This book provides an overview to those most important modern and traditional methods of masonry analysis that are able to capture the discrete internal built-up of masonry structures. Such methods are available in a wide variety today – from computational packages based on classical graphical statics techniques through discrete element methods or the most sophisticated no-tension semi-continuum models – , and this book reviews their theoretical foundations, as well as their advantages and preferable fields of application, also calling the attention on their limitations so that the reader could build up a critical view of the choices they have when attacking a masonry mechanics problem. The book gives a basis for the readers to become able to develop their own methods, inspired either by classical graphical statics, or by any modern technique they find promising.

The Discrete Element Method (DEM) has emerged as a solution to predicting load capacities of masonry structures. As one of many numerical methods and computational solutions being applied to evaluate masonry structures, further research on DEM tools and methodologies is essential for further advancement. Computational Modeling of Masonry Structures Using the Discrete Element Method explores the latest digital solutions for the analysis and modeling of brick, stone, concrete, granite, limestone, and glass block structures. Focusing on critical research on mathematical and computational methods for masonry analysis, this publication is a pivotal reference source for scholars, engineers, consultants, and graduate-level engineering students.

The experience of people working with different perspectives in different fields of masonry modeling, from mathematics to applied engineering and practice, is brought together in this book. It presents both the theoretical background and an overview of the state-of-the-art in static and dynamic masonry modeling.

The combined finite discrete element method is a relatively new computational tool aimed at problems involving static and / or dynamic behaviour of systems involving a large number of solid deformable bodies. Such problems include fragmentation using explosives (e.g rock blasting), impacts, demolition (collapsing buildings), blast loads, digging and loading processes, and powder technology. The combined finite-discrete element method - a natural extension of both discrete and finite element methods - allows researchers to model problems involving the deformability of either one solid body, a large number of bodies, or a solid body which fragments (e.g. in rock blasting applications a more or less intact rock mass is transformed into a pile of solid rock fragments of different sizes, which interact with each other). The topic is gaining in importance, and is at the forefront of some of the current efforts in computational modeling of the failure of solids. * Accompanying source codes plus input and output files available on the Internet * Important applications such as mining engineering, rock blasting and petroleum engineering * Includes practical examples of applications areas Essential reading for postgraduates, researchers and software engineers working in mechanical engineering.

III European Conference on Computational Mechanics: Solids, Structures and Coupled Problem in Engineering Computational Mechanics in Solid, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering is today a mature science with applications to major industrial projects. This book contains the edited version of the Abstracts of Plenary and Keynote Lectures and Papers, and a companion CD-ROM with the full-length papers, presented at the III European Conference on Computational Mechanics: Solids, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering (ECCM-2006), held in the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Lisbon, Portugal 5th - 8th June 2006. The book reflects the state-of-art of Computation Mechanics in Solids, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering and it includes contributions by the world most active researchers in this field.

These Proceedings contain the papers presented at the 1stAsian Pacific Congress on Computational Mechanics held in Sydney, on 20-23 November 2001. The theme of the first Congress of the Asian-Pacific Association for Computational Mechanics in the new millennium is New Frontiers for the New Millennium. The papers cover such new frontiers as micromechanics, contact mechanics, environmental geomechanics, chemo-thermo-mechanics, inverse techniques, homogenization, meshless methods, smart materials/smart structures and graphic visualization, besides the general topics related to the application of finite element and boundary element methods in structural mechanics, fluid mechanics, geomechanics and biomechanics.

In Generalized Barycentric Coordinates in Computer Graphics and Computational Mechanics, eminent computer graphics and computational mechanics researchers provide a state-of-the-art overview of generalized barycentric coordinates. Commonly used in cutting-edge applications such as mesh parametrization, image warping, mesh deformation, and finite as well as boundary element methods, the theory of barycentric coordinates is also fundamental for use in animation and in simulating the deformation of solid continua. Generalized Barycentric Coordinates is divided into three sections, with five chapters each, covering the theoretical background, as well as their use in computer graphics and computational mechanics. A vivid 16-page insert helps illustrating the stunning applications of this fascinating research area. Key Features: Provides an overview of the many different types of barycentric coordinates and their properties. Discusses diverse applications of barycentric coordinates in computer graphics and computational mechanics. The first book-length treatment on this topic

Computational Mechanics in solids, structures and coupled problems in engineering is today a mature science with applications to major industrial designs. This book reflects the state of art and it is written by some of the world leading authorities in this field, addressing such topics as: design and topology optimisation, inverse engineering, multibody dynamics, non-linear and railway dynamics, non-linear and textile composites, sandwich structures, uncertainty and reliability of structures, micromechanics of biological materials, computational geometry, multiscale strategies, discrete and mesh free elements, hybrid crack element, adaptive mesh generation, neural networks, structural model validation, vibro-acoustics, active aeroelastic structures, shells with incompressible flows, fluid-structure interaction, aeroelasticity, fluid-saturated and damage porous media and ceramics, high porosity solids, multiphase viscous porous material and masonry. This book contains the edited version of some Plenary and Keynote Lectures presented at the III European Conference on Computational Mechanics: Solids, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering (ECCM-2006), held in the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Lisbon, Portugal, 5th - 8th June 2006.