Book excerpt: The Second International Conference on Structural Engineering Mechanics and Computation was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2004. Its mission was 'To review and share the latest developments, and address the challenges that the present and the future pose'. This book contains its key findings with contributions from academics, researchers and practitioners in the broad fields of structural mechanics, associated computation and structural engineering. Their work builds a clear picture of recent achievements in the advancement of knowledge and understanding in these areas. This text therefore covers all aspects of structural mechanics and is broken down into 36 sections which communicate the latest discoveries and developments across the following areas: * vibration, dynamics, impact response, soil-structure interaction and damage mechanics * numerical modeling and computational methods * practical aspects of the analysis, design, and construction of structures - Specific classes of structures such as shells, plates, frames, bridges, buildings, lightweight structures, space structures and foundation structures * a variety of construction materials ranging from the traditional timber, masonry, concrete, steel and glass, to recent innovations encompassing high-performance composites, ceramics, high-strength concrete, fibre-reinforced concrete, stainless steel and smart alloys. The large number of high-quality papers presented and the wide spectrum of relevant topics covered, as well as the great diversity of nationalities represented by the participants, bring the reader up to speed with developments on a global scale.