The work summarizes theoretical and experimental investigations of real loading conditions of thin-walled plated and shell structures under loads concentrated on parts of their surface. There are presented more accurate and improved models of strain or stress distribution under patch loads considering geometrical and material nonlinearity in connection with stability problems and fatigue damage of studied structural types. The results of these investigations are of particular importance in the design and safety verification of many engineering structures, e.g. plate girders subjected to partial edge loading, closures of fuel tanks, footings and sadles of pressure vessels, reservoirs and pipelines.

Written by eminent researchers and renown authors of numerous publications in the buckling structures field. Deals with experimental investigation in the industry. Covers the conventional and more unconventional methods for testing for a wide variety of structures. Various parameters which may influence the test results are systemically highlighted including, imperfections, boundary conditions, loading conditions as well as the effects of holes and cut-outs.

This two volume proceedings contains 11 invited keynote papers, 33 invited papers, and 225 contributed papers presented at the Fourth International Conference on Advances in Steel Structures (ICASS '05) held on 13-15 June 2005 in Shanghai, China. ICASS provides a forum for discussion and dissemination by researchers and designers of recent advances in the analysis, behaviour, design and construction of steel structures. Contributions to the papers came from 22 countries around the world and cover a wide spectrum of topics including: Constructional Steel, Hybrid Structures, Nonferrous Metals, Analysis of Beams and Columns, Computations, Frames, Design, Space Structures, Fabrication, along with a variety of other key subjects presented at the conference.

Thin-walled metal shell structures are highly efficient in their use of material, but they are particularly sensitive to failure by buckiling. Many different forms of buckling can occur for different geometries and different loading conditions. Because this field of knowledge is both complex and industrially important, it is of great interest and c

Bringing together the leading European expertise in behaviour and design of silos, this important new book is an essential reference source for all concerned with current problems and developments in silo technology. Silos are used in an enormous range of industries and the handling characteristics of many industrial materials require different approaches for successful, economical installations. For the first time, the many approaches taken by specialists in different fields are brought together in a unified way so that common problems can be addressed. This book is the result of a four-year European project - Concerted Action - Silos - funded under the Brite Euram programme which has involved over 100 expert engineers and researchers from all over Europe, in seven working groups.

* Edited by Josef Singer, the world's foremost authority on structural buckling. * Time-saving and cost-effective design data for all structural, mechanical, and aerospace engineering researchers.

This book provides simplified and refined procedures applicable to design and to accessing design limitations and offers guidance to design specifications, codes and standards currently applied to the stability of metal structures.