Modern, powerful computational methods, combined with major improvements in experimental techniques, have resulted in significant advances in the study of material instabilities. This book presents the latest research in the field of material instabilities in solid materials (soils, concrete, rocks, ceramics, metals, polymers and composites) and associated phenomena, such as strain localisation, fracture and failure in general. Collected within this volume are the cutting edge contributions from the prestigious IUTAM Symposium of 1997. A broad spectrum of materials is covered, with the emphasis on common aspects of failure, and a full range of experimental, analytical and numerical methods are addressed. In addition, the state-of-the-art, and recent advances covered in the book are summarised in the introductory chapter. No other treatise is available which is so up to date and compiled by such a broad spectrum of leading researchers. This book will find a wide appeal amongst practising engineers, researchers and students in civil, mechanical and aerospace engineering, and researchers and students in materials science.