Aimed at advanced undergraduates with background knowledge of classical mechanics and electricity and magnetism, this textbook presents both the particle dynamics relevant to general relativity, and the field dynamics necessary to understand the theory. Focusing on action extremization, the book develops the structure and predictions of general relativity by analogy with familiar physical systems. Topics ranging from classical field theory to minimal surfaces and relativistic strings are covered in a homogeneous manner. Nearly 150 exercises and numerous examples throughout the textbook enable students to test their understanding of the material covered. A tensor manipulation package to help students overcome the computational challenge associated with general relativity is available on a site hosted by the author. A link to this and to a solutions manual can be found at www.cambridge.org/9780521762458.

This book can be used as a textbook for a graduate course on mechanics or for self-study. There are a variety of problems ranging from exercises that verify parts of the text, moderately difficult calculations, to suggested research projects. Connections to other disciplines of mathematics and physics are emphasized.

This work details general theories and reliable analysis techniques for solving real-world problems in linear and non-linear mechanics. This book looks at the structural and mechanical behaviour of components such as beams, frames and plates of both uniform and variable stiffness in terms of both stress and deformation. It also emphasizes the challenging demands of industry. College or university bookstores may order five or more copies at a special student price, available on request from Marcel Dekker, Inc.

Build on the foundations of elementary mechanics of materials texts with this modern textbook that covers the analysis of stresses and strains in elastic bodies. Discover how all analyses of stress and strain are based on the four pillars of equilibrium, compatibility, stress-strain relations, and boundary conditions. These four principles are discussed and provide a bridge between elementary analyses and more detailed treatments with the theory of elasticity. Using MATLAB® extensively throughout, the author considers three-dimensional stress, strain and stress-strain relations in detail with matrix-vector relations. Based on classroom-proven material, this valuable resource provides a unified approach useful for advanced undergraduate students and graduate students, practicing engineers, and researchers.

This in-depth resource teaches you to craft mechanics that generate challenging, enjoyable, and well-balanced gameplay. You’ll discover at what stages to prototype, test, and implement mechanics in games and learn how to visualize and simulate game mechanics in order to design better games. Along the way, you’ll practice what you’ve learned with hands-on lessons. A free downloadable simulation tool developed by Joris Dormans is also available in order to follow along with exercises in the book in an easy-to-use graphical environment. In Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design, you’ll learn how to: * Design and balance game mechanics to create emergent gameplay before you write a single line of code. * Visualize the internal economy so that you can immediately see what goes on in a complex game. * Use novel prototyping techniques that let you simulate games and collect vast quantities of gameplay data on the first day of development. * Apply design patterns for game mechanics—from a library in this book—to improve your game designs. * Explore the delicate balance between game mechanics and level design to create compelling, long-lasting game experiences. * Replace fixed, scripted events in your game with dynamic progression systems to give your players a new experience every time they play. "I've been waiting for a book like this for ten years: packed with game design goodness that tackles the science without undermining the art." --Richard Bartle, University of Essex, co-author of the first MMORPG “Game Mechanics: Advanced Game Design by Joris Dormans & Ernest Adams formalizes game grammar quite well. Not sure I need to write a next book now!” -- Raph Koster, author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design.

Building on the success of five previous editions, this new sixth edition continues to present a unified approach to the study of the behavior of structural members and the development of design and failure criteria. The text treats each type of structural member in sufficient detail so that the resulting solutions are directly applicable to real-world problems. New examples for various types of member and a large number of new problems are included. To facilitate the transition from elementary mechanics of materials to advanced topics, a review of the elements of mechanics of materials is presented along with appropriate examples and problems.

Composite materials have been representing most significant breakthroughs in various industrial applications, particularly in aerospace structures, during the past thirty five years. The primary goal of Advanced Mechanics of Composite Materials is the combined presentation of advanced mechanics, manufacturing technology, and analysis of composite materials. This approach lets the engineer take into account the essential mechanical properties of the material itself and special features of practical implementation, including manufacturing technology, experimental results, and design characteristics. Giving complete coverage of the topic: from basics and fundamentals to the advanced analysis including practical design and engineering applications. At the same time including a detailed and comprehensive coverage of the contemporary theoretical models at the micro- and macro- levels of material structure, practical methods and approaches, experimental results, and optimisation of composite material properties and component performance. The authors present the results of more than 30 year practical experience in the field of design and analysis of composite materials and structures. * Eight chapters progressively covering all structural levels of composite materials from their components through elementary plies and layers to laminates* Detailed presentation of advanced mechanics of composite materials * Emphasis on nonlinear material models (elasticity, plasticity, creep) and structural nonlinearity

This book highlights the mechanics of tire performance, offering detailed explanations of deriving basic equations for the fundamental properties of tires, and discussing ways to improve tire performance using these equations. It also compares the theory with practical measurements. The book commences with composite mechanics, which is the fundamental theory for belt and carcass tires, and covers classical, modified and discrete lamination theory. It then addresses the theory of tire shape and spring properties and the mechanics of tread pattern contact properties, as was well as the performance of various tires. This comprehensive book is a valuable resource for engineers involved in tire design and offers unique insights and examples of improvement of tire performances.