The General Assembly of the International Union of Theoreti- cal and
Applied Mechanics decided in Cambridge, United King- dom, in 1982 to
arrange the Symposium on Optical Methods in the Dynamics of Fluids and
Solids. This decision was stimu- lated by the fact that optical
diagnostic methods are a more and more important tool in experimental
mechanics. In contrast to the foregoing Symposium in Poitiers. 1976,
which was devoted exclusively to optical methods in the me- chanics of
solids, it was a fruitful idea to bring together during the present
Symposium scientists engaged in optical methods in the dynamics of all
phases. It was proposed by the International Scientific Committee of the
Symposium that contributions in experimental fluid dynamics should deal
with transition from laminar to turbu- lent flow, compressible fluid
flow including high temperatu- re flow, non-equilibrium phenomena in
fluid dynamics and the interaction of fluid flow with solid boundaries
and bodies. As regard. the mechanics of solids, the contributions should
deal with the application of optical methods in the wave propagation in
shock loaded bodies, in phenomena connected with the fracture mechanism,
in nonstationary Vibrations of elements and parts of systems and in
nonstationary strains in structures. The International Scientific
Committee preferred to avoid invited lectures and in cooperation with
the National Com- mittees of IUTAM called for contribution from
individual countries.