Stability of structures is one of the most important and interesting fields in mechanics. This book is dedicated to fundamental concepts, problems and methods of structural stability along with qualitative understanding of instability phenomena. The methods presented are constructive and easy to implement in computer programs. Recent exciting experiments on dynamic stability of non-conservative systems are described and shown by many photographs.

This book presents, as a single package, three semingly contradictory and often competitive approaches to deal with ever present uncertainty in science and engineering. The book describes, as a unique view, probabilistic, fuzzy sets based and antioptimization based approaches, in order to remedy the present "tower ob Babel situation, in which researchers in competing fields do not communicate. Integrative approach will attract scientists and engineers alike and provide a strong impetus towards integrative, hybrid approaches."

The main properties that make carbon nanotubes (CNTs) a promising technology for many future applications are: extremely high strength, low mass density, linear elastic behavior, almost perfect geometrical structure, and nanometer scale structure. Also, CNTs can conduct electricity better than copper and transmit heat better than diamonds. Therefore, they are bound to find a wide, and possibly revolutionary use in all fields of engineering.
The interest in CNTs and their potential use in a wide range of commercial applications; such as nanoelectronics, quantum wire interconnects, field...

This volume contains eighteen selected papers presented at the Second International Conference on Stochastic Structural Dynamics, which are related to new theoretical developments in the field. This and a companion volume, related to new practical applications, constitute the proceedings of the conference, and reflect the state of the art of the rapidly developing subject. The conference was held in Boca Raton, Florida during May 9-11, 1990 hosted by the Center for Applied Stochastics Research of Florida Atlantic University. A total of 20 technical sessions were organized, and attended by...

This volume contains eighteen selected papers presented at the Second International Conference on Stochastic Structural Dynamics, which are related to new practical applications in the field. This and a companion volume, related to new theoretical developments, constitute the proceedings of the conference, and reflect the state of the art of the rapidly developing subject. The conference was held in Boca Raton, Florida during May 9-11, 1990 hosted by the Center for Applied Stochastic Research of Florida Atlantic University. A total of 20 technical sessions were organized, and attended by...