Building Structures

This is a one-stop book for knowing everything important about building structures. Self-contained and with no prerequisites needed, it is suitable for both general readers and building professionals.

• follow the history of structural understanding;

• grasp the concepts of structural behaviour via step-by-step explanations;

• apply these concepts to a simple building;

• see how these concepts apply to real buildings, from Durham Cathedral to the Bank of China;

• use these concepts to define the design process;

• see how these concepts inform design choices;

• understand how engineering and architecture have diverged, and what effect this had;

• learn to do simple but relevant numerical calculations for actual structures;

• understand when dynamics are important;

• follow the development of progressive collapse prevention;

• enter the world of modern structural theory;

• see how computers can be used for structural analysis;

• learn how to organise and design a successful project.

With more than 500 pages and over 1100 user-friendly diagrams, this book is a must for anyone who would like to understand the fascinating world of structures.