As structural elements, anisotropic elastic plates find wide applications in modern technology. The plates here are considered to be subjected to not only inplane load but also transverse load. In other words, both plane and plate bending problems as well as the stretching-bending coupling problems are all explained in this book. In addition to the introduction of the theory of anisotropic elasticity, several important subjects have are discussed in this book such as interfaces, cracks, holes, inclusions, contact problems, piezoelectric materials, thermoelastic problems and boundary element analysis.

The main purpose of this work is construction of the mathematical theory of elastic plates and shells, by means of which the investigation of basic boundary value problems of the spatial theory of elasticity in the case of cylindrical do mains reduces to the study of two-dimensional boundary value problems (BVP) of comparatively simple structure. In this respect in sections 2-5 after the introductory material, methods of re duction, known in the literature as usually being based on simplifying hypotheses, are studied. Here, in contradiction to classical methods, the problems, connected with construction of refined theories of anisotropic nonhomogeneous plates with variable thickness without the assumption of any physical and geometrical re strictions, are investigated. The comparative analysis of such reduction methods was carried out, and, in particular, in section 5, the following fact was established: the error transition, occuring with substitution of a two-dimensional model for the initial problem on the class of assumed solutions is restricted from below. Further, in section 6, Vekua's method of reduction, containing regular pro cess of study of three-dimensional problem, is investigated. In this direction, the problems, connected with solvability, convergence of processes, and construction of effective algorithms of approximate solutions are studied.

This book provides the theory of anisotropic elasticity with the computer program for analytical solutions as well as boundary element methods. It covers the elastic analysis of two-dimensional, plate bending, coupled stretching-bending, and three-dimensional deformations, and is extended to the piezoelectric, piezomagnetic, magnetic-electro-elastic, viscoelastic materials, and the ones under thermal environment. The analytical solutions include the solutions for infinite space, half-space, bi-materials, wedges, interface corners, holes, cracks, inclusions, and contact problems. The boundary element solutions include BEMs for two-dimensional anisotropic elastic, piezoelectric, magnetic-electro-elastic, viscoelastic analyses, and their associated dynamic analyses, as well as coupled stretching-bending analysis, contact analysis, and three-dimensional analysis. This book also provides source codes and examples for all the presenting analytical solutions and boundary element methods. The program is named as AEPH (Anisotropic Elastic Plates – Hwu), which contains 204 MATLAB functions.

This groundbreaking book resolves the main lacuna in Kirchhoff theory of bending of plates in the Poisson-Kirchhoff boundary conditions paradox through the introduction of auxiliary problem governing transverse stresses. The book highlights new primary bending problem which is formulated and analyzed by the application of developed Poisson theory. Analysis with prescribed transverse stresses along faces of the plate, neglected in most reported theories, is presented with an additional term in displacements. The book presents a systematic procedure for the analysis of unsymmetrical laminates. This volume will be a useful reference for students, practicing engineers as well as researchers in applied mechanics.

Elasticity is a property of materials which returns them to their original shape after forces applied to change the shape have been removed. This advanced text explores the problems of composite or anisotropic materials and their elasticity.