Customer Reviews

Plasticity Theory

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book is a confusing mess to try to use to learn plasticity. It might be useful to someone who is a specialist in plasticity but is a wandering jumble of numerous theories and complaints about the theories. Heavy numerical derivations without a clue what started it, where it is going, and just dropped to start the next subject.

This book has only a tenth the number of the figures and diagrams that an intro textbook needs. Specifically, the first 50 pages have only 7 diagrams and figures. The figures are typically confusing as well.

The book reuses variables/notation constantly. You never know what definition the variable has in an equation. Frequently, new variables and functions are thrown into an equation without a discussion of their meaning. A list of brief definitions concerning a new equation will just leave off a couple of the variables or functions.

I am on page 125. I still do not have an explicit equation about any form of plasticity. It is still wandering around about f(x) type discussions.

Having this book available for the price of a Dover book is fantastic. This book is a must-read for anyone dealing with continuum solid mechanics. Jacob Lubliner is a very didactic writer, with no sacrifice of rigorousness. Plus, the errata are periodically updated, and available in his website.

This may well be the best book on the subject in market today.

In Plasticity Theory, Lubliner comes across as a teacher, a writer, and a spectator--one who has seen the field of plasticity grow. Each page of the book reflects his deep understanding of the subject.

I believe his course in plasticity at the University of California at Berkeley has inspired a generation of students, and has helped to create well known works of Dafalias & Popov, Lade & Duncan, Singh & Mitchell, Duncan & Chang, and Simo & Taylor. The book covers many of the modern advances in engineering plasticity and may be the most complete text available on the subject today.

Many have commented on the review below. I have heard men of repute say, this is a very good book. Then, there is a recurring concern -- a 5-star book on the theory of plasticity is yet to be written. I believe the book has the potential for becoming the best book in plasticity ever written. What is missing in the book?

Plasticity is a vast subject and my knowledge is limited. But as far as I can see, the book needs a base of the endochronic theory. Why? Let me give you an example. The book has Prandtl-Reuss relations. Fine. But if you take these relations and fit them with a monotonic uniaxial test, do you end up with a set of correct stress-strain relations of the theory of plasticity? Definitely not. What you have is some workable curve-fit equations. Endochronic theory shows us the way.

Endochronic theory is an American dream -- a quest for excellence. The scope is limited, but whatever it can accomplish, that is the best. And, America's students deserve the best. When the book was written, the theory was hardly there; Lubliner barely touches upon the concepts.

In 1940s, there came a young professor at Brown University. His name was D.C. Drucker. He had a vision of plasticity. The book covers what he accomplished. I believe, the endochronic hardening rule when combined with the incremental theory of plasticity, along with a proper methods of material parameter determination, completes a portion of Drucker's vision. Permit me to say, works of Steven Engelstad and Su-Yuen Hsu at Virginia Tech will benefit plasticity students across America.

A second edition of the book would be greatly appreciated by the plasticity community.