Preface

The reader aware of structural mechanics will find in this book a source of fruitful knowledge and effective tools useful, joined with imagination, for creating and promoting novel and challenging developments. A wide range of topics is faced, such as mechanics and geotechnics, vibration and damping, damage and friction, experimental methods and advanced structural materials. Analytical, experimental and numerical findings are presented, focusing on theoretical and practical issues and opening towards novel progresses in structural engineering. Proposed contributions collect some recent results obtained in the framework of the Lagrange Laboratory, an European scientific research group, mainly consisting of Italian and French engineers, mechanicians and mathematicians. This book is the most recent example of the long-term scientific cooperation between the well-established French and Italian schools in mechanics, mathematics and engineering. The contribution of Stella Brach to prepare this volume is gratefully acknowledged.