The International Journal of Solids and Structures has as its objective the publication and dissemination of original research in Mechanics of Solids and Structures as a field of Applied Science and Engineering. It fosters thus the exchange of ideas among workers in different parts of the world and also among workers who emphasize different aspects of the foundations and applications of the field. Standing as it does at the cross-roads of Materials Science, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and Engineering Design, the Mechanics of Solids and Structures is experiencing considerable growth as a result of recent technological advances. The Journal, by providing an international medium of communication, is encouraging this growth and is encompassing all aspects of the field from the more classical problems of structural analysis to mechanics of solids continually interacting with other media and including fracture, flow, wave propagation, heat transfer, thermal effects in solids, optimum design methods, model analysis, structural topology and numerical techniques. Interest extends to both inorganic and organic solids and structures. The emphasis is placed on contributions, analytical, experimental and numerical, which appear to be of permanent interest to research workers and engineers in the field. If furthering knowledge in the area of principal concern of the Journal, papers of primary interest to the constitutive disciplines of Materials Science, Mathematics, Physics and Engineering Design may be published. Papers which are merely illustrations of established principles and procedures, even though possibly containing new numerical or experimental data, will generally not be published. When outstanding advances are made in existing areas or when new areas have been developed to a definitive stage, special review articles will be considered by the Editors. No length limitations for contributions are set, but only concisely written papers are published. Brief articles are considered on the basis of technical merit. Discussions of previously published papers are welcome. Related Conference The International Congress on Fracture is a series of meetings held every 4 years. The conference scope is sure to be of interest to readers of Engineering Fracture Mechanics, Theoretical and Applied Fracture Mechanics, International Journal of Fatigue, Engineering Failure Analysis, International Journal of Pressure Vessels and Piping, NDT&E, Journal of the Mechanics & Physics of Solids, International Journal of Solids & Structures, Mechanics of Materials and related mechanics/materials titles. All interested researchers in the mechanics and mechanisms of fracture, fatigue and strength of solids are invited to submit a paper to the next ICF and/or attend as a delegate.