This book provides a modern investigation into the bifurcation phenomena of physical and engineering problems. Systematic methods - based on asymptotic, probabilistic, and group-theoretic standpoints - are used to examine experimental and computational data from numerous examples (soil, sand, kaolin, concrete, domes).
For mathematicians, static bifurcation theory for finite-dimensional systems, as well as its implications for practical problems, is illuminated by the numerous examples. Engineers may find this book, with its minimized mathematical formalism, to be a useful introduction to modern bifurcation theory.
This second edition strengthens the theoretical backgrounds of group representation theory and its application, uses of block-diagonalization in bifurcation analysis, and includes up-to-date topics of the bifurcation analysis of diverse materials from rectangular parallelepiped sand specimens to honeycomb cellular solids.
Reviews of first edition: "The present book gives a wide and deep description of imperfect bifurcation behaviour in engineering problems. โฆ the book offers a number of systematic methods based on contemporary mathematics. โฆ On balance, the reviewed book is very useful as it develops a modern static imperfect bifurcation theory and fills the gap between mathematical theory and engineering practice." (Zentralblatt MATH, 2003) "The current book is a graduate-level text that presents an overview of imperfections and the prediction of the initial post-buckling response of a system. ... Imperfect Bifurcation in Structures and Materials provides an extensive range of material on the role of imperfections in stability theory. It would be suitable for a graduate-level course on the subject or as a reference to research workers in the field." ( Applied Mechanics Reviews, 2003) "This book is a comprehensive treatment of the static bifurcation problems found in (mainly civil/structural) engineering applications.... The text is well written and regularly interspersed with illustrative examples. The mathematical formalism is kept to a minimum and the 194 figures break up the text and make this a highly readable and informative book. ... In summary a comprehensive treatment of the subject which is very well put together and of interest to all researchers working in this area: recommended." (UK Nonlinear News, 2002)