Impact Engineering: Fundamentals, Experiments, Nonlinear Finite Elements

This second edition of Impact Engineering covers the dynamic analysis of structures undergoing small to large displacements, linear and nonlinear elastic material behavior to viscoplasticity, and the range of features of structural impact analysis.

Individuals, as well as various governing bodies are concerned about protection against natural hazards, crash-type accidents, and terrorism- commonly referred to as ＂impact＂- implying a rapid loading process. The book discusses the physics involved in such impact situations and incorporates analytical considerations as well as techniques to obtain and interpret experimental data and relevant numerical techniques. It also includes a chapter on scaling which is a relevant aspect when studying impact on large structures.

This book will be useful for advanced students and professionals in civil and mechanical engineering as well as for students and researchers in applied physics and other relevant disciplines.

Marcilio Alves graduated in Mechanical Engineering, Federal University
of Santa Catarina, Brazil, in 1983, where he also obtained his
Master Degree. His Doctoral Degree is from The University of Liverpool
Impact Research Centre in 1996 under the guidance of Prof. N. Jones.
Back in Brazil, he established at the University of S~ao Paulo the Group
of Solid Mechanics and Structural Impact. He obtained various grants,
which supported his research activities in the areas of structural impact,
material characterisation and non-linear finite elements. He published
many articles in scientific journals and conferences, covering theoretical,
experimental and numerical aspects of non-linear dynamics. He edited
four books on Structural Impact and Solid Mechanics, established a biennial
cycles of conferences in Solid Mechanics and in Impact Loading
of Lightweight Structures. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of the
Latin American Journal of Solids and Structures and acts in the Editorial
Board of the International Journal of Impact Engineering and of
the Journal of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. He has been publishing
with authors from different universities of Brazil, UK, Germany,
Bulgaria, China, South Africa, Belgium, Australia and Norway. He is
Professor at University of S~ao Paulo and currently Executive Director
of its Foundation.