Customer Reviews

Computational Geomechanics with Special Reference to Earthquake Engineering

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Zienkiewicz has been a major force in the development of the field of computational geomechanics. He is credited for implementing the critical state soil mechanics into the finite element method--a pioneering work that he and co-authors bring to a completion in this ground-breaking book.

"Computational Geomechanics" presents a balanced mix of firmly established, established, and barely established concepts of mathematical modelling in geotechnical engineering. Firmly established is the finite element modelling of Biot's theory of consolidation, presented so precisely in this book. Fairly well established are the plasticity models with yield surfaces included in the book. And, barely established are the models of plasticity without a yield surface. The endochronic theory will perhaps be needed to complete the foundations of such models.

What I like about the book most is that it makes a computer program available to the reader through World Wide Web. The program, for which a user's guide is included in the book, is named DIANA-SWANDYNE II. The program was developed at the University of Wales, Swansea. First I thought the program was named after Princess Diana--Oops! I was wrong. The name is the acronym of Dynamic Interaction And Nonlinear Analysis -SWANsea DYNamic version II. What a coincidence!

Finally, please permit me to say, my book on plasticity would be very useful in understanding some very advanced concepts presented in "Computational Geomechanics." Thank you.

This is a good book in geomechanics, co-authored by pioneers like Pastor, Chan, Schrefler. The materials presented are very dense and compact, and is a good reference for researchers. However, as a poor researcher myself, I think it cost too much. I wonder why they never intend to publish it in paperback. An exploitation to researchers pocket, indeed, if they dont mind me saying so.

BTW,.... That will make your book famous. It is inappropriate to use Zienkiewicz name to sell yourself.

The audience of Amazon.com appears to be very large. Just in past two days, the dialogue between me and the reader from West Virginia USA has been seen by several thousand people around the globe. Many seem to have a few questions in common: What makes this book a definitive piece of work? Why did I stick in my own book here? Zienkiewicz is world known; was I trying to tag along? Have I gotten rich by doing so? May I please take a minute to explain my side?

I truly believe that to really understand the Zienkiewicz' book, you have to read my book. The reason is this. The two books are expressions of one talent--Zenon Mroz of Warsaw, Poland--a leading authority in constitutive modeling.

Zenon Mroz came to Virginia Tech as a visiting professor in 1984, then in 1987, and again in 1990. He delivered inspiring sermons on plasticity theory. I combined his wisdom with the work of American giants--D.C. Drucker, R.A. Schapery, K.C. Valanis and others.

Earlier, Zenon Mroz had graced the Department of Civil Enginering at the University of Wales, Swansea, headed by Zienkiewicz. The book Computational Geomechanics is again the result of seeds sown by Mroz at Swansea. The book extensively refers to the works of Mroz, just as mine does. Do you now see the connection between the two books?

"Computational Geomechanics" is a step in the direction of definitive works. Zienkiewicz has followed an American philosophy throughout his career: "Integrate and rule." And in this book he seems to be saying, "Hey you all! bring your models and test them in my backyard." There are weak-links in the book which you cannot unravel until you understand Zenon Mroz, R.A. Schapery and K.C. Valanis.

I am working on a commentary on the book, a portion of which I hope to incorporate in my planned keynote address to the European Congress on Computational Methods (ECCOMAS 2000) to be held in Barcelona, Spain this year.

Finally, I want to say, I am still a poor man. In engineering, seekers of truth seldom become rich.

The Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary gives the meaning of "plug" as, "insistent advertisement or favorable publicity." I have had no such intentions. At times, an assertion demands credentials. An assertion without weight is an hollow speculation. For me to say that Zienkiewicz has been a major force in computational geomechanics, I thought a "plug" would be of help. In any case, the concern voiced is heeded. I do want to thank the reader from WV USA for a 5-star rating of the plug. It's an honor to be an author of a book someone thought was 5-starred.

I wish to remind Mr. Jain that readers' review places are not for useless plugs for your own book. Why not put it up on auction, where it would get more publicity?