Book excerpt: Dynamic Response and Failure of Composite Materials and Structures presents an overview of recent developments in a specialized area of research with original contributions from the authors who have been asked to outline needs for further investigations in their chosen topic area. The result is a presentation of the current state-of-the art in very specialized research areas that cannot be found elsewhere in the literature. For example, Massabò presents a newly developed theory for laminated composite plates that accounts for imperfect bonding between layers with new solutions for problems involving thermal effects. This theory is new and computationally-efficient, and the author describes how it fits in the broader context of composite plate theory. Abrate discusses the design of composite marine propellers and presents a detailed derivation of the equations of motion of a rotating blade, including centrifugal effects and the effects of pre-twisting and other geometric parameters. This book is a major reference resource for academic and industrial researchers and designers working in aerospace, automotives, and the marine engineering industry. - Presents recent developments in a research field that has experienced tremendous advances because of improved computational capabilities, new materials, and new testing facilities - Includes contributions from leading researchers from Europe and the USA who present the current state-of-the-art, including unique and original research - Provides extensive experimental results and numerical solutions - Appeals to a broad range of professional researchers working in aerospace, automotive, and marine engineering fields