Practical Examples
Statics
1. Equilibrium
Example 1: A barrier
Example 2: A footbridge
Example 3: An equilibrium kitchen scale
Example 4: Magnetic float train
Example 5: A dust tray
Example 1: Cranes on construction sites
Example 2: The Eiffel Tower
Example 3: A display unit
Example 4: The Kio Towers
3. Effect of Different Cross Sections
Example 1: A steel framed building
Example 2: A railway bridge:
Example 3: I section members with holes (cellular beams and columns)
4. Bending
Example 1: Profiles of girders
Example 2: Reducing bending moments using overhangs
Example 3: Failure due to bending
Example 4: Deformation of a staple due to bending
Example 1: Composite section of a beam
Example 2: Shear walls in a building
Example 3: Opening a drinks bottle
Example 1: Flat shoes vs high-heel shoes
Example 2: The Leaning Tower of Pisa
Example 1: Column supports
Example 2: The Phenomenon of prop roots
Example 3: Metal props used in structures
Example 1: Bracing systems of tall buildings
Example 2: Bracing systems of scaffolding structures
Example 1: Raleigh Arena
Example 2: Zhejiang Dragon Sports Centre
Example 3: A cable-stayed bridge
Example 4: A floor structure experiencing excessive vibration
10. Buckling
Example 1: Buckling of bracing members
Example 2: Buckling of a box girder
Example 3: Prevention of lateral buckling of beams
Example 4: Bistability of a slap band
11. Prestress
Example 1: A centrally post-tensioned column
Example 2: An eccentrally post-tensioned beam
Example 3: Spider’s web
Example 4: A cable-net roof
12. Horizontal Movements of Structures Induced by Vertical Loads
Example 1: A grandstand
Example 2: A building floor
Example 3: Rail bridges
Dynamics
Example 1: Roller coasters
Example 2: A torch without a battery
Example 1: An inclined suspended wooden bridge in a playground
Example 2: Seismic isolation of a floor
Example 3: The Foucault pendulum
Example 1: A musical box
Example 2: Measurement of the fundamental natural frequency of a building through free vibration generated using vibrators
Example 3: Measurement of the fundamental natural frequencies of a stack through vibration generated by the environment
Example 4: The tension forces in the cables in the London Eye
Example 5: A toilet seat-cover
4. Resonance
Example 1: The London Millennium Footbridge
Example 2: Avoidance of resonance – design of structures used for pop concerts
Example 3: Measurement of the resonance frequency of a building
Example 4: An entertaining resonance phenomenon
Example 5: Vibration of a hanging light
5. Damping
Example 1: Damping ratio obtained from free vibration tests
Example 2: Damping ratio obtained from forced vibration tests
Example 3: Reducing footbridge vibrations induced by walking
Example 4: Reducing floor vibration induced by walking
Example 1: Tyres used for vibration isolation
Example 2: The London Eye
Example 3: The London Millennium Footbridge
7. Human Body Models in Structural Vibration
Example 1: The effect of stationary spectators on a grandstand
Example 2: Calculation of the natural frequencies of a grandstand
Example 3: Dynamic response of a structure used at pop concerts
Example 4: Indirect measurement of the fundamental natural frequency of a standing person
Example 5: Indirect measurement of the fundamental natural frequency of a chicken