Inverse and crack identification problems are of paramount importance for health monitoring and quality control purposes arising in critical applications in civil, aeronautical, nuclear, and general mechanical engineering. Mathematical modeling and the numerical study of these problems require high competence in computational mechanics and applied optimization. This is the first monograph which provides the reader with all the necessary information. Delicate computational mechanics modeling, including nonsmooth unilateral contact effects, is done using boundary element techniques, which have a certain advantage for the construction of parametrized mechanical models. Both elastostatic and harmonic or transient dynamic problems are considered. The inverse problems are formulated as output error minimization problems and they are theoretically studied as a bilevel optimization problem, also known as a mathematical problem with equilibrium constraints. Beyond classical numerical optimization, soft computing tools (neural networks and genetic algorithms) and filter algorithms are used for the numerical solution. The book provides all the required material for the mathematical and numerical modeling of crack identification testing procedures in statics and dynamics and includes several thoroughly discussed applications, for example, the impact-echo nondestructive evaluation technique. Audience: The book will be of interest to structural and mechanical engineers involved in nondestructive testing and quality control projects as well as to research engineers and applied mathematicians who study and solve related inverse problems. People working on applied optimization and soft computing will find interesting problems to apply to their methods and all necessary material to continue research in this field.

This latest collection of proceedings provides a state of the art review of research on inverse problems in engineering mechanics. Inverse problems can be found in many areas of engineering mechanics, and have many successful applications. They are concerned with estimating the unknown input and/or the characteristics of a system given certain aspects of its output. The mathematical challenges of such problems have to be overcome through the development of new computational schemes, regularization techniques, objective functionals, and experimental procedures. The papers within this represent an excellent reference for all in the field. - Providing a state of the art review of research on inverse problems in engineering mechanics - Contains the latest research ideas and related techniques - A recognized standard reference in the field of inverse problems - Papers from Asia, Europe and America are all well represented

Inverse Problems are found in many areas of engineering mechanics and there are many successful applications e.g. in non-destructive testing and characterization of material properties by ultrasonic or X-ray techniques, thermography, etc. Generally speaking, inverse problems are concerned with the determination of the input and the characteristics of a system, given certain aspects of its output. Mathematically, such problems are ill-posed and have to be overcome through development of new computational schemes, regularization techniques, objective functionals, and experimental procedures. Following the IUTAM Symposium on these topics, held in May 1992 in Tokyo, another in November 1994 in Paris, and also the more recent ISIP'98 in March 1998 in Nagano, it was concluded that it would be fruitful to gather regularly with researchers and engineers for an exchange of the newest research ideas. The most recent Symposium of this series "International Symposium on Inverse Problems in Engineering Mechanics (ISIP2000)" was held in March of 2000 in Nagano, Japan, where recent developments in inverse problems in engineering mechanics and related topics were discussed.The following general areas in inverse problems in engineering mechanics were the subjects of ISIP2000: mathematical and computational aspects of inverse problems, parameter or system identification, shape determination, sensitivity analysis, optimization, material property characterization, ultrasonic non-destructive testing, elastodynamic inverse problems, thermal inverse problems, and other engineering applications. The papers in these proceedings provide a state-of-the-art review of the research on inverse problems in engineering mechanics and it is hoped that some breakthrough in the research can be made and that technology transfer will be stimulated and accelerated due to their publication.

Inverse Problems are found in many areas of engineering mechanics and there are many successful applications e.g. in non-destructive testing and characterization of material properties by ultrasonic or X-ray techniques, thermography, etc. Generally speaking, inverse problems are concerned with the determination of the input and the characteristics of a system, given certain aspects of its output. Mathematically, such problems are ill-posed and have to be overcome through development of new computational schemes, regularization techniques, objective functionals, and experimental procedures. This volume contains a selection of peer-reviewed papers presented at the International Symposium on Inverse Problems in Engineering Mechanics (ISIP2001), held in February of 2001 in Nagano, Japan, where recent development in inverse problems in engineering mechanics and related topics were discussed. The following general areas in inverse problems in engineering mechanics were the subjects of the ISIP2001: mathematical and computational aspects of inverse problems, parameter or system identification, shape determination, sensitivity analysis, optimization, material property characterization, ultrasonic non-destructive testing, elastodynamic inverse problems, thermal inverse problems, and other engineering applications. These papers can provide a state-of-the-art review of the research on inverse problems in engineering mechanics.

Inverse problems can be found in many topics of engineering mechanics. There are many successful applications in the fields of inverse problems (non-destructive testing and characterization of material properties by ultrasonic or X-ray techniques, thermography, etc.). Generally speaking, the inverse problems are concerned with the determination of the input and the characteristics of a mechanical system from some of the output from the system. Mathematically, such problems are ill-posed and have to be overcome through development of new computational schemes, regularization techniques, objective functionals, and experimental procedures.Seventy-two papers were presented at the International Symposium on Inverse Problems in Mechanics (ISIP '98) held in March of 1998 in Nagano, where recent developments in the inverse problems in engineering mechanics and related topics were discussed. The main themes were: mathematical and computational aspects of the inverse problems, parameter or system identification, shape determination, sensitivity analysis, optimization, material property characterization, ultrasonic non-destructive testing, elastodynamic inverse problems, thermal inverse problems, and other engineering applications.

The nature and the human creations are full of complex phenomena, which sometimes can be observed but rarely follow our hypotheses. The best we can do is to build a parametric model and then try to adjust the unknown parameters based on the available observations. This topic, called parameter identification, is discussed in this book for materials and structures. The present volume of lecture notes follows a very successful advanced school, which we had the honor to coordinate in Udine, October 6-10, 2003. The authors of this volume present a wide spectrum of theories, methods and applications related to inverse and parameter identification problems. We thank the invited lecturers and the authors of this book for their contributions, the participants of the course for their active participation and the interesting discussions as well as the people of CISMfor their hospitality and their well-known professional help. Zenon Mroz Georgios E. Stavroulakis CONTENTS Preface An overview of enhanced modal identification by L. Bolognini 1 The reciprocity gap functional for identifying defects and cracks by H. D. Bui, A. Constantinescu and H. Maigre 17 Some innovative industrial prospects centered on inverse analyses by G. Maier, M. Bocciarelli andR. Fedele 55 Identification of damage in beam and plate structures using parameter dependent modal changes and thermographic methods by Z. Mroz andK. Dems 95 Crack and flaw identification in statics and dynamics, using filter algorithms and soft computing by G. E, Stavroulakis, M. Engelhardt andH.

III European Conference on Computational Mechanics: Solids, Structures and Coupled Problem in Engineering Computational Mechanics in Solid, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering is today a mature science with applications to major industrial projects. This book contains the edited version of the Abstracts of Plenary and Keynote Lectures and Papers, and a companion CD-ROM with the full-length papers, presented at the III European Conference on Computational Mechanics: Solids, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering (ECCM-2006), held in the National Laboratory of Civil Engineering, Lisbon, Portugal 5th - 8th June 2006. The book reflects the state-of-art of Computation Mechanics in Solids, Structures and Coupled Problems in Engineering and it includes contributions by the world most active researchers in this field.

This volume presents and discusses recent advances in boundary element methods and their solid mechanics applications. It illustrates these methods in their latest forms, developed during the last five to ten years, and demonstrates their advantages in solving a wide range of solid mechanics problems.

This book is a spin-off from the International Journal of Fracture and collects lectures and papers presented at the 11th International Conference on Fracture (ICF11), March 20-25, 2005. Included in this volume are introductory addresses, as well as remarks on the presentation of honorary degrees. A collection of papers follows, including presentations by such eminent scientists as B.B. Mandelbrot, G.I. Barenblatt, and numerous others, reviewing advanced research in fracture.

Nonsmooth mechanics is a relatively complex field and requires a good knowledge of mechanics as well as a good background in some parts of modern mathematics. The present volume of lecture notes follows a very successful advanced school, with the aim to cover as much as possible all these aspects. It includes contributions that cover mechanical aspects as well as the mathematical and numerical treatment.