Shell structures form key components in a very wide range of engineering enterprise. The theory of shell structures is an old and large subject, with a huge literature. However, this book is not a compilation of results from the past. Instead, it is an attempt to bring the essence of the subject within the grasp of engineers. It tackles the fundamental question of how bending and stretching effects combine and interact in shell structures from a physical point of view; and it shows that this approach leads to an understanding of the structural mechanics of shells in general, and to useful...