Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down
Type
Book
Authors
ISBN 10
0306812835
ISBN 13
9780306812835
Category
Unknown
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Publication Year
2003
Publisher
Pages
421
Description
From the librarian:
J.E. Gordon's book is a wide-ranging, interesting, and thoughtful general introduction to the science of structures and materials. Whereas other books of this kind such as Salvadori's "Why Buildings Stand Up", focus on the built environment (e.g. buildings and bridges), Gordon's book is more generalized and describes the structures (and pre-stresses) of trees, the similarities between bone and tendon to wood and hemp rope, fracture mechanics, how the wings of a bat work, the development of composite foam materials, how airplane wings work, and why a dress hangs the way it does.
This book is a recommended read for any structural engineer and was specifically recommended by Dr. David Vesey at his SEABC Evening Seminar, "Can't Ban Gravity".
From Amazon:
In a book that Business Insider noted as one of the "14 Books that inspired Elon Musk," J.E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing technical terms, communicating its founding principles in accessible, witty prose. For anyone who has ever wondered why suspension bridges don't collapse under eight lanes of traffic, how dams hold back--or give way under--thousands of gallons of water, or what principles guide the design of a skyscraper, a bias-cut dress, or a kangaroo, this book will ease your anxiety and answer your questions. "Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" is an informal explanation of the basic forces that hold together the ordinary and essential things of this world--from buildings and bodies to flying aircraft and eggshells. In a style that combines wit, a masterful command of his subject, and an encyclopedic range of reference, Gordon includes such chapters as "How to Design a Worm" and "The Advantage of Being a Beam," offering humorous insights in human and natural creation. Architects and engineers will appreciate the clear and cogent explanations of the concepts of stress, shear, torsion, fracture, and compression. If you're building a house, a sailboat, or a catapult, here is a handy tool for understanding the mechanics of joinery, floors, ceilings, hulls, masts--or flying buttresses. Without jargon or oversimplification, "Structures" opens up the marvels of technology to anyone interested in the foundations of our everyday lives.
J.E. Gordon's book is a wide-ranging, interesting, and thoughtful general introduction to the science of structures and materials. Whereas other books of this kind such as Salvadori's "Why Buildings Stand Up", focus on the built environment (e.g. buildings and bridges), Gordon's book is more generalized and describes the structures (and pre-stresses) of trees, the similarities between bone and tendon to wood and hemp rope, fracture mechanics, how the wings of a bat work, the development of composite foam materials, how airplane wings work, and why a dress hangs the way it does.
This book is a recommended read for any structural engineer and was specifically recommended by Dr. David Vesey at his SEABC Evening Seminar, "Can't Ban Gravity".
From Amazon:
In a book that Business Insider noted as one of the "14 Books that inspired Elon Musk," J.E. Gordon strips engineering of its confusing technical terms, communicating its founding principles in accessible, witty prose. For anyone who has ever wondered why suspension bridges don't collapse under eight lanes of traffic, how dams hold back--or give way under--thousands of gallons of water, or what principles guide the design of a skyscraper, a bias-cut dress, or a kangaroo, this book will ease your anxiety and answer your questions. "Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down" is an informal explanation of the basic forces that hold together the ordinary and essential things of this world--from buildings and bodies to flying aircraft and eggshells. In a style that combines wit, a masterful command of his subject, and an encyclopedic range of reference, Gordon includes such chapters as "How to Design a Worm" and "The Advantage of Being a Beam," offering humorous insights in human and natural creation. Architects and engineers will appreciate the clear and cogent explanations of the concepts of stress, shear, torsion, fracture, and compression. If you're building a house, a sailboat, or a catapult, here is a handy tool for understanding the mechanics of joinery, floors, ceilings, hulls, masts--or flying buttresses. Without jargon or oversimplification, "Structures" opens up the marvels of technology to anyone interested in the foundations of our everyday lives.
Number of Copies
1
