This graduate text is indispensable for those wanting to see and understand the mechanics of extreme dynamic events. It describes in detail the mechanics and material models used in understanding impact and penetration events. Covers continuum mechanics, the Hugoniot jump conditions, plasticity theory, damage and failure theory, shock and wave propagation in both Eulerian and Lagrangian frameworks, and the high pressure and high-rate response of materials. Nonlinearity in response of materials and systems is a common theme, showing itself in interesting and surprising ways. Materials are studied through damage to failure, since in armor and protection applications materials are utilized all the way through failure. Continuum and constitutive modelling topics required for modern large-scale numerical simulation techniques are clearly described. Extensive exercises ensure comprehension and explore new topics. This text is appropriate for a variety of graduate courses, including Continuum Mechanics, Advanced Solid Mechanics, and Plasticity and Inelasticity Theory.

‘A must-have reference for the professionals in the field. This book embodies the essential physics of penetration mechanics and provides a complete collection of very valuable examples and exercises both for students and professionals.’

Sidney Chocron - Southwest Research Institute

‘Written by a leading expert in the field, this book provides a very rigorous and comprehensive treatment of impact and penetration mechanics. It is authoritative and entertaining.‘

Xin-Lin Gao - Southern Methodist University

‘A very thorough treatment of the subject matter. A great starting point for entry-level scientists and engineers, and great review for those who have already been in the field for some time!’

William Schonberg - Missouri University of Science and Technology

‘This is an excellent book on impact mechanics that provides a firm theoretical foundation to anybody working in this field, whether undergraduate or experienced practitioner. Working through this book will provide any reader with a very good understanding of the deformation of materials at high strain rates which is so vital to penetration mechanics. Even having been working in ballistics for 40 years, I found much new important information in this book by Walker. I highly recommend it.’

Clive Woodley - Institute of Shock Physics, Imperial College, London

‘The book provides a comprehensive guide on the application of tensor-based elasticity, plasticity, and fracture theories to the analytic and computational analysis of impact and penetration. It will serve as an ideal textbook for a graduate course on impact mechanics as well as an essential resource for researchers in the field.’

Justin W. Wilkerson - Texas A&M University

'This text is a tour de force in continuum mechanics, wave mechanics and shock physics, elastic-plastic material response, and penetration/armor mechanics. While the material emphasis is on metals, there is also a chapter on the response of yarns, fabrics and fiber-based composites. The text is highly mathematical, but with lots of examples and explanations. Each chapter has an extensive list of exercises.'

Charles E. Anderson, Jr - CEA Consulting

'In fourteen chapters, spanning about seven hundred pages, Dr Walker has written an excellent treatise on impact and penetration mechanics. Every researcher and serious student of this subject should have this book in his/her collection. Although, the book is mainly concerned with metallic materials in impact and penetration situations, one entire chapter is devoted to yarns, fabrics and fiber composites. The author has endeavored to include a considerable amount of background topics needed for following the book. These are: continuum mechanics of solids and fluids, plasticity theories, formulations in general coordinates, and numerical methods. Dr Walker has been an active researcher in the subject area, with years of experience at the Southwest Research Institute in Texas.'

Sudhakar Nair - Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago

‘This is a superb (well organized and very informative) monograph … The bibliography is comprehensive, including extensive recent work on impact and penetration. Readers will need a solid background in continuum or solid mechanics … Recommended.’

J. Lambropoulos Source: CHOICE