This book offers a comprehensive and in-depth exploration of the most widely used test methods for characterizing the deformation and failure behavior of materials. It presents a thorough treatise on mechanical testing, providing a valuable resource for researchers, engineers, and students seeking to understand the mechanical properties and performance of materials across various applications.
The book is organized into ten chapters dedicated to specific test methods including tensile, compression, bending, torsion, multiaxial, indentation, fracture, fatigue, creep, high strain rates, nondestructive evaluation, ensuring a thorough examination of each technique's principles, procedures, and applications. It features two special chapters focusing specifically on the mechanical characterization of concrete and fiber composite materials. These chapters delve into the unique aspects and challenges associated with testing and analyzing these specific materials.

1 Tensile Testing.- 2 Compression, Bending, Torsion and Multiaxial Testing.- 3 Indentation Testing.- 4. Fracture Mechanics Testing.- 5 Fatigue Testing.

Emmanuel Gdoutos is Full Member of the Academy of Athens.  He is Fellow of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, European Academy of Sciences, Academia Europaea, International Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Mechanics & the American Academy for the Advancement of Sciences. He is Foreign Member of the Russian Academy of Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Russian Academy of Sciences & Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Doctorate Honoris Causa of the University of Nis of Serbia, the Russian Academy of Sciences & Democritus University of Thrace. Fellow of many international societies. He served as President of the Society of Experimental Mechanics, the European Structural Integrity Society, the European Society for Experimental Mechanics and the International Congress on Fracture.  He received many awards from professional societies all over the world. He served as President of many national and international conferences. In 2015 the journal Meccanicadevoted a special issue in his honor. He is Archon, Teacher of the Nation, of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa. He is honorary citizen of the municipality of Lesvos (Greece).

Maria Konsta-Gdoutos is Professor of Civil Engineering and Associate Director of the University Center for Advanced Construction Materials of The University of Texas at Arlington.  She is currently Director of the US Department of Transportation's University Center for Durable and Resilient Transportation Infrastructure. Maria Konsta-Gdoutos is a Fulbright Scholar; Fellow of the European Academy of Science and the European Academy of Arts and Science; and Member of the International Academy of Engineering. Her research interests are in smart construction materials for applications with novel functionalities with a focus on sustainability. She continues to advance the state-of-the-art through her leadership in the American Concrete Institute and RILEM. She is Executive Editor-in-Chief of the Springer International Journal "Frontiers in Structural and Civil Engineering".