Introduction: This section developes the theory used to build microscopic models of mechanical behavior of materials. These models are then used to demonstrate the influence of microscopic structures of 10^-3 m on macroscopic properties. For example the macroscopic elastic properties of laminated composites are determined by microscopic elastic lamina (individual laminate layers) properties. Damage events at the microscopic scale can also influence mechanical behavior and failure at the macroscopic laminate scale. A separate section provides working examples of these models where the user can work with interactive computer programs. These same interactive computer programs are also embedded throughout the "Theory/Lecture" section so that the reader can experiment with the theoretical models as they are developed.

This section is representative of the research conducted by Dr. Ron Kriz while working with computers at NIST (formerly NBS) from 1980 to 1990 and with computers at NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications) from 1990 to 2000. During this time period high performance computing was rapidly evolving. CDC, Thinking Machine CM2, Cray, and SGI computers were all used to study the mechanical behavior of a variety of problems related to damage in laminated composites and wave propagation in highly anisotropic crystals and fiber-reinforced composites.