Beam Structures

Beam theories are exploited worldwide to analyze civil, mechanical,automotive, and aerospace structures. Many beam approaches havebeen proposed during the last centuries by eminent scientists suchas Euler, Bernoulli, Navier, Timoshenko, Vlasov, etc. Most ofthese models are problem dependent: they provide reliable resultsfor a given problem, for instance a given section and cannot beapplied to a different one. Beam Structures: Classical and Advanced Theories proposesa new original unified approach to beam theory that includespractically all classical and advanced models for beams and whichhas become established and recognised globally as the mostimportant contribution to the field in the last quarter of acentury. The Carrera Unified Formulation (CUF) has hierarchicalproperties, that is, the error can be reduced by increasing thenumber of the unknown variables. This formulation is extremelysuitable for computer implementations and can deal with mosttypical engineering challenges. It overcomes the problem ofclassical formulae that require different formulas for tension,bending, shear and torsion; it can be applied to any beamgeometries and loading conditions, reaching a high level ofaccuracy with low computational cost, and can tackle problems thatin most cases are solved by employing plate/shell and 3Dformulations. Key features: * compares classical and modern approaches to beam theory,including classical well-known results related to Euler-Bernoulliand Timoshenko beam theories * pays particular attention to typical applications related tobridge structures, aircraft wings, helicopters and propellerblades * provides a number of numerical examples including typicalAerospace and Civil Engineering problems * proposes many benchmark assessments to help the readerimplement the CUF if they wish to do so * accompanied by a companion website hosting dedicated softwareMUL2 that is used to obtain the numerical solutions in the book,allowing the reader to reproduce the examples given in the book aswell as to solve other problems of their own www.mul2.com Researchers of continuum mechanics of solids and structures andstructural analysts in industry will find this book extremelyinsightful. It will also be of great interest to graduate andpostgraduate students of mechanical, civil and aerospaceengineering.