As the field of composite materials and structures continues to mature, there is a continuing need for both text and reference books. As for the mechanics aspects of the subject, most of the classic texts, such as those of R. M. Jones (Mechanics of Composite Materials, Scripta, 1975) and R. M. Christensen (Mechanics of Composite Materials), Wiley, 1979) do not go into the structural aspects in very much depth. An exception in The Behavior of Structures Composed of Composite Materials by J. R. Vinson and R. L. Sierakowski (Martinus Nijhoff, 1986). The present book may serve as a text for a graduate-level course or as a reference for practicing design engineers and researchers. It is unique in that it covers for the first time in an English-language composites text, the subjects of ring structures and thin-walled beams. Chapter 1 is an introduction to the structural properties of composite materials including anisotropic elastic behavior. Chapter 2 presents a very general development of the equations of an orthotropic elastic medium and their specialization to thin-walled structures. Special mention is made of stiffened structures, varying thickness, hygrothermal effects, material and geometric nonlinearity, buckling, and dynamic response. The material nonlinearities considered include both elasticplastic and nonlinear elastic behavior. Composite beams, columns, and circular rings are treated in Chapter 3. This work is distinct from other texts in that it includes postbuckling behavior of columns, vibrational behavior of shear deformable beams, and bending and deflection of rings. Chapter 4 deals with thin-walled beams, including those with open cross-sections, and single and double-cell closed cross-sections, including bending, twisting, and warping. Chapter 4 covers composite plates, including unstif fened and stiffened rectangular plates and circular plates. Deflection, buckling, and post-buckling are all treated. The importance of transverse shear deformation is included via first-order shear deformation theory. Many of the numerical results are compared with experimental results for validation. Circular cylindrical shells are analyzed in Chapter 6 for deflection, buckling, and free vibration. Both complete cylinders and cylindrically curved panels are treated. In addition to first-order shear deformable theory, classical thin-shell, membrane, and semi-membrane theories are discussed. Both linear and geometrically nonlinear behavior is analyzed. The final chapter (7) is devoted to axisymmetric deformation of shells of revolution, including both linear and geometrically nonlinear analysis, and design of membranes of revolution. The book is very clearly written and illustrated. The only criticism, a very minor one, is the limited number of references (48), some of which refer to Russian editions of journal articles, even in cases in which English translation editions exist. This book is highly recommended to all engineers, designers, and researchers concerned with composite structures.
