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The use of composite materials such as carbon and glass-reinforced plastics has increased substantially over the past few years. The improvements in durability and the reduction in costs has meant that their use is now common for aero, marine and road-based vehicles and is increasing in the construction industry. The advantage of these materials often lies in the ability to use very thin plate thicknesses which need to be designed to avoid the likelihood of buckling.

The buckling behaviour of plates formed from laminated composite materials is complex and has formed the subject of specialist conference papers since the early 1980s. This book has brought together the authors of these papers, each contributing a chapter to the book. In combining these contributions the editors have produced a coordinated book dealing, in four parts, with the basic theory, buckling analysis methods and their application, the effects of complicating characteristics on the buckling response and panel buckling tests.

The single chapter on basic theory provides a minimum introduction to the following parts of the book. It is expected that readers will need to read more widely if they are starting from scratch and consequently a detailed list of references is provided.

The chapters in the following two parts of the book are all unreservedly theoretical. The second part deals with the more advanced tools of analysis and includes chapters on series-based solutions, finite-element modelling and the useful finite-strip method.

In the third part of the book these analysis methods are used to investigate a range of problems associated with composite plates; shear deformation, temperature and moisture-induced movement, bimodular plates, plates with cut-outs, delamination and lay-up optimisation. It was slightly disappointing to the reviewer that only one chapter was included in the final part of the book dealing with experimental tests.

The contribution of the editors to this book must not be ignored. They have sufficiently controlled the contributing authors to provide a consistent style while retaining originality. Most chapters provide descriptive introductions, detailed mathematics, applications and suggestions for further research. Each chapter is accompanied by a large reference list which is slightly incestuous. This is possibly unavoidable given the specialist nature of the book.

The book must be essential reading for new researchers to the area and will also be of interest to specialist practising engineers who use composite materials in design.

Howard Wright is professor of structures, University of Strathclyde.