a unified perspective of the discipline as a whole.Mechanics of Solids and Shells accomplishes these objectives. By emphasizing the underlying assumptions and the approximations that lead to the mathematical formulations, it offers a practical, unified presentation of the foundations of the mechanics of solids, the behavior of deformable bodies and thin shells, and the properties of finite elements. The initial chapters present the fundamental kinematics, dynamics, energetics, and behavior of materials that build the foundation for all of the subsequent developments. These are presented in full generality without the usual restrictions on the deformation. The general principles of work and energy form the basis for the consistent theories of shells and the approximations by finite elements. The final chapter views the latter as a means of approximation and builds a bridge between the mechanics of the continuum and the discrete assembly.Expressly written for engineers, Mechanics of Solids and Shells forms a reliable source for the tools of analysis and approximation. Its constructive presentation clearly reveals the origins, assumptions, and limitations of the methods described and provides a firm, practical basis for the use of those methods.

Engineering Mechanics of Solids and Structures is essential for self-study and reference, setting out the underlying mechanical concepts, methods, and theories applicable to a broad spectrum of structural and mechanical components - relevant to the analysis and design of a dome-like structure or a suspension bridge, the hull of a ship or a spacecraft, the mechanical component of an engine, or the power train of a vehicle. The principles are given a thorough mathematical treatment, which demonstrates the limitations of the approximations and provides the tools for more precise analyses, while less mathematics is needed to show the behavior of simple structural components.This book covers both the Lagrangian and Newtonian approaches to the conditions of motion and equilibrium, offering the Lagrangean criteria of work and energy as the most effective means to formulate finite elements and other discrete approximations, which are amenable to digital computation. This gives advanced students in aerospace, mechanical, and civil engineering a solid foundation for the analysis and approximation of engineering problems, presented in a form that is both mathematically rigorous and physically meaningful.