Encyclopedia of Vibration: Volumes 1, 2, and 3

Abstract

5R10. Encyclopedia of Vibration: Volumes 1, 2, and 3. - Edited by SG Braun (Fac of Mech Eng, Technion-Israel Inst of Tech, Haifa, 32000, Israel), DJ Ewins (Dept of Mech Eng, Imperial Col of Sci, Tech and Med, Exhibition Rd, London, SW7 2BX, UK), and SS Rao (Dept of Mech Eng, Univ of Miami, PO Box 248294, Coral Gables FL 33124-0624). Academic Press, San Diego. 2001. 1595 pp. 3-vol set. ISBN 0-12-227085-1. $925.00.Reviewed by AW Leissa (Dept of Mech Eng, Ohio State Univ, 206 W. 18th Ave., Columbus OH 43210-1154).The title chosen for this three-volume set of information about vibrations is very appropriate, for it is indeed an encyclopedia, consisting of 168 short chapters, each treating a particular topic, arranged in alphabetical order. The individual chapters are written by persons who are known to be authorities on the topics. Altogether, 132 persons were contributors, writing chapters which are typically 7-12 pages long. The topics chosen take on a variety of forms. Some of them deal with long-standing vibration concepts (critical damping, dynamic stability, forced response, friction damping, hysteretic damping, etc), some consider types of structural or machine elements (beams, bearings, belts, blades and bladed disks, columns, disks, membranes, pipes, plates, etc), and some are brief summaries of methods of analysis (boundary elements, finite differences, finite elements, Krylov-Lanzos methods, linear damping matrix methods, etc). Current topics of considerable interest (active vibration suppression, actuators and smart structures, electrostrictive materials, laser based measurements, MEMS applications, etc) are also included. A typical chapter begins by describing the topic, and then defines and explains concepts and the terminology involved. Some interesting and useful results are then usually presented and discussed. Each chapter concludes with a list of publications which are recommended for further reading, for those who want to learn more about the topic. There is a wealth of useful information contained in this encyclopedia. This is due to not only the size of the compendium (1595 pages, 20×27cm), but also because each author had to try to condense the most important information into a limited space. It can only be a starting place for a reader interested in any topic, but it is a very good one. One can locate topics easily for, in addition to a complete Table of Contents at its beginning, a 31 page Index of topics and subtopics and their corresponding page numbers is included at the end of each volume. In the opinion of this reviewer, this three-volume encyclopedia is a collection of information which is very useful for all persons who want to know more about vibrations—students, engineers, researchers, and teachers. Those who can afford it will benefit significantly in having a personal copy. But every engineering library should definitely have it.