Applied Mechanics of Solids

The second edition of Applied Mechanics of Solids provides a concise description of all the concepts needed to predict how solid materials deform and fail under stress. With its companion volume of solved example problems, it is an invaluable class textbook or reference for personal study or review.

With the aid of computer simulations, design engineers can predict stresses, deformation, and failure in structural, mechanical, and bio-mechanical components with a few keystrokes. But simulations are built on sophisticated mathematics, physics, and numerical methods, and always involve some judicious approximations. Engineers need a thorough grasp of these concepts to know how to set up their simulations correctly and to interpret their predictions. This book contains all the theory they need to make the best use of their simulations.

Beginning with a description of the physical and mathematical laws that govern deformation in solids, the text presents models of material behavior; solutions to important boundary value problems using classical methods of analysis; a detailed description of the finite element method; fracture mechanics and failure analysis; as well as structural theories of rods, plates and shells.

All chapters in this new edition contain additional material, but the most substantial changes are to Chapter 8: “Finite Element Analysis: Theory and Implementation,” which now covers topics such as locking-resistant finite elements for simulations of solids subjected to large deformations; structural elements (trusses, beams, and plates); as well as methods for enforcing constraints in finite element simulations, cohesive zone models of interface fracture, and contact elements. In addition, a new companion volume provides over 400 example problems with their solutions. The text is supplemented by example finite element codes posted on GitHub, which demonstrate all the finite element algorithms described in the text.

Author Biography

Allan F. Bower is emeritus professor of engineering at Brown University, where he taught in the undergraduate mechanical engineering programme and the graduate programme in mechanics of solids. His research interests were in solid mechanics, and included topics such as the strength of contacting surfaces; thin films for microelectronics; metal forming; and the mechanical behaviour of energy storage materials. He also enjoyed working with Brown’s talented students in a broad range of engineering courses, and was the recipient of various teaching awards, including Brown’s Royce family professorship in teaching excellence.