Over the last several years, the four authors have jointly conducted research into the analysis of vibrating Mindlin plates as a collaborative project between Nanyang Technological University, The National University of Singapore, and The University of Queensland. The research was prompted by the fact that there is a dearth of vibration results for Mindlin plates when compared to classical thin plate solutions. To generate the vibration results, the authors have successfully employed the Ritz method for general plate shapes and boundary conditions. The Ritz method, once thought to be awkward for general plate analysis, can be automated through suitable trial functions (for displacements) that satisfy the geometric plate boundary conditions "a priori." This work has been well-received by academics and researchers, as indicated by the continual requests for the authors' papers and the Ritz software codes. This monograph is written with the view to share this so-called "p"-Ritz method for the vibration analysis of Mindlin plates and its software codes with the research community. To the authors' knowledge, the monograph contains the first published Ritz plate software codes of its kind.

The papers in this volume represent the most recent findings in the area of structural stability and encompass the more traditional areas of lateral-torsional & local buckling, as well as newer applications in testing, structural analysis, composite & concrete structures. Also included is the state of the art research into dynamic & cyclic loading, with the latter application being of particular importance in the area of earthquake engineering. The breadth of the scope of contributions, as well as the regional nature of the research represented by the geographic spread of the papers across some 5 continents, will ensure that this volume is a reference for recent trends in the research and application of techniques in structural stability and design.