Book excerpt: - Introduces a general approach to the method of integral transforms based on the spectral theory of the linear differential operators. - Presents a new, versatile foundation model with a number of advantages over the ground-based models currently used in practical calculations. - Provides new transforms which will aid in solving various problems relevant to bars, beams, plates, and shells in particular for the structures on elastic foundation. - Examines the methods of solving boundary-value problems typical for structural mechanics and related fields.