The present volume gives a very modern treatment of all theoretical as well as computational aspects of nonlinear structural stability. The theoretical part starts with the basic concepts of nonlinear static stability and classical dynamics and proceeds subsequently with recent progress in nonlinear dynamic stability and dynamic buckling of structures including an introduction to chaos. The first paper overviews theory and modelling of various structural instability problems. In the second section, nonlinear dynamic buckling and stability of autonomous discrete dissipative structural systems, gradient and non-gradient are discussed. The third paper handles stability and bifurcation phenomena in dynamical systems. The fourth paper contains an introduction to nonlinear dynamics and chaos. Special attention is devoted to the direct computation of critical points and path-switching strategies. A variety of numerical simulations for complicated nonlinear unstable responses also illustrate this part.

Mechanical engineering, an engineering discipline born of the needs of the Industrial Revolution, is once again asked to do its substantial share in the call for industrial renewal. The general call is urgent as we face the profound issues of productivity and competitiveness that require engineering solutions, among others. The Mechanical Engineering Series is a new series, featuring graduate texts and research monographs, intended to address the need for information in contemporary areas of mechanical engineering. The series is conceived as a comprehensive one that will cover a broad range of concentrations important to mechanical engineering graduate education and research. We are fortunate to have a distinguished roster of consulting editors, each an expert in one of the areas of concentration. The names of the consult ing editors are listed on page vi. The areas of concentration are applied mechanics, biomechanics, computational mechanics, dynamic systems and control, energetics, mechanics of materials, processing, thermal science, and tribology. We are pleased to present Nonlinear Analysis of Thin-Walled Structures by James F. Doyle. Austin, Texas Frederick F. Ling Preface This book is concerned with the challenging subject of the nonlinear static, dynamic, and stability analyses of thin-walled structures. It carries on from where Static and Dynamic Analysis of Structures, published by Kluwer 1991, left off; that book concentrated on frames and linear analysis, while the present book is focused on plated structures, nonlinear analysis, and a greater emphasis on stability analysis.

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

Nonlinear systems with random structures arise quite frequently as mathematical models in diverse disciplines. This monograph presents a systematic treatment of stability theory and the theory of stabilization of nonlinear systems with random structure in terms of new developments in the direct Lyapunov's method. The analysis focuses on dynamic systems with random Markov parameters. This high-level research text is recommended for all those researching or studying in the fields of applied mathematics, applied engineering, and physics-particularly in the areas of stochastic differential equations, dynamical systems, stability, and control theory.

Every student in engineering or in other fields of the applied sciences who has passed through his curriculum knows that the treatment of nonlin ear problems has been either avoided completely or is confined to special courses where a great number of different ad-hoc methods are presented. The wide-spread believe that no straightforward solution procedures for nonlinear problems are available prevails even today in engineering cir cles. Though in some courses it is indicated that in principle nonlinear problems are solveable by numerical methods the treatment of nonlinear problems, more or less, is considered to be an art or an intellectual game. A good example for this statement was the search for Ljapunov functions for nonlinear stability problems in the seventies. However things have changed. At the beginning of the seventies, start ing with the work of V.1. Arnold, R. Thom and many others, new ideas which, however, have their origin in the work of H. Poincare and A. A. Andronov, in the treatment of nonlinear problems appeared. These ideas gave birth to the term Bifurcation Theory. Bifurcation theory allows to solve a great class of nonlinear problems under variation of parameters in a straightforward manner.

This unique book explores both theoretical and experimental aspects of nonlinear vibrations and stability of shells and plates. It is ideal for researchers, professionals, students, and instructors. Expert researchers will find the most recent progresses in nonlinear vibrations and stability of shells and plates, including advanced problems of shells with fluid-structure interaction. Professionals will find many practical concepts, diagrams, and numerical results, useful for the design of shells and plates made of traditional and advanced materials. They will be able to understand complex phenomena such as dynamic instability, bifurcations, and chaos, without needing an extensive mathematical background. Graduate students will find (i) a complete text on nonlinear mechanics of shells and plates, collecting almost all the available theories in a simple form, (ii) an introduction to nonlinear dynamics, and (iii) the state of art on the nonlinear vibrations and stability of shells and plates, including fluid-structure interaction problems.