This book features a forward-looking avenue for researchers and industry professionals and offers a holistic view of modern engineering challenges. Different engineering disciplines such as mechanical, materials, computer and process engineering provide the foundation for the design and development of improved structures, materials and processes. The modern design cycle is characterized by an interaction of different disciplines and a strong shift to computer-based approaches where only a few experiments are performed for verification purposes. A major driver for this development is the increased demand for cost reduction and higher efficiency, which is also connected to environmental demands. One way to fulfil such requirements are lighter structures and/or new composite materials and structures. Another emerging area is the interaction of classical engineering with the health, medical, and environmental sector. This book in this series gives an update on recent developments in the mentioned areas of modern engineering design application.

Andreas Öchsner is Full Professor for lightweight design and structural simulation at the Esslingen University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Having obtained a diploma degree (Dipl.-Ing.) in Aeronautical Engineering at the University of Stuttgart (1997), Germany, he spent the time from 1997 to 2003 at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg as Research and Teaching Assistant to obtain his doctor of engineering sciences (Dr.-Ing.). From 2003 to 2006, he worked as Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Head of the Cellular Metals Group affiliated with the University of Aveiro, Portugal. He spent seven years (2007–2013) as Full Professor at the Department of Applied Mechanics, Technical University of Malaysia, where he was also Head of the Advanced Materials and Structure Lab. From 2014 to 2017 he was Full Professor at the School of Engineering, Griffith University, Australia, and Leader of the Mechanical Engineering Program (Head of Discipline and Program Director).

Holm Altenbach is Full Professor of Engineering Mechanics at the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Materials, Technologies, and Mechanics. He has 45 years of experience in teaching and research in various fields of mechanics (material modelling, mechanical analysis of thin-walled structures, composite mechanics, general strength problems, generalized continuum models, etc.). Since 2022 he is retired.