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International conference on structural safety and reliability
288
Book Reviews
under wind loads which involves analysis of asymmetric wall arrangements and coupled shear walls.
A great deal of information is packed into this volume which in Dr. kenczner's own words places the emphasis on principles rather than detail. It is a thoroughly readable book which provides a useful introductory review ot this subject.
Reinforced brickwork is briefly discussed and simple examples included. A chapter entitled "recent developments in brickwork technology" includes items on high-tensile bond mortars; prefabricated brickwork; bricklaying methods; prestressed brickwork and the design of brickwork for accidental forces.
Dept. of Architecture, Liverpool Polytechnic, Victoria Street, Liverpool LI 6EY.
K. T H O M A S
International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability Edited A. M. F R E U D E N T H A L , Pergamon Press, 1972
A Practical Approach to Reliability R. H. CAPLEN, Business Books, 1972
T H E SUBJECT of structural safety in buildings is one which has received considerable, if belated, examination during the past few years, stimulated in Britain by the Ronan Point accident in 1968. Nevertheless, in comparison with the immense efforts devoted to the development of structural mechanics, the quantitative handling of the structural safety problem remains in a relatively rudimentary state. Some conceptual and theoretical assistance can be derived from studies originating in the aircraft industry and the first of the above two volumes comprises a collection of papers presented to the first International Conferences on the subject of Structural Safety and Reliability sponsored primarily by various aeronautical interests in the U.S. The papers, following the sessions of the conference, are arranged in five sections and deal with general aspects, statistical theory of extremes, random excitation of structures, aircraft structures and special problems. The statistical papers are applicable in considering the particular problem of building structures and two of the papers on random excitation of structures are concerned, respectively,
with wind loads and with earthquake effects. Of the general papers, an essay entitled "The Engineering Climatology of Structural Accidents" by Sir Alfred Pugsley is of particular interest in setting the background to consideration of the structural safety problem in terms of the surrounding political, financial and technical circumstances. The whole set of papers can be regarded as a source book of advanced theoretical methodology which will be of great value to those concerned with the development of structural safety provisions for buildings. The second book represents quite a differen, approach to reliability and is not specifically related to structures or building components. It sets out to examine in a practical way how to design and manufacture any sort of item for reliability. The book is very clearly written and it is not difficult to see how its approach could be applied to the design of many components for buildings and for build'n-, and in the assessment of their performance. It sholll~ certainly be of value to students of buildinl in developing their approach to design problem ila general. A. W. HENDRY
Book Reviews
under wind loads which involves analysis of asymmetric wall arrangements and coupled shear walls.
A great deal of information is packed into this volume which in Dr. kenczner's own words places the emphasis on principles rather than detail. It is a thoroughly readable book which provides a useful introductory review ot this subject.
Reinforced brickwork is briefly discussed and simple examples included. A chapter entitled "recent developments in brickwork technology" includes items on high-tensile bond mortars; prefabricated brickwork; bricklaying methods; prestressed brickwork and the design of brickwork for accidental forces.
Dept. of Architecture, Liverpool Polytechnic, Victoria Street, Liverpool LI 6EY.
K. T H O M A S
International Conference on Structural Safety and Reliability Edited A. M. F R E U D E N T H A L , Pergamon Press, 1972
A Practical Approach to Reliability R. H. CAPLEN, Business Books, 1972
T H E SUBJECT of structural safety in buildings is one which has received considerable, if belated, examination during the past few years, stimulated in Britain by the Ronan Point accident in 1968. Nevertheless, in comparison with the immense efforts devoted to the development of structural mechanics, the quantitative handling of the structural safety problem remains in a relatively rudimentary state. Some conceptual and theoretical assistance can be derived from studies originating in the aircraft industry and the first of the above two volumes comprises a collection of papers presented to the first International Conferences on the subject of Structural Safety and Reliability sponsored primarily by various aeronautical interests in the U.S. The papers, following the sessions of the conference, are arranged in five sections and deal with general aspects, statistical theory of extremes, random excitation of structures, aircraft structures and special problems. The statistical papers are applicable in considering the particular problem of building structures and two of the papers on random excitation of structures are concerned, respectively,
with wind loads and with earthquake effects. Of the general papers, an essay entitled "The Engineering Climatology of Structural Accidents" by Sir Alfred Pugsley is of particular interest in setting the background to consideration of the structural safety problem in terms of the surrounding political, financial and technical circumstances. The whole set of papers can be regarded as a source book of advanced theoretical methodology which will be of great value to those concerned with the development of structural safety provisions for buildings. The second book represents quite a differen, approach to reliability and is not specifically related to structures or building components. It sets out to examine in a practical way how to design and manufacture any sort of item for reliability. The book is very clearly written and it is not difficult to see how its approach could be applied to the design of many components for buildings and for build'n-, and in the assessment of their performance. It sholll~ certainly be of value to students of buildinl in developing their approach to design problem ila general. A. W. HENDRY