Uni Reading List
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Structural and Stress Analysis cover

Engineering

Engineering

Structural and Stress Analysis

T. H. G. Megson

A British textbook by T. H. G. Megson that brings mechanics of materials and structural analysis together in a single course text for civil and structural engineering students. It moves from equilibrium and internal forces through stress, strain and beam theory to energy methods, statically indeterminate structures, matrix methods, plastic analysis and structural instability, with many worked examples.

Prerequisites: First-year engineering mathematics and statics, including vectors, simple calculus and free-body diagrams.

Difficulty Level
Intermediate
Academic Level
Undergraduate
structural analysisstress analysisbeams and framesenergy methodsplastic analysisTextbook

01 / Reading Guide

Reading Guide

Citation

Megson, T. H. G. (2019). Structural and Stress Analysis (4th ed.). Butterworth-Heinemann.

Chapter Summary

The fourth edition has twenty-one chapters and two appendices, a table of section properties and standard cases of beam bending. Elsevier describes it as a comprehensive introduction to all types of structural and stress analysis. It starts from the basic principles of statics and then covers normal and shear force, bending moments and torsion. The publisher's listing gives chapter titles only, so the entries below follow the titles and the publisher's description.

Chapters 1–3: Introduction; Principles of Statics; Normal Force, Shear Force, Bending Moment and Torsion

The opening chapters introduce the subject, then set out the principles of statics, which the publisher says are included so that students know the basic concepts and the equilibrium principles governing all structures, as well as the principles behind computer-based calculations. Chapter 3 follows with the internal actions in a member: normal force, shear force, bending moment and torsion.

Chapters 4–6: Analysis of Pin-Jointed Trusses; Cables; Arches

Three chapters on structural forms: pin-jointed trusses, cables and arches.

Chapters 7–8: Stress and Strain; Properties of Engineering Materials

Stress and strain are introduced first, followed by the properties of engineering materials.

Chapters 9–12: Bending of Beams; Shear of Beams; Torsion of Beams; Composite Beams

The stress analysis of beams, taking bending, shear and torsion in turn, and composite beams.

Chapters 13–15: Deflection of Beams; Complex Stress and Strain; Virtual Work and Energy Methods

Beam deflection, then complex stress and strain, then virtual work and energy methods.

Chapters 16–17: Analysis of Statically Indeterminate Structures; Matrix Methods of Analysis

Statically indeterminate structures, followed by matrix methods of analysis. According to the publisher, the fourth edition has a greater focus on digital trends in structural engineering, including newer computer analysis methods and how to check their output to avoid "black-box" engineering.

Chapters 18–19: Plastic Analysis of Beams and Frames; Yield Line Analysis of Slabs

Plastic analysis of beams and frames and yield line analysis of slabs. The publisher lists additional worked examples on plastic analysis of frames, bending moment distribution and displacement evaluations on collapse mechanics.

Chapters 20–21: Influence Lines; Structural Instability

The book closes with influence lines and structural instability.

Key Concepts

Chapters 1–6: Statics and Statically Determinate Structures

  • Principles of statics: the equilibrium principles that govern all structures.
  • Normal force, shear force, bending moment and torsion: the internal actions studied in Chapter 3.
  • Trusses, cables and arches: analysed in Chapters 4 to 6.

Chapters 7–15: Stress Analysis and Energy Methods

  • Stress and strain, complex stress and strain: introduced in Chapter 7 and returned to in Chapter 14.
  • Bending, shear and torsion of beams: the stress analysis of Chapters 9 to 11.
  • Virtual work and energy methods: Chapter 15.

Chapters 16–21: Indeterminate, Plastic and Unstable Structures

  • Matrix methods: Chapter 17, with the publisher's emphasis on checking computer output.
  • Plastic analysis and yield line analysis: Chapters 18 and 19.
  • Structural instability: Chapter 21.

Critical Analysis

Strengths

  • One book for stress analysis and structural analysis. The same volume runs from statics, trusses and internal actions through stress, strain, beams and energy methods to indeterminate structures, matrix methods, plastic analysis and instability.
  • Worked examples and illustrations. Elsevier's key features list numerous worked examples, end-of-chapter problems and extensive illustrations.
  • Statics is included. The publisher says the book introduces statics so that students know the basic concepts and can follow the equilibrium principles governing all structures.
  • Attention to computer methods. The fourth edition has newer computer analysis methods and a warning against uncritical use of output, according to Elsevier, along with new material on structural dynamics and fatigue and additional discussion of Eurocode compliance in the design of beams.

Limitations

  • Depth is hard to judge. Twenty-one chapters in one volume cover both subjects, and matrix methods and instability get one chapter each. The public listing has no section headings, so the depth of each chapter cannot be judged from it.
  • New topics are not visible in the contents. Elsevier says the edition adds material on structural dynamics and fatigue, but the chapter titles do not include either, so readers cannot tell from the listing where they appear.
  • Regional orientation. Elsevier gives the readership as first- and second-year civil and structural engineering students in the UK and Europe, Middle East and Africa, and as professionals in the US; Eurocode references are tied to European practice.
  • Edition details. Elsevier lists the fourth edition as the latest, published in March 2019.

Where It Fits in the Course

Megson's book is the combined stress and structural analysis text on the civil and structural engineering list. Hibbeler's Structural Analysis concentrates on analysing trusses, beams and frames through to matrix and computer methods, and it suits a separate structural analysis course after strength of materials. Megson suits students who want one book that includes the mechanics of materials as well, and its listing also covers plastic analysis, yield line analysis and instability.

For an easier start, J. E. Gordon's Structures: Or Why Things Don't Fall Down and Ji, Bell and Ellis's Understanding and Using Structural Concepts describe how structures work with little mathematics. Beyond the course, McGuire, Gallagher and Ziemian's Matrix Structural Analysis goes deeper into the stiffness method, and Chopra's Dynamics of Structures treats vibration and earthquake analysis.

How to Use This Book

Elsevier's readership statement points to first- and second-year civil and structural engineering students, and to professionals reviewing structural analysis and stress concepts. The book starts with statics, so it can be used early in a degree. A practical plan:

  • Core: Chapters 1 to 3 for statics and internal actions, Chapters 4 to 6 on trusses, cables and arches, then Chapters 7 to 13 on stress and beams.
  • Next: Chapters 14 to 17 on complex stress and strain, virtual work, indeterminate structures and matrix methods.
  • Selective: Chapters 18 and 19 (plastic and yield line analysis), Chapter 20 on influence lines and Chapter 21 on instability, depending on what the course covers.
  • Practice: work the end-of-chapter problems and follow the worked examples line by line before attempting them.