The advent of the digital computer has given great impetus to the development of modern discretization methods in structural mechanics. The young history of the finite element method (FEM) reflects the dramatic increase of computing speed and storage capacity within a relatively short period of time. The history of the boundary element method (BEM) is still younger. Presently, intense scientific efforts aimed at extending the range of application of the BEM can be observed. More than 10 years ago, O.C. Zienkiewicz and his co-workers published the first papers on the coupling of FE and BE discretizations of subregions of solids for the purpose of exploiting the complementary advantages of the two discretization methods and reducing their disadvantages. The FEM has revolutionized structural analysis in industry as well as academia. The BEM has a fair share in the continuation of this revolution. Both discretization methods have become a domain of vigorous, world-wide research activities. The rapid increase of the number of specialized journals and scientific meetings indicates the remarkable increase of research efforts in this important subdolll.ain of computational ulechanics. Several discussions of this situation in the Committee for Discretization Methods ill Solid Mechanics of the Society for Applied Mathematics and Mechanics (GAMM) resulted in the plan to submit a proposal to the General Assembly of the International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (IUTAM) to sponsor a pertinent IUTAM Symposium.

Inhalt
Error Estimators and Mesh Adaptation for Thin-Walled Structures at Finite Rotations.- Treatment of Domain Integrals by Using the Dual and Multiple Reciprocity Methods.- BIE Solutions for Applied Thermoplasticity by Collocation.- State Characterization in Sampling Points and Representation of Velocity Fields by Nodal Values as a Basis for Discretization.- The Method of Consecutively Embedded Finite-Element Models.- Locally Blending Interpolation Technique in Finite Element Mesh Refinements and Improved Stress Analysis.- Nonconforming Finite Elements Based on the Free Formulation.- Assumed Strain Elements with Optimal Interpolation.- Linear and Nonlinear Transient Problems of Thermomechanics by BEM.- Dynamic Interaction Analysis in Wave Propagation Problems by a Time-Dependent Boundary Element Method.- Co-Rotational Beam Elements for Two- and Three-Dimensional Non-Linear Analysis.- A High-Precision Adaptive Procedure for Solving Kirchhoff Plates.- Natural Finite Differences in Shell Modelling for Impact Analysis.- Discretization and Solution Techniques for Liquid Filled Shells of Revolution under Dynamic Loading.- Novel Computational Strategies for Solution of Large-Scale Structural Problems.- Consistent Formulation of Shear Constrained Reissner-Mindlin Plate Elements.- A Nonlinear Shell Theory with Through-The-Thickness Stretch.- On Symmetrization in Boundary Element Elastic and Elastic-Plastic Analysis.- A Variational Formulation of the BEM for Elastic-Plastic Analysis.- Discretized Strategies for the Investigation of Instability Problems in Structural Mechanics.- On Static and Dynamic Instability Analysis of Thin- Walled Structures.- Probabilistic Finite Element Analysis of Unsymmetrical Buckling of Thin Shallow Spherical Shells.- A Combined Analytical and Finite Element Method for Non-Collinear Crack Growth in Brittle Solids.- Numerical Simulation of Crack Propagation in Shells.- Discretization Considerations with Hypersingular Integral Formulas for Crack Problems.- FRANSYS: A Software System for the Simulation of Crack Propagation in Three Dimensions.- Design Sensitivity Coefficients for Linear Elasticity Problems by the Derivative Boundary Element Method.- The Panel Clustering Method for BEM.- Exact Finite Elements for the Linear Buckling Analysis of Unidimensional Structural Problems.- Coupled Numeric-Symbolic Computations in Structural Mechanics.- The Implementation of Finite Element Computations in Transputer Based Systems.- A BEM-Formulation of Nonlinear Plate Vibrations.- A Unified Approach to the FE and Generalized Variational FD Methods in Nonlinear Mechanics, Concepts and Numerical Approach.- Stress Analysis of Laminated Composites by Hybrid Finite Elements.- Liquid Loaded Membranes under Large Deformations.- Stabilizing and Destabilizing Effects of Small Damping for Structures with Finite Number of Degrees of Freedom.- Treatment of Micro-Mechanical Phenomena by Finite Elements.- On the Coupling of Finite Elements and Boundary Elements.- Three-dimensional Coupling of FEM and DEM in Elasticity.- Coupling of FE- and BE-Discretizations for 3D-Stress Analysis of Tunnels in Layered Anisotropic Rock.