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BR Structural Concepts PDF

This book review summarizes the second edition of the book "Understanding and Using Structural Concepts" by Tianjian Ji, Adrian J. Bell and Brian R. Ellis. It provides the following key points: 1) The book effectively introduces important structural concepts using physical models, which helps motivate students. However, the quality of illustrations and number of typographical errors are poor. 2) It covers basic concepts like equilibrium and bending, as well as more advanced topics like structural vibrations. However, the varying depth and missing working in some chapters is inconsistent. 3) While the physical models aid understanding, the poor production quality makes fully comprehending some concepts difficult without outside references. Overall, the

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piyush
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160 views

BR Structural Concepts PDF

This book review summarizes the second edition of the book "Understanding and Using Structural Concepts" by Tianjian Ji, Adrian J. Bell and Brian R. Ellis. It provides the following key points: 1) The book effectively introduces important structural concepts using physical models, which helps motivate students. However, the quality of illustrations and number of typographical errors are poor. 2) It covers basic concepts like equilibrium and bending, as well as more advanced topics like structural vibrations. However, the varying depth and missing working in some chapters is inconsistent. 3) While the physical models aid understanding, the poor production quality makes fully comprehending some concepts difficult without outside references. Overall, the

Uploaded by

piyush
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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www.thestructuralengineer.org

Opinion TheStructuralEngineer 49
Book review October 2016

Review Peter Bullman finds this to be an excellent book in which concepts are presented
with admirable simplicity and clarity. However, it is let down by poor production,
with low-quality illustrations and numerous typographical errors.

Understanding and
Using Structural
Concepts (2nd ed.)

Authors: Tianjian Ji, Adrian J. Bell and Brian R. Ellis


Publisher: CRC Press
Price: £44.99 (paperback); £31.49 (E-book) of static and dynamic behaviour is dealt with
ISBN: 978-1-498-70729-9 well. This reflects the research interests of
the authors and is more specialised than the
concepts in the earlier chapters, so it will not
This is an excellent book. The authors are theory and practice. be of interest to all readers. Perhaps there are
well known for their use of physical models to The amount of theory presented varies a really two books here: one for all engineers
demonstrate structural concepts and this book lot between the chapters. The chapter which and one more specialised. In all chapters,
will make their ideas more widely available. discusses the tied ring shown on the cover the method of presentation sets a challenge
Advice on how students, lecturers and of the book includes full working over several for other researchers to present their own
practising engineers can best use the book is pages, while other chapters cover more findings with the same simplicity and clarity.
included. complex theory in a few lines without showing Sadly, the production of the book does
The book defines a structural concept as the working. It is not clear why the authors not do justice to the contents. Many of
“…a qualitative and concise representation of chose to do this, though the missing working is the illustrations are of poor quality with
a mathematical relationship between physical available in the quoted references. low contrast, and some have distracting
quantities… [which has] practical applications backgrounds behind the models which makes
in structural engineering”. Reducing structural
"REDUCING STRUCTURAL it difficult to pick out the important details.
behaviours to these simple concepts is a
powerful learning tool. BEHAVIOURS TO THESE The reviewer’s copy had extraneous vertical
white lines through many of the illustrations.
Most chapters are about a single structural SIMPLE CONCEPTS IS Better-quality versions of the same illustrations
concept and are set out in the same way with: A POWERFUL LEARNING can be seen on the authors’ website: www.
TOOL" structuralconcepts.org. In addition, there are
• definition too many typographical errors, omissions
• theory and mistakes in working. These faults mean
• model demonstration that the reader sometimes has to work hard
• practical examples The authors note that students are to get the best from the text, but the effort is
• questions motivated by “hands-on” experience, so worthwhile.
the best use of the book will be by those
Often two models are shown to illustrate who make the models illustrated and can
“difference seen and felt”. Early chapters are physically feel the effects. However, it is
Peter Bullman
about basic concepts such as equilibrium, certainly possible to gain understanding of the Peter Bullman worked for Felix J. Samuely
centre of mass, stress distribution, bending, concepts by studying the illustrations, which and Partners, Taylor Woodrow Construction
buckling, shear and torsion. Later chapters show how the models behave. and Building Design Partnership before joining
cover more advanced topics, and three The later chapters cover structural what is now the University of Bolton to lecture
chapters are intended as lecture material. vibrations, especially when humans and on structural engineering. He is now retired.
The final chapter discusses the integration of structures interact, and the interdependence

TSE58_49 Book review Struct concept.indd 49 22/09/2016 12:44

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