IUTAM Symposium on Mechanical Waves for Composite Structures Characterization : Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium Held in Chania, Crete, Greece, June 14–17, 2000

This book is a collection of selected reviewed papers that were presented at the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Symposium "Mechanical waves for composite structures characterization". The Symposium took place June 14-17, 2000 in Chania, Crete, Greece. As is customary, IUTAM Symposia Proceedings are published in the series "Solid Mechanics and Its Applications" by Kluwer Academic Publishers. I am indebted to Professor G. M. L. Gladwell who is the series editor. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to Professor M. A. Hayes the Secretary General of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics and a member ofthe Symposium's Scientific Committee. His constant encouragement and support made the Symposium not only possible but also successful. To the success also contributed all the members of the Symposium's Scientific Committee which I had the honor to chair. I express my appreciation to each one of them who are: Professor J. D. Achenbach (Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA), Professor M. A. Hayes (University College, Dublin, Ireland), Professor K. J. Langenberg (University of Kassel, Germany), Professor A. K. Mal (University of California, Los Angeles, USA), Professor X. Markenscoff (University of California, San Diego, USA), Professor S. Nair (Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, USA), Professor R. W. Ogden (University of Glasgow, UK), Professor G. This book is a collection of selected reviewed papers that were presented at the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics Symposium `Mechanical Waves for Composite Structures Characterization', on June 14-17, 2000, in Chania, Crete, Greece. As the symposium theme is interdisciplinary in nature, topics covered in the book fall within diverse fields such as Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Biomedical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Fluid and Solid Mechanics, Materials Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Seismology. The papers cover analytical, computational, numerical, theoretical, and experimental aspects, from state-of-the-art fundamental research to applied research and applications in emerging technologies. The topics include body waves, elastic waves, guided waves, inhomogeneous waves, rays, surface waves, and ultrasound in composite materials which are fiber-reinforced, laminated, or homogeneous containing bonds, coatings, cracks, defects, or thin films. The material interfaces are either flat or non-planar and wave motion exists either by itself or superposed on a pre-existing state of stress. This book may serve as a reference book to researchers and to lecturers and students in graduate-level courses such as solid mechanics, wave propagation, and non-destructive evaluation. Fiber-reinforced composites are being used increasingly as primary structural components in aircraft and aerospace structures as well as in ground and marine transportation.