Super Structures: The Science of Bridges, Buildings, Dams, and Other Feats of Engineering

by Mark Denny

Ever wonder how a graceful and slender bridge can support enormous loads over truly astonishing spans? Why domes and free-standing arches survive earthquakes that flatten the rest of a city? Physicist Mark Denny looks at the large structures around us—tall buildings, long bridges, and big dams—and explains how they were designed and built and why they sometimes collapse, topple, or burst. Denny uses clear, accessible language to explain the physics behind such iconic structures as the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, the Forth Rail Bridge in Edinburgh, and Hoover Dam. His friendly approach allows readers to appreciate the core principles that keep these engineering marvels upright without having to master complex mathematical equations. Employing history, humor, and simple physics to consider such topics as when to use screws or nails, what trusses are, why iron beams are often I-shaped, and why medieval cathedrals have buttresses, Denny succeeds once again in making physics fun.

Genres: Nonfiction

280 pages, Hardcover

First published May 6, 2010

About the author

Started writing in 2005, after 20 years working for a living...In fact, writing is work, of course, but I mean that I like it a lot more than the 9-to-5 grind of my office job (research engineer for a multinational aerospace corporation).

Ingenium was my first book, and I guess it shows, but I still have a great fondness for it. I was approached out of the blue by the editor of Johns Hopkins University Press who had seen a bunch of my published papers on historically important machines--he thought they could form the basis of an interesting popular science book. So I wrote it; the reviews were kind. I've recently completed my tenth book.

Reviews

[Steve Gross · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing is solid, but at spots often unclear and confusing.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and very entertaining book. It is too bad that the Kindle edition contains such incompetent proofreading when it comes to any math formulae. Truly abysmal. Pi is shown by "7T"?

[Unit of Raine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good blend of approachable engineering, photos & text and mathematics & fundamental principles. It was the perfect level for an aerospace engineer to get a better technical feel for the basics of bridge, dam & sky scraper design.