Acknowledgements: Drs. R. C. Batra and E. G. Henneke, Jr., Co-Chairs of the conference are deeply indebted to Mrs. Norma Guynn, Mrs. Vanessa McCoy, Wanda Hylton and Mr. Myron Anderson for their help with the organization of the conference.  We are equally indebted to the symposia organizers for putting together an intellectually stimulating program.  The help provided by other members of the local organizing committee is deeply appreciated.  Our deepest gratitude goes to you, the participants, for making the conference a success.

Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to accurately reproduce the information provided by the authors/speakers, neither the ASME nor the local organizing committee (LOC) is responsible for any errors.  The authors of abstracts should be contacted to clarify any doubts.

The LOC is pleased to provide a forum for the discussion of technical issues.  It is requested that both the speakers and the audience show respect and courtesy for each other's views.  Neither the ASME nor the LOC is responsible for the material and the way it is presented by the speakers.

Host & Sponsor:  Department of Engineering Science & Mechanics (ESM), Virginia Tech

About Va Tech & the ESM Dept.:   Virginia Tech is the largest comprehensive university, with approximately 25,000 students, in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  The College of Engineering awards nearly 1000 B.S. degrees, 450 M.S. degrees and 135 Ph.D. degrees every year.  The ESM Dept. enrolled 100 graduate students in 1998-99, awarded 21 masters and 22 doctoral degrees in 1997-98, published 4 papers per faculty member in refereed journals, and had a research expenditure of $160 K per faculty member in 1997-98.

The graduate program of the College of Engineering is ranked 24th in the country in the 1999 U.S. News & World Report.

Local Organizing Committee: R. C. Batra (Co-Chair), W. Curtin, M. Hajj, R. Heller, E. G. Henneke (Co-Chair), M. Hyer, L. Librescu, A. Loos, K. Reifsnider, W. Smith, S. Thangjitham, and H. Tielman.

Conference Schedule

Registration:
Sunday, 27 June 1999, 4:00 - 8:00 PM, Donaldson Brown Hotel & Conf. Center (DBH&CC) Lobby
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, June 28-30, 1999, Old Dominion Ballroom, Squires Student Center (SSC) 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Technical Sessions:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, June 28-30, 1999, DBH&CC and SSC
8:00 AM - 9:50 AM (Sessions M1G, T1G and W1G begin at 7:16 AM)
10:20 AM - 12:10 PM
1:20 PM - 3:10 PM
3:40 PM - 5:30 PM or 5:52 PM

Social Functions:
Welcome Reception:
Sunday, 27 June 1999, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Commonwealth Dining Room, DBH&CC; Cash Bar

Refreshment Breaks:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, June 28-30, 1999
9:50 AM - 10:20 AM, Old Dominion Ballroom, SSC
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM, Old Dominion Ballroom, SSC

Banquet:
Tuesday, June 29, 1999
Cash bar, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM, Owens Hall
Dinner, 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM, Owens Hall
Awarding of the Drucker Medal, 9:15 PM, Owens Hall
The welcome reception, coffee breaks and the banquet are included in the registration fee for the participants in the meeting.

Banquet tickets for accompanying persons may be purchased at the Registration Desk for $50/ticket.  Accompanying persons are cordially invited to join the participants at the other social events free of charge.

Audiovisual Equipment

Each lecture room will be equipped with a projection screen, an overhead projector and a 35 mm slide projector.  Those requiring any other audiovisual equipment should contact the conference organizers (Angela Mathias, mathias@vt.edu 540-231-2188) well in advance of the conference.  You will be charged for rent and set-up fees for these special audiovisual pieces of equipment.

Oral Presentation

Each speaker has been alloted 22 minutes for the presentation and discussion of a paper.  Kindly respect other speakers' rights and adhere to the allocated time.  In view of several concurrent sessions, each speaker is requested to limit oral presentation to 18 minutes to allow 4 minutes for discussion of the paper.  PRESENTERS ARE REQUESTED TO CONTACT THE SESSION CHAIRS BEFORE THE START OF THEIR SESSION.

Accompanying Persons Program

Mrs. Frieda Post and Mrs. Doris Smith have kindly agreed to host an interesting program for accompanying persons.  The conference Room D in the Donaldson Brown Hotel & conference Center will be open from 8:30 AM to 12:00 Noon on June 28, 29 and 30.  Persons accompanying the conference participants are cordially invited to meet there to enjoy refreshments while renewing friendships, making new acquaintances and planning the day's activities.

Contact Address Before and During the Conference

Questions about the technical program should be addressed to Mrs. Norma Guynn, Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, Virginia Tech., Mail Code 0219, Blacksburg, VA 24061; email: nguynn@vt.edu; Tel. 540-231-5045; Fax. 540-231-4574.  For enquiries about the registration fee, accommodation and travel etc., please contact Wanda Hylton, Division of Continuing Education, Mail Code 0364, Virginia Tech., Blacksburg, VA 24061; email: whylton@vt.edu; Tel. 540-231-9617; Fax. 540-231-9886.

During the conference, messages may be left with Mrs. Norma Guynn at Tel. 540-231-5045.

Conference Package

Each particpant will receive a Conference Package containing the name badge, the final conference program, a list of registrants, a Book of Abstracts, and an admission ticket to the banquet.  Your personal badge is your admission ticket to all the technical sessions.  Kindly wear your badge to all conference activities.  Additional copies of the Book of Abstracts may be purchased at the Registration Desk for $60.00/volume.

All Buildings at Virginia Tech are accessible to persons needing assistance with their mobility.  Persons requiring special assistance should contact Wanda Hylton as much in advance of the conference as possible.

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed in any of the University Buildings except in the atrium of the Hancock Hall.  All participants are kindly requested to obey this University Policy.

Banks and Foreign Exchange

Several National Banks have branches and ATM machines within walking distance of the conference site.  HOWEVER, FOREIGN CURRENCY SHOULD BE CONVERTED INTO U.S. DOLLARS EITHER AT THE PORT OF ENTRY INTO THE US OR IN THE HOME COUNTRY.  BANK TELLERS IN BLACKSBURG ARE GENERALLY NOT FAMILIAR WITH FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES, AND THE BANK FEES CAN BE UNUSUALLY LARGE. Most businesses accept all major credit cards.

Computers

Computers, TO CHECK E-MAIL MESSAGES ONLY, will be available in the Tech Connect Lab, 2nd Floor, Newman Library that is close to the Students Squires Center.

Telecommunication/Copying & Fax Services

There are public telephones in the Squires Students Center.  Coin-operated photocopying machines are available in Squires, and Newman Library.  These machines accept coins.  Fax service is also available for a fee in  Squires.  Other commercial shops providing such services are within walking distance of the Conference site.

Messages

Messages and faxes may be sent to Mrs Norma Guynn at the above-given address; these will be posted on the Message Board.  Participants are urged to check the Board frequently.

Post Office

The U.S. Post Office is within walking distance of the Conference site, and is open from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (local time) Monday through Friday.  Packaging materials may be purchased at the Post Office.  Other mailing services, such as FedEX, UPS, DHL etc. are also available at nearby locations.

Travel Agency

Travel agencies are located within one kilometer (2/3 mile) of the conference site.  Participants should reconfirm their return flights by directly calling the airline at the airline's tool-free telephone number which can be obtained by dialing 1-800-555-1212 from any public telephone.

Scholarships/Travel Assistance

Unfortunately, the local organizing committee does not have any funds to defray even the partial travel expenses for any person.  The registration fee for graduate students has been significantly reduced to encourage them to participate in the conference.

Climate in June/July

It is usually pleasant with temperatures varying from a high of 88 degrees Fahrenheit (31 degrees Celsius) to a low of 55 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius).  A casual dress is recommended.  Those wishing to visit mountain tops should bring a sweater.  Also, an umbrella/rain-coat will help.

Dining

Meals, except for the welcome reception on the evening of June 27 and the Banquet on the evening of June 29, are not included in the conference registration fee.  Those staying in the University Dormitories have all three meals included in the room rent.  Lunch, snacks and other meals may be purchased at local restaurants; a list of restaurants will be available at the registration desk.

Local Transportation

Blacksburg Transit provides bus service within the city of Blacksburg and also to Christiansburg.  A time table for the bus service will be available at the registration desk.  The one-way ride costs $0.50, and exact fare is required since no change is returned.

Medical Care

Emergency medical care may be obtained, for a fee, at the Montgomery County Regional Hospital and can be requested by dialing 911 from a working telephone.  The hospital's telephone number is 953-5122.

Visas

Please contact the nearest U.S. embassy/Consular office to enquire if you need a visa to enter the U.S.A. as a tourist.  All international travelers are required to clear immigration and customs formalities at the first port of entry into the U.S.A.

Local Time

Blacksburg is on the Eastern Daylight Time (GMT - 4 hours).

Travel to Blacksburg

Please refer to the conference web site (www.esm.vt.edu/mmconf/).

Area Hotels

Please refer to the conference web site (www.esm.vt.edu/mmconf/).

Parking

Cars, without proper parking permits, parked in the University parking lots on week days are usually ticketed.  Persons staying at the Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center will get a free parking permit to park their cars in the lot across the street from the DBHCC.  Others can pick up a free parking permit at the registration desk, and the permissible parking lot will be stated on the permit.

Gym Facilities

Participants can use, free of charge, the facilities (swimming, racquetball, basketball etc.) in McComas Hall and the War Memorial Gym. Towel rental is available for $1.00. You will need to show the conference name tag and a picture I.D.