Derived from the invited IUTAM Symposium in September 1993, this volume's contributions discuss recent advances in fracture mechanics, studies of concrete, rock, ceramics and other brittle disordered materials at micro and structural levels. It draws together research and new applications in continuum, damage and fracture mechanics approaches.

This volume constitutes the Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on "Analytical and Computational Fracture Mechanics of Non-homogeneous Materials," held in Cardiff from 18th to 22nd June 2001. The Symposium was convened to address and place on record topical issues in analytical and computational aspects of the fracture of non-homogeneous materials as they are approached by specialists in mechanics, materials science and related fields. The expertise represented in the Symposium was accordingly very wide, and many of the world's greatest authorities in their respective fields participated. Given the extensive range and scale of non-homogeneous materials, it had to be focussed to enhance the quality and impact of the Symposium. The range of non-homogeneous materials was limited to those that are inhomogeneous at the macroscopic level and/or exhibit strain softening. The issues of micro to macro scaling were not excluded even within this restricted range which covered materials such as rock, concrete, ceramics and composites on the one hand, and, on the other, those metallic materials whose ductile fracture is strongly influenced by the presence of inhomogeneities. The Symposium remained focussed on fundamental research issues of practical significance. These issues have many common features among seemingly disparate non-homogeneous materials.

Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on Structural Optimization, Melbourne, Australia, February 9-13, 1988

This volume constitutes the Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium on "Analytical and Computational Fracture Mechanics of Non-homogeneous Materials," held in Cardiff from 18th to 22nd June 2001. The Symposium was convened to address and place on record topical issues in analytical and computational aspects of the fracture of non-homogeneous materials as they are approached by specialists in mechanics, materials science and related fields. The expertise represented in the Symposium was accordingly very wide, and many of the world's greatest authorities in their respective fields participated. Given the extensive range and scale of non-homogeneous materials, it had to be focussed to enhance the quality and impact of the Symposium. The range of non-homogeneous materials was limited to those that are inhomogeneous at the macroscopic level and/or exhibit strain softening. The issues of micro to macro scaling were not excluded even within this restricted range which covered materials such as rock, concrete, ceramics and composites on the one hand, and, on the other, those metallic materials whose ductile fracture is strongly influenced by the presence of inhomogeneities. The Symposium remained focussed on fundamental research issues of practical significance. These issues have many common features among seemingly disparate non-homogeneous materials.