Book excerpt: The International Association of Protective Structures (IAPS) was launched on 1 October 2010 in Manchester, UK during the first International Conference of Protective Structures. The primary purpose of IAPS is to bring researchers and engineers working in the area of protective structures together, and to promote research and development work for better life and structure protection against shock and impact loads. More information can be found at http://www.protectivestructures.org/contact.html. Advances in Protective Structures Research is the first publication in a series of planned publications by IAPS. It contains 13 chapters prepared by active and prominent researchers around the world in the area of protective structures. It covers the dynamic material model and material properties, structural response analysis, structural reliability analysis, impact loads and ground shock. The contents of the book reflect well the current research achievements and practice in structural protection against blast and impact loads. They represent the advanced international research status in theoretical derivations, numerical simulations, and laboratory and field tests for structure protections.