Structural Engineering: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) by David Blockley

Very Short Introductions #401

by David Blockley

Have you ever wondered how it's possible to build a skyscraper, a big bridge, a jumbo jet, or a cruise liner? Everything has structure. Structure is the difference between a random pile of components and a fully functional object. Through structure the parts connect to make the whole. Natural structures vary from the very smallest part of an atom to the entire cosmology of the universe. Man-made structures include buildings, bridges, dams, ships, aeroplanes, rockets, trains, cars and fair-ground rides and all forms of artefacts, even large artistic sculptures. The wide range of different industries in which structural engineers work includes construction, transport, manufacturing, and aerospace. In this Very Short Introduction, David Blockley explores, in non-technical language, what structural engineering is all about, including examples ranging from the Shard in London and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco to jumbo jets like the A380 and the Queen Elizabeth cruise liner. ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: Science, Engineering, Nonfiction

Paperback Bunko

First published August 10, 2014

About the author

David Blockley is an engineer and academic scientist. He has been Head of the Department of Civil Engineering and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Bristol. He is a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Arts.

Reviews

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Math has never been my strongest subject and this was a great primer for me. This book covers a lot of the theories, concepts, and scientific aspects of structural engineering without relying too heavily on mathematical formulas (which likely would have lost me). If you work in or around structural engineers and want to have a better understanding of the field then this is the book for you. I'd also recommend this book to people considering going to school for structural engineering so they could get a better idea of it before committing.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what the title says. Good intro to a topic that’s new to me. Easy to understand. I laughed when he said the blocks “want” to move. Even us dummies know blocks don’t want to do anything.

[Hank Hoeft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Structural engineering is such an integral and vital aspect of all other types of engineering, that Structural Engineering: A Very Short Introduction serves as a good introduction to engineering in general. Author David Blockley achieves a good balance of simplicity without dumbing his discussion down, mainly through the use of "thought experiments" to illustrate his points. He also ends each chapter with a restating of the main points of that chapter. Other popularizers of science and engineering should take note.