This is the first volume in the field of mechanics which presents a unified method solution of contact and crack problems for a transversely isotropic elastic body. Layered media subjected to punches and cracks are also considered.

Complete descriptions of the fields of stresses and strain are given, often in terms of elementary functions. Numerical methods for solving various contact and crack problems are described and accurate numerical results are presented, as necessary bench marks.

The book will be of interest to graduate students in the field of mechanical and civil engineering as well as established specialists in these fields. The book is supplemented by extensive tables of integrals and derivatives, which are not available in any other book.

(Relevant software packages have been developed by the author in Q-basic and are available to readers upon request for an additional fee.)