Description
Book SynopsisThis introduction to the theory of rigid structures explains how to analyze the performance of built and natural structures under loads, paying special attention to the simplifying role of symmetry. Written for researchers and graduate students in structural engineering and mathematics, and of interest to computer scientists and physicists.
Trade Review'Rigidity theory mathematicians and structural engineers are like two branches of a tribe that separated long ago. In the intervening time, the language and knowledge of each group has evolved to where concepts no longer align and common terms no longer have common meanings. As a result, when they interact today, confusion reigns. Frameworks, Tensegrities and Symmetry is a guide that both groups can use to understand the other.' William F. Baker, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
'The authors promise 'an attempt to build a bridge between two cultures' and they have done a remarkable job of this unenviable task. Requiring only a minimum of mathematical and engineering prerequisites the book develops intuitively, and rigorously, the rigidity theory of both bar frameworks and tensegrity frameworks and applies this theory to analyse built structures. Two masters of the field have carefully designed the book to move seamlessly between the analysis and synthesis of specific structures and providing the general, generic and symmetric theories.' Anthony Nixon, Lancaster University
Table of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. The General Case: 2. Frameworks and Rigidity; 3. First-Order Analysis of Frameworks; 4. Tensegrities; 5. Energy Functions and the Stress Matrix; 6. Prestress Stability; 7. Generic Frameworks; 8. Finite Mechanisms; Part II. Symmetric Structures: 9. Groups and Representation Theory; 10. First-Order Symmetry Analysis; 11. Generating Stable Symmetric Tensegrities; A. Useful Theorems and Proofs.
