Structural Impact

Book excerpt: Structural Impact is concerned with the behaviour of structures and components subjected to large dynamic, impact and explosive loads which produce inelastic deformations. It is of interest for safety calculations, hazard assessments and energy absorbing systems throughout industry. The first five chapters introduce the rigid plastic methods of analysis for the static behaviour and the dynamic response of beams, plates and shells. The influence of transverse shear, rotatory inertia, finite displacements and dynamic material properties are introduced and studied in some detail. Dynamic progressive buckling, which develops in several energy absorbing systems, and the phenomenon of dynamic plastic buckling are introduced. Scaling laws are discussed which are important for relating the response of small-scale experimental tests to the dynamic behaviour of full-scale prototypes. This text is invaluable to undergraduates, graduates and professionals learning about the behaviour of structures subjected to large impact, dynamic and blast loadings producing an inelastic response.