Book Reviews
A PRIMER FOR FINITE ELEMENTS
Wiley, New York; 1999; 494 pages; $79.95.
W. F. Carroll presents an easily readable text designed to
demystify the finite-element method for students. The text be-
gins with a review of matrices and structural mechanics. In
fact, more than a third of the text is devoted to basic matrix
structural analysis. Carroll’s presentation of 2D plane-stress/
plane-strain, thin and moderately thick plates, and axisym-
metric solids is straightforward and based on the principle of
virtual work. By avoiding more complex formulations, the
reader can easily grasp the fundamentals. There are many
easy-to-follow examples throughout the text and many increas-
ingly challenging exercises at the end of each chapter. Also
included is a MATLAB tutorial to aid in the matrix manipu-
lations.
In choosing to simplify the finite-element method, W. F.
Carroll also chooses not to dwell on the method’s limitations.
Modeling errors associated with lower order shape functions,
CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS WRITING: PRINCIPLES
Wiley, New York; 1999; $64.95.
Harold Rosen, the author of Construction Specifications
Writing, is to be commended for turning out one of the more
comprehensive references on specifications writing for build-
ing projects published in many years; not much has been left
out. Rosen covers a wide variety of subjects pertaining to spec
writing, including such basic issues as philosophy and ap-
proach, structure and arrangement, research and content, and
communication styles and methods. In addition, he goes be-
yond these basics to include several more salient aspects of
current-day spec writing, such as performance specifications,
the materials evaluation process, computer usage, etc. Rosen
has even included the 1997 versions of the American Institute
of Architects (AIA) documents A107 and A201, and, for those
who believe incremental change in this area is adequate, Rosen
has included a section entitled ‘‘Critique of the 1995 Mas-
terFormat.’’
However, this reference is not for everyone. Readers will
have to continue their wait for a solid reference addressing
spec writing for engineered projects—which, by way, won’t
likely include much on the Construction Specifications Insti-
tute (CSI). Besides neglecting the unique challenges of engi-
neered (versus ‘‘architected’’) project specifications, the Inter-
net as an information source is another obvious omission (only
two web addresses are provided: AIA’s and CSI’s). In addition,
it is recommended that any future edition of this publication
include treatment on sustainable construction in its discussion
of criteria for materials evaluation.
Beyond inclusions and exclusions, oddly enough, for a ref-
erence focused on the structuring of information, the weakness
of Rosen’s book is squarely in its own organization—which
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IN ELASTIC STRUCTURES
By William F. Carroll
integration limitations, misshapen elements, zero energy
modes, and locking phenomena are scarcely mentioned. Also
absent is a description of the patch test and convergence cri-
teria. These omissions greatly limit the usefulness of the text
for advanced students and design professionals.
Nonetheless, the text would work well in an advanced un-
dergraduate analysis course or an introductory-level graduate
finite-element course.
Graham C. Archer, Ph.D., P. Eng.
Assistant Professor
School of Civil Engineering
1284 Civil Engineering Building, Room 4123
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1284
Phone: (765) 496-3419
Fax: (765) 496-1105
E-mail: archer@purdue.edu
AND PROCEDURES
By Harold J. Rosen
is much less effective than it could have been. For example,
15 of the 22 chapters in the book averaged only five pages in
length—an indication that some consolidation (or elaboration)
might be appropriate. For example, sequenced between Chap-
ters 8 and 20 were a total of five different chapters addressing
just the writing aspect of specification development. The mo-
tivation of separating high-level ‘‘strategic’’ matters from de-
tailed ‘‘tactical’’ ones can often be beneficial, but that ap-
proach does not always work in this publication.
Additionally, one might argue that the sequencing of ma-
terial in some places is somewhat inappropriate. For example,
the subject of materials evaluation, which should occur fairly
early in the spec writer’s work process, is not discussed in this
reference until Chapter 16.
Specification writing is certainly one of the industry’s many
important work processes, and, like most work processes, it is
usually best illustrated with diagrams that show the flow de-
cisions, resources, and information. Yet this reference contains
a minimal amount of graphics. Perhaps this is representative
of one of the problematic paradigms with current specification
writing: thou shalt have no diagrams or graphics in any spec-
ification. Someday, this too shall change (it has been said that
a picture is worth a thousand words).
Despite these shortcomings, many spec writers will benefit
greatly from having this publication in their libraries, and
there’s not a civil engineering or architecture university cur-
riculum in the country that wouldn’t benefit from the many
bits of wisdom contained in this reference.
James T. O’Connor, P.E., Ph.D.
C. T. Wells Professor of Project Management
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712
JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING / SEPTEMBER 1999 / 1081
 DESIGN AND OPTIMIZATION
By Zafer Gurdal, Raphael T. Haftka, and Prabhat Hajela
Wiley-Interscience, New York; 1999; 335 pages; $89.95.
The use of laminated composite materials in civil engineer-
ing applications has gained increasing popularity in recent
years. Applications include offshore oil production, bridge
construction, and building repair. In the offshore oil industry,
fiber-reinforced composites are used to construct floating sys-
tems for oil exploration in deep water (3,000 m and more).
Applications in bridge construction include the use of com-
posite cables in cable-stayed bridges, composite decks, and
fiber-reinforced plastic structural shapes for long spans. In the
building sector, composite materials are used for repair,
strengthening, and retrofit of columns, walls, and beams made
of reinforced concrete, wood, and masonry. Fiber-reinforced
polymer (FRP) reinforcing bars are used for concrete struc-
tures in aggressive environments.
This range of broad applications results directly from the
advantages offered by advanced composite materials. These
advantages include: weight reduction (high strength/stiffness
to weight ratio), tailorable properties (strength or stiffness may
be tailored to the desired load direction), redundant load paths
(fiber to fiber), longer life (no corrosion, low wear), fatigue
endurance, and inherent damping. Along with these advan-
tages, composites present the designer with challenges not usu-
ally encountered with more traditional civil engineering ma-
terials, including low ductility (fibers are elastic to failure),
difficulty in inspection, possible weakness in the transverse
direction, weak matrix and low toughness, environmental deg-
radation of the matrix, difficulty in making structural attach-
ments, and difficulty with analysis due to uncertainty in the
ability to analytically model the fabricated part or member.
Thus, detailed knowledge of the concepts associated with the
analysis and design of composite structures is necessary before
a designer may venture into the field of composite applica-
tions.
In the past, most applications, and therefore, the design and
manufacturing knowledge base were associated with devel-
opments in the aerospace and defense industries. The repetitive
nature of the applications of structures and components in
these industries served as the base for development of most
current manufacturing and design techniques. Unfortunately,
1082 / JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING / SEPTEMBER 1999
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OF LAMINATED COMPOSITE MATERIALS
the ‘‘single-time’’ design and use nature of most applications
in civil engineering does not allow for the direct adaptation of
aerospace-based technology. This requires design engineers to
have a thorough knowledge of the nature of composites before
confidently applying the material.
To provide that knowledge, the authors have developed a
textbook for use at the undergraduate level. Topics are pre-
sented from a design perspective, providing enough behavioral
information to understand the development of the design ap-
proaches, but not enough to obtain in-depth understanding of
material behavior. The book does provide a special section on
modeling temperature and moisture effects (hygrothermal
analysis) and information on the design of laminates for tem-
perature and moisture conditions. Current methods for deter-
mining the impact of hygrothermal effects on composites are
summarized at the end of the section.
Another unique aspect of the book is the addition of a sec-
tion on integer linear programming as a tool for optimization
of laminate design. Although cumbersome for manual imple-
mentation, the linear programming approach provides a useful
tool when incorporated in dedicated computer programs.
The book does not cover the manufacturing aspects of fiber-
reinforced composites, nor does it present material selection
considerations, a significant drawback. Premanufactured
shapes are not covered, nor is information on more advanced
topics in fiber-reinforced composites, such as connections and
hybrid systems.
The material in the book is well presented and clearly or-
ganized. It clearly fulfills its role, as an introductory text on
design topics in laminated composites for engineers not in-
volved in the aerospace industry. The associated Mathematica
programs, which come with the text, are useful in determining
basic properties of composites. The implementation of a web-
site associated with the book (under development in some of
its sections and links at the time of this review) increases the
appeal of the text as an instructional tool.
Guillermo Ramirez
Department of Civil and Environmental
Engineering
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045-2225