The Stone Skeleton : Structural Engineering of Masonry Architecture

Rating:
Summary: The Stone Skeleton
Review: A great beginners book on solid stone structures of magnificent proportions. More an engineers book than a layman, the structural aspects of how piling stones on top of each other can withstand bombing, when steel structures can not. I don't think I'll ever walk into a cathedral again without marveling at the fact that the stones don't just fall down! It is amazing information that awes you and gives you a real appreciation for the art of the stone architecture where the structure drove the design - not the other way around.

Rating:
Summary: The Stone Skeleton
Review: A great beginners book on solid stone structures of magnificent proportions. More an engineers book than a layman, the structural aspects of how piling stones on top of each other can withstand bombing, when steel structures can not. I don't think I'll ever walk into a cathedral again without marveling at the fact that the stones don't just fall down! It is amazing information that awes you and gives you a real appreciation for the art of the stone architecture where the structure drove the design - not the other way around.

Rating:
Summary: Required reading for all who work with stone
Review: For those who are interested in stone as a structural rather than purely decorative building material, this book is an excellent beginning. The focus is on the physics of arches and further to vaults, domes, etc., as this ability to create openings in otherwise solid walls is what makes masonry useful. This is not a book for 'do-it-yourself' types who want a book to help them try their hand at simple gardening stonework. One of the best book I own!

Rating:
Summary: Required reading for all who work with stone
Review: For those who are interested in stone as a structural rather than purely decorative building material, this book is an excellent beginning. The focus is on the physics of arches and further to vaults, domes, etc., as this ability to create openings in otherwise solid walls is what makes masonry useful. This is not a book for 'do-it-yourself' types who want a book to help them try their hand at simple gardening stonework. One of the best book I own!

Rating:
Summary: Not for the layman
Review: There's no doubting this is an authoratative book. It's based on an article that first appeared in a professional journal, and I feel that is its real audience. I found myself in trouble shortly after the introduction, despite a couple of mechanics courses in graduate school. You may have better luck, but I think only practicing structural engineers will be able to enjoy this book.

Rating:
Summary: for people who enjoy engineering and masonry architecture
Review: This is definitely a very well written book concerning structural engineering applied to medieval type of buildings. The practice at that time was driven by principles of geometry and physical proportion, and generally speaking masonry structures work well under this scheme.
The Stone Skeleton is a book that will catch the interest of students and even professional structural engineers who enjoy learning about both gothic cathedrals and buildings designed in a similar way.
A structural analysis textbook may come in handy should someone wishes to go deeper into the mathematical concepts of elastic versus plastic structural analysis and the design of domes and vaults. Other structural elements such as piers, pinnacles, flying buttresses and subjects such as cracking and settlements are also briefly discussed.