Finite Element Design of Concrete Structures

The structural engineer's essential practical guide to the computational design of concrete structures. Finite-element Design of Concrete Structures, Second edition, is the structural engineer’s essential practical guide to the computational design of concrete structures. An increasing reliance on computer power means that now even simple structures are designed with the aid of computers. In this book, the author uses worked examples of real-life structures to address the dangers of a blind acceptance of computer outputs. Illustrating the difference between theory and practice, and the importance of practical knowledge of the behaviour of a structure, this book will help readers to eliminate errors in their calculations Now covering all relevant structures – from simple beams to three dimensional building models – and compatible with Eurocode 2 Part 1, the second edition is a truly comprehensive guide. Numerous real-life worked examples show how to check numerical calculations and avoid errors in computational analysis. Prepared using commonly available systems, the worked examples can be checked and verified by readers using their own software. Written for the practising structural engineer using computer software for the design of concrete structures, this book will also help students of structural engineering – and software developers – appreciate the importance of practical understanding in addition to computer power.

In Finite Element Design of Concrete Structures: practical problems and their solutions the author addresses this blind belief in computer results by offering a useful critique that important details are overlooked due to the flood of information from the output of computer calculations. Indeed, errors in the numerical model may lead in extreme cases to structural failures as the collapse of the so-called Sleipner platform has demonstrated.