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Experimental Mechanics – An Introduction
by Emmanuel E Gdoutos
The purpose of this book is to present in a clear, simple, straightforward, novel and unified manner the most used methods of experimental mechanics of solids for the determination of displacements, strains and stresses. Emphasis is given on the principles of operation of the various methods, not in their applications to engineering problems. For more information on the methods presented in the book there is an extensive bibliography at the end of each chapter. The book is divided into sixteen chapters.
Today’s experimentalist armed with a strong background in numerical methods and computer techniques and deep understanding of the basic experimental methods should have the tools necessary to solve problems of structural behaviour and material characterization at the nano-, micro- and macro-scale levels. Needless to say, that the most valuable virtues of an experimentalists are not his/her technical skills, but honesty and integrity. Experimental results should be presented as obtained from the tests, unbiased of any relations with analytical solutions, in case they exist. This most valuable virtue should be cultivated in classrooms and laboratories.
The book provides the basics of the most used methods of experimental mechanics for measuring displacements, strains and stresses. It is hoped that it will be used not only as a learning tool, but as a basis on which the researcher, the engineer, the experimentalist, the student can develop their new own ideas to promote research in experimental mechanics of solids.