From time to time the International Journal of Fracture has presented special matters thought to be of interest to its readers. In previous issues, for example, Dr. H.W. Liu as Guest Editor assembled a series of review papers dealing with fatigue processes and characteristics in metals and non-metals (December 1980 and April 1981). Five years ago Guest Editor W.G. Knauss collected works dealing with dynamic fracture (March and April 1985). Continuing this policy, Dr. W.G. Knauss and Dr. A.J. Rosakis of the California Institute of Technology as Guest Editors have now organized an extensive set...

The rapid pace of current developments in the theoretical, analytical, numerical and experimental fields of dynamic failure of materials called for an international seminar of workshop style aimed at improving the finding and understanding of solutions to the basic physical processes involved in dynamic failure. The Vienna Seminar DFM-l was held at the Technical University Vienna in the historic administration building in the city center under the auspices of the university. More than 30 international experts from all over the world followed the invitation to participate at this seminar. High...