This book outlines the basic science underlying the prediction of stress and velocity distributions in granular materials. It takes the form of a textbook suitable for postgraduate courses, research workers and for use in design offices. The nature of a rigid-plastic material is discussed and a comparison is made between the Coulomb and conical (extended Von Mises) models. The methods of measuring material properties are described and an interpretation of the experimental results is considered in the context of the Critical State Theory. The book will be an invaluable text for all those working with or doing research into granular materials. Exercises and solutions are provided which will be particularly useful for the student.

"...provides a very good treatment of this important subject. Concepts and ideas are clearly developed with an emphasis on connections between experiments and theories." Anthony Rosato, Applied Mechanics Review