Mechanics of Structural Elements: Theory and Applications

The presentment should be as simple as possible, but not a bit simpler. Albert Einstein Introduction The power of the variational approach in mechanics of solids and structures follows from its versatility: the approach is used both as a universal tool for describing physical relationships and as a basis for qualitative methods of analysis [1]. And there is yet another important advantage inherent in the variational approach – the latter is a crystal clear, pure and unsophisticated source o...