Salvador M.G. Why Buildings Stand Up: The Strength of Architecture

W. W. Nоrtоn & Company, 1980. — 311 p.The author discusses recent advances in science and technology that have had important effects on the planning and construction of buildings: improved materials (steel, concrete, plastics), progress in antiseismic designs, and changes in both architectural and structural design made possible by the computer.
An introduction to building methods from ancient times to the present day.Structures
The Beginning of Architecture · Function and Structure · Architects and Engineers · Structure and the LaymanThe Pyramids
What Are They? · The Building of the Pyramids · The Social Purpose of the Pyranlids · The Death of the PyramidsLoads
Dead Loads · Live Loads · Dynamic Loads · Wind Loads · Earthquake Loads · Thermal and Settlement LoadsMaterials
Tension and Compression · Elasticity and Plasticity · Safety Factors · Steel · Reinforced Concrete · PlasticsBeams and Columns
Newton's Laws · Translational Equilibrium · Rotational Equilibrium · Beam Action · Shear · BucklingHouses
Prehistoric and Historic Houses · The Anlerican House · Concrete-Frame Housing · Prefabricated Concrete BuildingsSkyscrapers
The High-Rise Building · The Birth of a Skyscraper · The Skyscraper StructureThe Eiffel Tower
The Symbol · The Builder of the Tower · The Building of the Tower · Cranes and Elevators · The Life of the Tower · The Taller TowersBridges
Arches · Railroad Bridges · Concrete Bridges · Space FramesThe Brooklyn Bridge
The Creator of the Bridge · The Construction of the Bridge · Modern Suspension BridgesForm-Resistant Structures
Grids and Flat Slabs · Strength through Form · Curved Surfaces · Barrel Roofs and Folded Plates · Saddle Roofs · Complex Roofs · Thin Shell DamsThe Unfinished Cathedral
The Origin of the Gothic Cathedrals · Gothic Spaces and Structures · Saint Pierrc at BeauvaisDomes
The Largest Roofs in the World · The Dome as Structure · The Pantheon · Santa Maria del Fiore Modern DomesHagia Sophia
The Construction of the Church · The Interior of the Church · The Structure of the Church · The Fate of Hagia SophiaTents and Balloons
Tents · Pneumatic StructuresThe Hanging Sky
Domes and Dishes · The Hanging DishThe Message of Structure
Semiotic Messages · Semiotic Message and Scale · The Varying Semiotic Message