Summary

The field of Computational Mechanics has grown very rapidly during the last decade. This is due to the fact that modern engineering design needs complex models which can only be analyzed and simulated on powerful computers and workstations using numerical methods like finite element, boundary element or finite difference techniques. This volume presents an overview of current research areas representing the state-of-the-art in the field of nonlinear computational mechanics. The areas considered in more detail include the mathematical theory and numerical algorithms, nonlinear finite element procedures, boundary element techniques, beam, plate and shell formulations, inelastic constitutive models and contact formulations. The reader who is new in the field will get a fresh insight in current research areas which are of worldwide interest. For the reader who is already working in the field of Computational Mechanics this volume presents aspects concerning the latest developments within this area.