J. Construct.

Steel Research 4 (1984)317-320

Book Reviews

Introduction to the Theory of Thin-walled Structures. By N. W. Murray.

1984. Clarendon Press, Oxford. 447 pp. Price: £55 clothback. (ISBN 019
856151 2)

This book deals with elastic and inelastic behaviour of stiffened plate
elements, alone or in combination in the form of beams, columns, boxes,
etc. The preface states that the book attempts to trace the theoretical and
experimental background to code formulae in the area of thin-walled
structures, and to provide a text for graduate students commencing work
in this field.
The first chapter of the book could be considered to be a review of the
concepts of plate behaviour and stability normally found in under-
graduate courses. Chapters 2 and 3 deal with torsional behaviour, first
developing elastic non-uniform theory and then demonstrating the use of
the theory for solution of beam column problems. Chapter 4 deals with
the use of the finite strip method in the solution of the elastic buckling
behaviour of box girders and stiffened plates. Chapters 5 and 6 are
particularly important in design terms, because it is at this stage that
Murray starts dealing with the effects of imperfections and plasticity on
buckling behaviour. Chapter 7 is quoted as providing a link between the
theory presented and the rules found in a few codes of practice.
As far as my own interests are concerned there was rather too high a
concentration on aspects of the torsional behaviour of structures. The
derivation of the torsional governing equations was extensive and while
this is acknowledged in the preface, I would question whether it provides
a correct balance with the following chapters dealing more with
summaries of plate response and solution methods. Chapters 5 and 6 are
well written and up-to-date and offer the reader a, perhaps unique,
opportunity to assess the practical aspects of plate buckling and an
awareness of up-to-date methods and results of various solutions
techniques.
317
J. Construct. Steel Research (4) (1984)---©Elsevier Applied Science Publishers Ltd,
England, 1984. Printed in Great Britain
318 Book rev&ws

The market for this book is rather difficult to assess. Certainly to a

potential researcher in the plated structures area it provides a chance to
acquire some appreciation of the state of understanding in the area of
inelastic behaviour and also of initially assessing available solution
techniques. To the designer it gives a chance to understand some of the
background to theoretical and analytical formulations which have, in
some areas, contributed to code rules or design guidance information.
The link, however is sometimes tenuous.
In an area, however, where little up-to-date information exists in
summary form, and where the reader often has to resort to detailed
presentations in papers or in edited versions of individual contributions, it
must be considered to be a useful book, and reasonable value at today's
prices for the amount of information which is contained.
J. E. Harding

Buckling of Offshore Structures. Prepared by J. P. Kenny & Partners Ltd

for the UK D e p a r t m e n t of Energy (Authors C. P. Ellinas, W. J. Supple
and A. C. Walker). 1984. Granada, London. 472 pp. Price: £40 hardback.
(ISBN 0 246 12298 6)

This book, essentially an edited version of a report to the Department of

Energy, was commissioned because of the Department's wish for critical
c o m m e n t s on various Codes and Design rules to be available to
engineers, so that the limits of validity and degree of safety could be
identified.
The study was begun in 1982 with the collection of all available test data
on the buckling of bracing members, stiffened and unstiffened cylinders,
end closures and orthogonally stiffened plating. A number of expert
consultants were appointed to ensure a high standard of technical quality.
The report concluded that no single code consistently provided conserv-
ative guidance for the design of all structural components, and that in
some circumstances no clear information is given in any of the codes on
how to analyse certain structural components subject to some specific
types of loading. Perhaps this latter conclusion might be drawn about any
design process, but clearly gaps in knowledge do exist in certain areas.
The book is divided into five geometrical areas and each area is then
considered in terms of different loading types. For example, Section II.4
deals with ring-stiffened cylinders under external pressure.