Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaf 57-63).

Thesis (M.Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 1988. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 57-63). Also available in print.

published_or_final_version / abstract / Civil Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Wollongong, 2005. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references: leaf 265-281.

Thesis (M. S.)--Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2009. / Committee Chair: Thadhani, Naresh; Committee Member: Das, Suman; Committee Member: Fajardo, Mario; Committee Member: Zhou, Min.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Title proper from title frame. Also available in printed format.

No description available.

A finite element formulation for the shear-deformable analysis of beams, plates and shells, based on a strain energy expression defined in terms of total and flexural displacement components, is presented. The effects of transverse shear deformation are considered while the normal strain is neglected. The finite element representation requires independent descriptions of total and flexural displacement components. The flexural strain energy term involves second derivatives of flexural displacement component and thereby necessitates slope-compatible shape functions. This requirement is relaxed by adopting the 'discrete Kirchhoff' hypothesis for the flexural displacement component. An element of triangular shape is formulated for the analysis of laminated composite plates and shallow shells. Numerically exact integration is employed in the calculation of element stiffness matrix and corresponding load vectors. The resulting finite element possesses twelve degrees of freedom at each corner node of the triangle. Numerical results obtained for an extensive range of thickness and planform aspect ratios, laminate configurations, mesh sizes, edge conditions, types of loading and geometry of the structure demonstrate the efficacy of the finite element formulation. The element is applicable to a full range of thicknesss ratios. The present formulation is employed for dynamic and stability analysis of beams, as a precursor to the inclusion of these effects in the analysis of plates and shells.

No description available.

Slope stability problems often arise in construction engineering projects. They are major problems in dams construction and mines excavation. For the purpose of improving the efficiency of slope stability analysis, the optimization method suggested by Powell (1964) is used to locate the critical failure surface. The reader should bear in mind the possibility of applying optimization to a wide variety of different civil engineering problems.