We three editors of this volume are former Ph. D. students of Professor Mircea Cohn at the University of Waterloo, Canada. Donald Grierson obtained his Ph. D. degree in 1968, Alberto Franchi in 1977, and Paolo Riva in 1988, and as such, we span almost the entire career of Professor Cohn at Waterloo. Even though we graduated during different decades in his life, we share similar views of Mircea Cohn as an educator, researcher and man. Together we recall that he was very firm in his resolve that we get the most out of the education he was facilitating for us. Together we agree that he was inspirational in his desire to have us carry out the very best research work we were capable of. Together we feel particularly fortunate to have had such a dedicated and distinguished individual as Professor Cohn as our Ph. D. research advisor. It is with great pleasure that we ack nowledge him as our mentor and friend. We began in 1989 to plan this volume as a tribute to Professor Cohn on the occasion of his 65th birthday in 1991. Upon contacting his many former students and research associates from around the world, we were not surprised to find that they too shared our feelings of respect and admiration for Mircea Cohn as an educator, researcher and man.

The Second International Conference on Structural Engineering Mechanics and Computation was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2004. Its mission was 'To review and share the latest developments, and address the challenges that the present and the future pose'. This book contains its key findings with contributions from academics, researchers and practitioners in the broad fields of structural mechanics, associated computation and structural engineering. Their work builds a clear picture of recent achievements in the advancement of knowledge and understanding in these areas. This text therefore covers all aspects of structural mechanics and is broken down into 36 sections which communicate the latest discoveries and developments across the following areas: * vibration, dynamics, impact response, soil-structure interaction and damage mechanics * numerical modeling and computational methods * practical aspects of the analysis, design, and construction of structures - Specific classes of structures such as shells, plates, frames, bridges, buildings, lightweight structures, space structures and foundation structures * a variety of construction materials ranging from the traditional timber, masonry, concrete, steel and glass, to recent innovations encompassing high-performance composites, ceramics, high-strength concrete, fibre-reinforced concrete, stainless steel and smart alloys. The large number of high-quality papers presented and the wide spectrum of relevant topics covered, as well as the great diversity of nationalities represented by the participants, bring the reader up to speed with developments on a global scale.

Recent Progress in Steel and Composite Structures includes papers presented at the XIIIth International Conference on Metal Structures (ICMS 2016, Zielona Gra, Poland, 15-17 June 2016). The contributions focus on the progress made in theoretical, numerical and experimental research, with special attention given to new concepts and algorithmic proc

This is a collection of peer-reviewed papers originally presented at the 19th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials by academics, researchers and practitioners largely from Australasia and the Asia-Pacific region. The topics under discussion include: composite structures and materials; computational mechanics; dynamic analysis of structures; earthquake engineering; fire engineering; geomechanics and foundation engineering; mechanics of materials; reinforced and prestressed concrete structures; shock and impact loading; steel structures; structural health monitoring and damage identification; structural mechanics; and timber engineering. It is a valuable reference for academics, researchers, and civil and mechanical engineers working in structural and material engineering and mechanics.

Progress in the Analysis and Design of Marine Structures collects the contributions presented at MARSTRUCT 2017, the 6th International Conference on Marine Structures (Lisbon, Portugal, 8-10 May 2017). The MARSTRUCT series of Conferences started in Glasgow, UK in 2007, the second event of the series having taken place in Lisbon, Portugal in March 2009, the third in Hamburg, Germany in March 2011, the fourth in Espoo, Finland in March 2013, and the fifth in Southampton, UK in March 2015. This Conference series deals with Ship and Offshore Structures, addressing topics in the areas of: - Methods and Tools for Loads and Load Effects - Methods and Tools for Strength Assessment - Experimental Analysis of Structures - Materials and Fabrication of Structures - Methods and Tools for Structural Design and Optimisation, and - Structural Reliability, Safety and Environmental Protection Progress in the Analysis and Design of Marine Structures is essential reading for academics, engineers and all professionals involved in the design of marine and offshore structures.

"Smart" materials respond to environmental stimuli with particular changes in some variables. For that reason they are often also called responsive materials. Depending on changes in some external conditions, "smart" materials change either their properties (mechanical, electrical, appearance), their structure or composition, or their functions. Mostly, "smart" materials are embedded in systems whose inherent properties can be favourably changed to meet performance needs. Smart materials and structures have widespread applications in: 1. Materials science: composites, ceramics, processing science, interface science, sensor/actuator materials, chiral materials, conducting and chiral polymers, electrochromic materials, liquid crystals, molecular-level smart materials, biomaterials. 2. Sensing and actuation: electromagnetic, acoustic, chemical and mechanical sensing and actuation, single-measurand sensors, multiplexed multimeasurand distributed sensors and actuators, sensor/actuator signal processing, compatibility of sensors and actuators with conventional and advanced materials, smart sensors for materials and composites processing. 3. Optics and electromagnetics: optical fibre technology, active and adaptive optical systems and components, tuneable high-dielectric phase shifters, tuneable surface control. 4. Structures: smart skins for drag and turbulence control, other applications in aerospace/hydrospace structures, civil infrastructures, transportation vehicles, manufacturing equipment, repairability and maintainability. 5. Control: structural acoustic control, distributed control, analogue and digital feedback control, real-time implementation, adaptive structure stability, damage implications for structural control. 6. Information processing: neural networks, data processing, data visualisation and reliability. This book presents leading research from around the globe in this field.

The book is devoted to the retirement of Prof. Wilfried Becker—a liber amicorum for a well-known specialist in the field of structural mechanics. Many excellent scientists from institutions around the world wrote their scientific chapters, stressing the Becker’s influence to structural mechanics. Thus, this collection discusses a lot of important problems and applications of mechanics.

Progress in Motor Control, Volume Two, features 12 chapters by internationally known researchers in the field of motor control. Comprehensive and up to date, the reference reflects the spirit of the great Nikolai Bernstein, one of the founders of the area now defined as motor control and a significant contributor to the structure-function controversy. Progress in Motor Control, Volume Two, preserves many of the features that made the first volume a state-of-the-art reference and presents these new features: -A reader-friendly design -More than 170 figures to illustrate the scientific ideas expressed -Many up-to-date references to help readers find the most current research in the field Less theoretical than the first volume, this book provides readers with valuable information on these subjects: -The direct relations of the motor function to neurophysiological and/or biomechanical structures -The role of the motor cortex and other brain structures in motor control and motor learning -The multidimensional and temporal regulation of limb mechanics by spinal circuits In this unique forum, prominent motor control scientists contribute varying viewpoints on different aspects of structure-function relations. These prominent scholars include scientists from the former Soviet Union who either knew Bernstein personally or worked closely with his students, biomechanists and neurophysiologists who focus on the role of particular body structures in the movement of production, and clinicians who analyze changes in movements with children and adults with neurological disorders. The book also gives an overview of the disagreement between Ivan Pavlov and Nikolai Bernstein, which is one of the most fascinating and controversial disagreements in the history of contemporary neurophysiology. Whether you're a researcher, or graduate or postdoctoral student, Progress in Motor Control, Volume Two, thoroughly summarizes the latest motor control issues, research, and theories, and it identifies problems in need of investigation.

Countries in the Middle East and North Africa region have unprecedented opportunities for transforming their economies through accelerated economic growth, but the countries themselves must ensure the necessary conditions. This study, by the Middle Eastern Department, focuses on four areas that are fundamental to growth-enhancing structural changes: improving the region's investment performance, fiscal reform, financial sector reform, and trade liberalization.