This book is loaded with rich and stimulating articles by a roster of brilliant scholars, reflecting some recent trends in the frontier research of geomechanics. This collection of 32 contributions stems from an international workshop on "Modern Trends of Geomechanics" held in Vienna. The contributions span a wide range of topics and an enormous range of physical scales, from micromechanics at grain scale to engineering problems at large scale; from laboratory and field testing over constitutive modelling to numerical analysis.

The key features of this book are: thermodynamics, multiphase continua and transport phenomena; constitutive modelling, localized bifurcation, micropolar theory, unsaturated soil, viscous and cyclic behaviour; numerical and analytical methods; discrete element method, micromechanics, grain crushing and damage; laboratory and field testing, foundation and mining engineering.

This book will be rewarding for anyone interested in the frontier research in geomechanics and geotechnical engineering, appealing to graduate students, researchers and engineers alike.

Thisbookisacollectionof31paperspresentedattheInternationalWorkshop on Modern Trends in Geomechanics, held on 27-29 June 2005 in Vienna. This workshop was run under the motto to bring together di?erent schools of thought in geomechanics research. The workshop was attended by about 50 participants from 15 countries. Besides the presentations, the workshop also o?ered welcoming occasions for stimulating discussions. The contributions in this book cover a wide range of topics from applied mathematics to geoengineering applications, re?ecting the breadth and depth of geomechanics research. The articles are peer reviewed and arranged in six parts: general aspects, constitutive modelling, micromechanics, analytical and numerical methods, granular materials and engineering applications. Wewouldliketothankallcontributorsfortheirdiligencetoprovidetimely their contributions. The generous support received from the following orga- zations is gratefully acknowledged: - Alpine Mayreder Construction Ltd - Bank Austria - Credit Institute - Austrian Geomechanics Society Our thanks also go to the managing editors at Springer, in particular Ms. Heather King and Dr. Thomas Ditzinger, who have enabled the qu- ity publication of this book at reasonable price. Last but not least, we would like to express our thanks to our co-workers in Vienna and Nottingham for theirhelpduringtheworkshop.Inparticular, oursecretaries, AnkePriewasser (Vienna) and Caroline Dolby (Nottingham), deserve our heartfelt thanks for their e?ort in organising the workshop and compiling this book.