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.

There have been stability theories developed for beams, plates and shells — the most significant elements in mechanical, aerospace, ocean and marine engineering. For beams and plates, the theoretical and experimental values of buckling loads are in close vicinity. However for thin shells, the experimental predictions do not conform with the theory, due to presence of small geometric imperfections that are deviations from the ideal shape.This fact has been referred to in the literature as ‘embarrassing’, ‘paradoxical’ and ‘perplexing’. Indeed, the popular adage, “In theory there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice there is”, very much applies to thin shells whose experimental buckling loads may constitute a small fraction of the theoretical prediction based on classical linear theory; because in practice, engineers use knockdown factors that are not theoretically substantiated.This book presents a uniform approach that tames this prima-donna-like and capricious behavior of structures that has been dubbed the ‘imperfection sensitivity’ — thus resolving the conundrum that has occupied the best minds of elastic stability throughout the twentieth century.

This book is concerned with the dynamic behavior of reinforced/prestressed concrete structures, such as: buildings and bridges. It discusses how to predict or check the real inelastic behavior of concrete structures subjected to dynamic loads, including equipment loads, earthquake motions, seismic interactions and missile impacts. A number of techniques have recently been developed to assist in evaluating such occurrences. This book is intended to apply structural dynamics to concrete structures and is appropriate as a textbook for an introductory course in dynamic behavior of concrete structures at the upper-undergraduate or graduate level as well as for practicing engineers.

This book is the consequence of research undertaken by the authors in the field of advanced problems of structural mechanics. Stability analysis of structures comes under this area because of the complex models and computational methods needed for analysis. In the mid seventies, a joint effort began between a group of researchers and teachers of the Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Center of the Cracow University of Technology. One of the important results of the collaboration has been this publication.

Since the early 1960s, coupled instabilities — also called compound buckling, simultaneous buckling or interactive buckling — have been a topic that was studied by many researchers. However, despite some excellent theoretical works in this field, the relevant subject is not yet satisfactorily considered in modern design codes for metal structures. To fill up this gap and to improve the current situation, a series of International Conferences 'Coupled Instabilities in Metal Structures' was launched in 1992 with the main aim of encouraging an exchange of views between researchers and engineers on the various aspects of coupled instabilities. The success of the first conference, held at Timisoara (Romania) in 1992, and organized by Professors D Dubina & V Gioncu (Politechnica University of Timisoara) and J Rondal (Univ. of Liège), has encouraged the organization of a second conference, to be held in Liège (Belgium) during September 5-7, 1996. A third conference is still forecast for the year 2000.

This book contains eight chapters treating the stability of all major areas of the flexural theory. It covers the stability of structures under mechanical and thermal loads and all areas of structural, loading and material types. The structural element may be assumed to be made of a homogeneous/isotropic material, or of a functionally graded material. Structures may experience the bifurcation phenomenon, or they may follow the postbuckling path. This volume explains all these aspects in detail. The book is self-contained and the necessary mathematical concepts and numerical methods are presented in such a way that the reader may easily follow the topics based on these basic tools. It is intended for people working or interested in areas of structural stability under mechanical and/or thermal loads. Some basic knowledge in classical mechanics and theory of elasticity is required.

The study of structural instability plays a role of primary importance in the field of applied mechanics. Despite the remarkable progresses made in the recent past years, the structural instability remains one of the most challenging topics in applied - chanics. Many problems have bee:: solved in the last decades but still many others remain to be solved satisfactorily. The increasing number of papers published in jo- nals and conferences organized by ECCS, SSRC, IUTAM, and EUROMECH strongly indicates the interest of scientists and engineers in the subject. A careful examination of these publications shows that they tend to fall into one of the two categories. The first is that of practical design direction in which methods for analyzing specific stability problems related to some specific structural typologies are developed. The research works are restricted to determining the critical load, considering that it is sufficient to know the limits of stability range. These studies are invaluable since their aim is to provide solutions to practical problems, to supply the designer with data useful for design and prepare norms, specifications and codes. The second direction is that of theoretical studies, aiming at a mathematical modeling of the instability problems, for a better understanding of the phenomena. In these studies, special emphasis is placed on the behavior of structures after the loss of stability in the post-critical range. This approach is less familiar to designers as its results have not yet become part of current structural design practice.