Super Structures: The Science of Bridges, Buildings, Dams, and Other Feats of Engineering

Author:   Mark Denny
Publisher:   Johns Hopkins University Press
ISBN:  

9780801894367


Pages:   280
Publication Date:   02 August 2010
Recommended Age:   From 13
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
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Super Structures: The Science of Bridges, Buildings, Dams, and Other Feats of Engineering


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Overview

Ever wonder how a graceful and slender bridge can support enormous loads over truly astonishing spans? Why domes and free-standing arches survive earthquakes that flatten the rest of a city? Physicist Mark Denny looks at the large structures around us-tall buildings, long bridges, and big dams-and explains how they were designed and built and why they sometimes collapse, topple, or burst. Denny uses clear, accessible language to explain the physics behind such iconic structures as the Parthenon, the Eiffel Tower, the Forth Rail Bridge in Edinburgh, and Hoover Dam. His friendly approach allows readers to appreciate the core principles that keep these engineering marvels upright without having to master complex mathematical equations. Employing history, humor, and simple physics to consider such topics as when to use screws or nails, what trusses are, why iron beams are often I-shaped, and why medieval cathedrals have buttresses, Denny succeeds once again in making physics fun.

Full Product Details

Author:   Mark Denny
Publisher:   Johns Hopkins University Press
Imprint:   Johns Hopkins University Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 2.30cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.567kg
ISBN:  

9780801894367


ISBN 10:   0801894360
Pages:   280
Publication Date:   02 August 2010
Recommended Age:   From 13
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Tertiary & Higher Education
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print   Availability explained
This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Introduction: Heavyweight Engineering 1. Building Blocks 2. Truss in All Things 3. Towers of Strength 4. Arches and Domes 5. A Bridge Too Far 6. Dam It 7. The Bigger They Are, the Harder They Fall Afterword: Highbrow Engineering, Heavyweight Art Technical Appendix Glossary Bibliography Index

Reviews

Denny's wry humor is fun to read and made me laugh out loud. - Mark Kidger, author of Astronomical Enigmas Denny largely sheds the complexity of mathematical constructs, distilling their most salient features into a more qualitative understanding of radar and sonar systems. - Choice Indeed, Denny's writing is anything but dry and boring. He adeptly explains complex subject matter and does so with relatively simple language and minimal use of symbolic notation. - Bat Research News


Author Information

After earning a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Edinburgh University, Mark Denny pursued research at Oxford University from 1981 to 1984, then moved into a career in industry. He is the author of Ingenium: Five Machines That Changed the World; Blip, Ping, and Buzz: Making Sense of Radar and Sonar; Float Your Boat! The Evolution and Science of Sailing; and Froth! The Science of Beer, all of which are published by Johns Hopkins. Denny is now semi-retired and lives on Vancouver Island.

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