The subject discussed in this book is the stability of thinwalled elasticsystems under static loads. The presentation of these problems is based onmodern approa... » 

The subject discussed in this book is the stability of thinwalled elasticsystems under static loads. The presentation of these problems is based onmodern approaches to elasticstability theory. Special attention is paid to theformulation of elasticstability criteria to the statement of column plateand shell stability problems to the derivation of basic relationships and toa discussion of the boundaries of the application of analytic relationships.The author has tried to avoid arcane nonstandard problems and elaborate andunexpected solutions which bring real pleasure to connoisseurs but confusestudents and cause bewilderment to some practical engineers. The author has anapprehension that problems which though interesting are limited inapplication can divert the readers attention from the more prosaic but no lesssophisticated general problems of stability theory. «