Book Review
Jennings, A. Structures: from theory to practice. Abingdon: Spon Press, 2004, ISBN 0-415-26843-5, £29.99
This is unlike any other Theory of Structures book that I've read. It is entertaining, challenging and revealing. It will appeal to Chartered Engineers as well as students.
It has 9 Chapters, 79 sub-headings and 622 pages.
The first surprise is that it has illustrations of real structures. These are ancient and modern, including failed structures. The real life examples make for easy reading.
From the beginning, it challenges the reader who thinks they don't need to read the section on rigid body mechanics by saying that's acceptable, but only if you can answer the following questions! Even a dull sounding topic is made entertaining by wide ranging illustrations. On one page a massive suspension bridge anchorage and complemented a two page further on by a question on what is the stress on a nail from a given force applied to the handle of a claw-hammer.
If you expect the book to be confined to building structures, be surprised with the wide range it mentions; from Lighthouses to London Bridge. There are examples and questions on forces from ships and planes. It helpfully has both questions and answers. It doesn't avoid traditional content, but explains the present day relevance such as the understanding and use of Mohr's Circle.
The worked examples are a great resource for students. Some are simplified, but generally this is stated or obvious as it includes examples from land, sea and air.
The book includes conversions, references (but not linked from the text) and an eight page, double column Index.
Not often you can say about a structures book "I couldn't put it down"! Excellent value and one for the book shelf.
R Ashley Johnson |
