Many important industrial applications incline toward better understanding of the constitutive properties of matter. Nowadays, the development of measurement possibilities, even in nanoscale, allows for multiscale formulations that drive to the more sophisticated models used in continuum mechanics. These phenomenological models are particularly important and useful for solutions of very concrete initial boundary value problems. Our interests are focused mainly on detailed descriptions of material behavior that depend not only on simple stress-strain relationships but also includes the strong influence of loading type, which introduces temperature, strain rate dependence, fracture, etc. Understanding these physics phenomena is of fundamental importance for successful and responsible computations. In particular, using the popular commercial programs requires deep understanding of constitutive formulations and their restrictions. These lectures are addressed to industrial users who are responsible for making crucial decisions in design, as well as, to young scientists who work on new models that describe the behavior of materials which also account the new influences and reflect the complexity of the material behavior. At the end, let me express my gratitude to the lecturers of the CISM course No. 328 on “Advances in Constitutive Relations Applied in Computer Codes”, held in Udine in July 2007, who finally prepared the included materials. Unfortunately, during the preparation and collecting papers for this book, our friend and colleague Prof. Janusz R. Klepaczko passed away. This is a very big loss for the society of mechanics.

A constitutive relation and failure criterion for concrete material under general three-dimensional stress states has been developed using the work-hardening theory of plasticity. The formulation has all the required properties of concrete and gives a close estimate to experimental stresses for complete general stress states. In order that the results of research be readily usable in the analysis of suboceanic structures such as the large shells proposed for adoption in the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion program (OTEC), corresponding computer codes have also been developed to reflect this material response. The proposed material model has been applied to several selected concrete and reinforced concrete shell structures. The finite-element subroutine for the NONSAP program has been modified and applied to analyze plain and reinforced concrete shell specimens of cone-, cylinder-, and dome-shapes under monotonically increasing axial load condition. The finite-element solid program (EPFFEP) has also been developed and applied to study the behavior of concrete cylindrical hulls under hydrostatic loading conditions. The analytical results are compared with corresponding experimental data. Preliminary results indicate a close agreement to the experimental failure load.

Soil-structure interaction is an area of major importance in geotechnical engineering and geomechanics Advanced Geotechnical Engineering: Soil-Structure Interaction using Computer and Material Models covers computer and analytical methods for a number of geotechnical problems. It introduces the main factors important to the application of computer methods and constitutive models with emphasis on the behavior of soils, rocks, interfaces, and joints, vital for reliable and accurate solutions. This book presents finite element (FE), finite difference (FD), and analytical methods and their applications by using computers, in conjunction with the use of appropriate constitutive models; they can provide realistic solutions for soil–structure problems. A part of this book is devoted to solving practical problems using hand calculations in addition to the use of computer methods. The book also introduces commercial computer codes as well as computer codes developed by the authors. Uses simplified constitutive models such as linear and nonlinear elastic for resistance-displacement response in 1-D problems Uses advanced constitutive models such as elasticplastic, continued yield plasticity and DSC for microstructural changes leading to microcracking, failure and liquefaction Delves into the FE and FD methods for problems that are idealized as two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) Covers the application for 3-D FE methods and an approximate procedure called multicomponent methods Includes the application to a number of problems such as dams , slopes, piles, retaining (reinforced earth) structures, tunnels, pavements, seepage, consolidation, involving field measurements, shake table, and centrifuge tests Discusses the effect of interface response on the behavior of geotechnical systems and liquefaction (considered as a microstructural instability) This text is useful to practitioners, students, teachers, and researchers who have backgrounds in geotechnical, structural engineering, and basic mechanics courses.

This symposium was concerned with advanced computational and design techniques in applied electromagnetic systems including devices and materials. The scope of the proceedings cover a wide variety of topics in applied electromagnetic fields: optimal design techniques and applications, inverse problems, advanced numerical techniques, mechanism and dynamics of new actuators, physics and applications of magnetic levitation, electromagnetic propulsion and superconductivity, modeling and applications of magnetic fluid, plasma and arc discharge, high-frequency field computations, electronic device simulations and magnetic materials.