The increasing use of advanced composite materials in modem structures of high performance calls for a detailed knowledge of their properties. On the other hand, these materials possessing intense anisotropy, and in some cases non homogeneity, require complicated theories based on homogeneous anisotropic elasticity. Typically, such materials either involve fiber-reinforced composites, which are stacked in layers and form laminates, or particulate composites, containing a second phase in powder form. However, each case must be separately analyzed in terms of the particular characteristics of...

Photoelasticity as an experimental method for analyzing stress fields in mechanics was developed in the early thirties by the pioneering works of Mesnager in France and Coker and Filon in England. Almost concurrently, Foppl, Mesmer, and Oppel in Germany contributed significantly to what turned out to be an amazing development. Indeed, in the fifties and sixties a tremendous number of scientific papers and monographs appeared, all over the world, dealing with various aspects of the method and its applications in experimental stress analysis. All of these contributions were based on the...

When we first approached some colleagues allover the world to sound them about a volume dedicated to Professor John Xanthakis on the occasion of completing twenty-five years of scientific activities as fellow of the National Academy of Athens, any possible doubts as to the feasibility of the project were quickly dispelled by their warm and encouraging response. In a short time 50 authors from 15 countries, coming from a wide range of Professor Xanthakis' immediate colleagues, pupils and friends joined to produce the 36 contributions included in this volume. Some of those who where originally...