Carl Ross gained his first degree in Naval Architecture from King's College, Durham University, his PhD in Structural Engineering from the Victoria University of Manchester, and was awared his DSc in Ocean Engineering from the CNAA, London. His research in the field of engineering led to advances in the design of submarine pressure hulls. His publications and guest lectures to date exceed some 290 papers and books, and he was Professor Structural Dynamics at the University of Portsmouth, UK. On the website www.routledge.com/cw/bird are several of Carl Ross's practical demonstrations. John Bird is the former Head of Applied Electronics in the Faculty of Technology at Highbury College, Portsmouth, UK. More recently, he has combined freelance lecturing at the University of Portsmouth with examiner responsibilities for Advanced Mathematics with City& Guilds and examining for the International Baccalaureate Organisation. He has over 45 years’ experience of successfully teaching, lecturing, instructing, training, educating and planning of trainee engineers study programmes. He is the author of 146 textbooks on engineering, science and mathematical subjects, with worldwide sales of over one million copies. He is a chartered engineer, a chartered mathematician, a chartered scientist and a Fellow of three professional institutions. He has recently retired from lecturing at the Royal Navy’s Defence College of Marine Engineering in the Defence College of Technical Training at H.M.S. Sultan, Gosport, Hampshire, UK. Andrew Little completed an undergraduate apprenticeship with Rolls-Royce Aero Division at the City University, London. He subsequently worked as a Stress Engineer for Rolls-Royce and then for companies such as Ferranti Computer Systems and Plessey Aerospace, designing equipment for high stress and vibration environments. After joining the University of Portsmouth, he became involved with pressure vessel research and completed his PhD whilst lecturing full-time. He has taught subjects such as Solid Mechanics, Dynamics, Design and Computer Aided Design over his 30 years at Portsmouth. He is a chartered engineer, a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and has published 80 academic papers. Now semi-retired, Andrew is still an external examiner and an online tutor.
