Treatise on the Mathematical Theory of Elasticity (Dover Books on Physics & Chemistry)

Rating:
Summary: classical and complete
Review: absolute bible in elasticity, every professor who teach elasticity would list it among the reference books. But you have to invest much time to understand it.

Rating:
Summary: A very complete book on elasticity...
Review: Though the original print goes back as far as 1927, the foundations of the theory of linear elasticity aren't changed so this book is still up to date.

Though this book is an introduction text, as it devellops the theory from the very basics, it covers a wide range of applications that are hard to find elsewhere. For example, the equations of Hertz for contact stresses are develloped, the elasticity of a gravitating rotating sphere(earth), torsional deflextion of thin beams in bending and shell- and plate theory. This all in considarable detail.

The style of writing is not oldfashioned at all and is easy to read. Not as easy is the amount of math and time you have to invest to really understand this book. It's does not use tensor represantations but still demands a ready knowledge of advanced calcus (determinants, multivariable calcus, line-integrals, etc.)

It's text only and has no exercices, it's a very enjoyable and rewarding book. It even has a brief chapter on the development of the theory through the centuries.