This book concerns the elastic stability of thin-walled structures — one of the most challenging problems facing structural engineers because of its high degree of nonlinearity — and introduces the innovative approach of using spectral analysis of the shapes and the stiffness to gain insights into the nonlinear deformations. The methodology greatly facilitates correlating the shape changes with the stiffness changes. Professor Doyle also develops specific computer procedures that complement finite element methods so that the ideas and methods are applicable to general structural problems....

This third edition builds on the introduction of spectral analysis as a means of investigating wave propagation and transient oscillations in structures. Each chapter of the textbook has been revised, updated and augmented with new material, such as a modified treatment of the curved plate and cylinder problem that yields a relatively simple but accurate spectral analysis. Finite element methods are now integrated into the spectral analyses to gain further insights into the high-frequency problems. In addition, a completely new chapter has been added that deals with waves in periodic and...