A crucial element of structural and continuum mechanics, stability theory has limitless applications in civil, mechanical, aerospace, naval and nuclear engineering. This text of unparalleled scope presents a comprehensive exposition of the principles and applications of stability analysis. It has been proven as a text for introductory courses and various advanced courses for graduate students. It is also prized as an exhaustive reference for engineers and researchers. The authors' focus on understanding of the basic principles rather than excessive detailed solutions, and their treatment of each subject proceed from simple examples to general concepts and rigorous formulations. All the results are derived using as simple mathematics as possible. Numerous examples are given and 700 exercise problems help in attaining a firm grasp of this central aspect of solid mechanics. The book is an unabridged republication of the 1991 edition by Oxford University Press and the 2003 edition by Dover, updated with 18 pages of end notes.

An understanable introduction to the theory of structural stability, useful for a wide variety of engineering disciplines, including mechanical, civil and aerospace.

Practical guide to structural stability theory for the design of safe steel structures Not only does this book provide readers with a solid foundation in structural stability theory, it also offers them a practical, working knowledge of how this theory translates into design specifications for safe steel structures. Structural Stability of Steel features detailed discussions of the elastic and inelastic stability of steel columns, beams, beam-columns, and frames alongside numerous worked examples. For each type of structural member or system, the authors set forth recommended design rules with clear explanations of how they were derived. Following an introduction to the principles of stability theory, the book covers: * Stability of axially loaded planar elastic systems * Tangent-modulus, reduced-modulus, and maximum strength theories * Elastic and inelastic stability limits of planar beam-columns * Elastic and inelastic instability of planar frames * Out-of-plane, lateral-torsional buckling of beams, columns, and beam-columns The final two chapters focus on the application of stability theory to the practical design of steel structures, with special emphasis on examples based on the 2005 Specification for Structural Steel Buildings of the American Institute of Steel Construction. Problem sets at the end of each chapter enable readers to put their newfound knowledge into practice by solving actual instability problems. With its clear logical progression from theory to design implementation, this book is an ideal textbook for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students in structural engineering. Practicing engineers should also turn to this book for expert assistance in investigating and solving a myriad of stability problems.

A comprehensive and systematic analysis of elastic structural stability is presented in this volume. Traditional engineering buckling concepts are discussed in the framework of the Liapunov theory of stability by giving an extensive review of the Koiter approach. The perturbation method for both nonlinear algebraic and differential equations is discussed and adopted as the main tool for postbuckling analysis. The formulation of the buckling problem for the most common engineering structures - rods and frames, plates, shells, and thin-walled beams, is performed and the critical load evaluated for problems of interest. In many cases the postbuckling analysis up to the second order is presented. The use of the Ritz-Galerkin and of the finite element methods is examined as a tool for approximate bifurcation analysis. The volume will provide an up-to-date introduction for non-specialists in elastic stability theory and methods, and is intended for graduate and post-graduate students and researchers interested in nonlinear structural analysis problems. Basic prerequisites are kept to a minimum, a familiarity with elementary algebra and calculus is all that is required of readers to make use of this book.

The current trend of building more streamlined structures has made stability analysis a subject of extreme importance. It is mostly a safety issue because Stability loss could result in an unimaginable catastrophe. Written by two authors with a combined 80 years of professional and academic experience, the objective of Stability of Structures: Principles and Applications is to provide engineers and architects with a firm grasp of the fundamentals and principles that are essential to performing effective stability analysts. Concise and readable, this guide presents stability analysis within the context of elementary nonlinear flexural analysis, providing a strong foundation for incorporating theory into everyday practice. The first chapter introduces the buckling of columns. It begins with the linear elastic theory and proceeds to include the effects of large deformations and inelastic behavior. In Chapter 2 various approximate methods are illustrated along with the fundamentals of energy methods. The chapter concludes by introducing several special topics, some advanced, that are useful in understanding the physical resistance mechanisms and consistent and rigorous mathematical analysis. Chapters 3 and 4 cover buckling of beam-columns. Chapter 5 presents torsion in structures in some detail, which is one of the least well understood subjects in the entire spectrum of structural mechanics. Strictly speaking, torsion itself does not belong to a topic in structural stability, but needs to be covered to some extent for a better understanding of buckling accompanied with torsional behavior. Chapters 6 and 7 consider stability of framed structures in conjunction with torsional behavior of structures. Chapters 8 to 10 consider buckling of plate elements, cylindrical shells, and general shells. Although the book is primarily devoted to analysis, rudimentary design aspects are discussed. - Balanced presentation for both theory and practice - Well-blended contents covering elementary to advanced topics - Detailed presentation of the development

Theory of Stability of Continuous Elastic Structures presents an applied mathematical treatment of the stability of civil engineering structures. The book's modern and rigorous approach makes it especially useful as a text in advanced engineering courses and an invaluable reference for engineers.