Preface -- Biography Pericles S. Theocaris -- Contents -- Contributors -- Part I  Mathematical Methods in Applied Mechanics -- Application of Reciprocity Relations to Laser-Based Ultrasonics , by J. D. Achenbach -- An Asymptotic Method of Boundary-Value Problems Solution of Elasticity Theory for Thin Bodies, by L.A. Aghalovyan -- Reliable Optimal Design in Contact Mechanics, by N.V. Banichuk, S.Yu. Ivanova and E.V. Makeev -- Scaling of Strength and Lifetime Distributions of Quasibrittle Structures,  by Z. P. Bažant and J.-L. Le -- Directional Distortional Hardening in Plasticity Within Thermodynamics, by Y.F. Dafalias and H.P. Feigenbaum -- Forced Vibrations of the System: Structure – Viscoelastic Layer, by B. V. Gusev and A. S. Faivusovich -- Extreme Instability Phenomena in Autonomous Weakly Damped Systems: Hopf Bifurcations, Double Pure Imaginary Eigenvalues, Load Discontinuity (plenary lecture), by A.N. Kounadis -- Variational Approach to Static and Dynamic Elasticity Problems, by G.V. Kostin and V.V. Saurin , by An Accelerated Newmark Scheme for Solving the Equation of Motion in the Time Domain of Systems Comprising Dampers Governed by Fractional Derivatives, by Pol. D. Spanos and G.I. Evangelatos -- Part II  Experimental Mechanics -- Photoelastic Tomography as Hybrid Mechanics, by H. Aben, L. Ainola and A. Errapart -- Using of the Electronic Speckle Interferometry for Measuring Stress-Deformation State of Elastic Bodies and Structures, by R.V. Goldstein, V.M. Kozintsev and A.L. Popov -- Structural Integrity and Residual Strength of Composites Exposed to Fire, by G.A. Kardomateas -- Theory and Application of Sampling Moire Metho, by Y. Morimoto and M. Fujigaki -- Recent Advances in Microelectromechanical Systems and their Applications for Future Challenges, by R. J. Pryputniewicz -- Experimental Mechanics in Nano-Engineering, by C.A. Sciammarella, F.M. Sciammarella and L. Lambertti -- Advanced Cement Based Nanocomposites, by S.P. Shah,, M.S. Konsta-Gdoutos and Z.S. Metaxa -- Application of Digital Speckle Pattern Interferometry (DSPI) in Determination of Elastic Modulus Using Plate Vibration, by Ch. Shakher and Rajesh Kumar -- The Development and Applications of Amplitude Fluctuation Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry Method, by W.-C. Wang and C.-H. Hwang -- Part III  Fracture Mechanics: Piezonuclear Transmutations in Brittle Rocks under Mechanical Loading: Micromechanical Analysis and Geological Confirmations, by A. Carpinteri, G. Lacidogna, A. Manuello and O. Borla -- Stress Triaxiality at Crack Tips Studied by Caustics, by E.E. Gdoutos -- Reinforcement of a Cracked Infinite Elastic Plate with Defects, by S.M. Mkhitaryan and D.I. Bardzokas -- Some Actual Problems of Fracture Mechanics of Materials and Strcuctures, by V.V. Panasyuk and I.M. Dmytrakh -- Cyclic Plasticity with an Application to Extremely Low Cycle Fatigue of Structural Steel, by D. Sumarac -- The Fracture of a Highly Filled Polymer Composites, by O.A. Stapountzi, M.N. Charalambides and J.G. Williams -- Author Index.

This book contains 24 papers presented at the symposium on “Recent Advances in Mechanics” dedicated to the late Professor – Academician Pericles S. Theocaris in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of  his death. The papers are written by world renowned and recognized experts in their fields and serve as a reference and guide for future research. The topics covered in the book can be divided into three major themes: ·   Mathematical methods in applied mechanics (nine papers) ·   Experimental mechanics (nine papers) ·   Fracture mechanics (six papers) Topics covered include: Application of reciprocity relations to laser-based ultrasonics, boundary value problems of the theory of elasticity, optimal design in contact mechanics, scaling of strength and lifetime distributions of quasibrittle structures, directional distortional hardening in plasticity, vibration of systems, instability phenomena in damped systems, variational methods for static and dynamic elasticity problems, an accelerated Newmark scheme for solving the equations of motion in the time domain, photoelastic tomography, electronic speckle pattern interferometry, composites exposed to fire, sampling moiré, microelecromechanical systems, experimental mechanics in nano-scale, advanced cement based nanocomposites, piezonuclear transmutations in brittle rocks under mechanical loading, stress triaxiality at crack tips studied by caustics, reinforcement of a cracked elastic plate with defects, some actual problems of fracture mechanics, cyclic plasticity with applications to extremely low cycle fatigue of structural steel, and fracture of a highly filled polymer composite.