Advanced Structural Analysis

Advanced Structural Analysis is a textbook that essentially covers matrix analysis of structures, presented in a fresh and insightful way. This book is an extension of the author s basic book on Structural Analysis. The initial three chapters review the basic concepts in structural analysis and matrix algebra, and show how the latter provides an excellent mathematical framework for the former. The next three chapters discuss in detail and demonstrate through many examples how matrix methods can be applied to linear static analysis of skeletal structures (plane and space trusses; beams and grids; plane and space frames) by the stiffness method. Also, it is shown how simple structures can be conveniently solved using a reduced stiffness formulation, involving far less computational effort. The flexibility method is also discussed. Finally, in the seventh chapter, analysis of elastic instability and second-order response is discussed in detail. The main objective is to enable the student to have a good grasp of all the fundamental issues in these advanced topics in Structural Analysis, besides enjoying the learning process, and developing analytical and intuitive skills. With these strong fundamentals, the student will be well prepared to explore and understand further topics like Finite Elements Analysis.