The Rayleigh Ritz Method For Structural Analysis

The Rayleigh-Ritz Method for Structural Analysis

A presentation of the theory behind the Rayleigh-Ritz (R-R) method, as well as a discussion of the choice of admissible functions and the use of penalty methods, including recent developments such as using negative inertia and bi-penalty terms. While presenting the mathematical basis of the R-R method, the authors also give simple explanations and analogies to make it easier to understand. Examples include calculation of natural frequencies and critical loads of structures and structural components, such as beams, plates, shells and solids. MATLAB codes for some common problems are also supplied.

The Rayleigh-Ritz Method for Structural Analysis

Structural Analysis

The authors and their colleagues developed this text over many years, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in structural analysis courses at the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The emphasis is on clarity and unity in the presentation of basic structural analysis concepts and methods. The equations of linear elasticity and basic constitutive behaviour of isotropic and composite materials are reviewed. The text focuses on the analysis of practical structural components including bars, beams and plates. Particular attention is devoted to the analysis of thin-walled beams under bending shearing and torsion. Advanced topics such as warping, non-uniform torsion, shear deformations, thermal effect and plastic deformations are addressed. A unified treatment of work and energy principles is provided that naturally leads to an examination of approximate analysis methods including an introduction to matrix and finite element methods. This teaching tool based on practical situations and thorough methodology should prove valuable to both lecturers and students of structural analysis in engineering worldwide. This is a textbook for teaching structural analysis of aerospace structures. It can be used for 3rd and 4th year students in aerospace engineering, as well as for 1st and 2nd year graduate students in aerospace and mechanical engineering.