Francois Nicot

Stability of Discrete Non-conservative Systems first exposes the general concepts and results concerning stability issues. It then presents an approach of stability that is different from Lyapunov which leads to the second order work criterion. Thanks to the new concept of Kinematic Structural Stability, a complete equivalence between two approaches of stability is obtained for a divergent type of stability. Extensions to flutter instability, to continuous systems, and to the dual questions concerning the measure of non-conservativeness provides a full, fresh look at these fundamental questions. A special chapter is devoted to applications for granular systems.

Failure in Geomaterials offers a unified view of material failure as an instability of deformation modes framed within the theory of bifurcation. Using mathematical rigor, logic, physical reasoning and basic principles of mechanics, the authors develop the fundamentals of failure in geomaterials based on the second-order work criterion. Various forms of rupture modes and material instabilities in granular materials are explored both analytically and numerically with lab experimental observations on sand as a backdrop. The authors provide a clear picture of inelastic deformations and failure of geomaterials under various loading conditions. A unique feature of the book is the systematic application of the developed theory to the failure analysis of some selected engineering problems such as soil nailing, landslides, energy resource extraction, and internal erosion in soils.