This volume addresses the desire to understand the mechanics of elastic and plastic solids, new materials and the stability, reliability and dynamic behaviour of structures and their components under extreme environmental conditions, issues which have dominated research in structural engineering for many decades. Advances in these areas have revolutionized design methods, codes of practice, and the teaching of structural engineers. In this volume an international body of contributors present some 40 papers on current research directions in the specific areas of solid mechanics, structural computation, modern materials and their application, buckling and instability, design of structural systems and components, reliability, seismic analysis, and engineering education. The contributions were originally presented at a symposium held July 10-12, 1994, at the University of Waterloo, Canada, to honour Professor Archibald Norbert Sherbourne who recently retired from a long and active career of teaching, research and academic administration at this University. The themes of the work contained within this volume reflect Professor Sherbourne's own research interests and should be of interest to both academics and practicing structural engineers.