this volume contains 51 contributions presented at the iutam symposium on micromechanics of plasticity and damage of multiphase materials. the symposium aimed at improving the prediction of the macroscopic behaviour of multiphase solid materials from their microstructure. after review and revision, the papers have been grouped together under five headings, namely plasticity and viscoplasticity, damage, phase transformations, statistical and geometrical aspects, and cracks and interfaces. the contributions emphasized the importance of local phenomena and of the spatial phase distribution, as well as the importance of an adequate treatment of the nonlinear character of the overall response. the book is an illustration of the cross-fertilizing effects of mechanics and materials science when investigating the mechanical properties of a variety of materials: metals, ceramics, polymers and composites. it will be of interest and assistance both to academic researchers and to engineers concerned with the use of advanced materials in structural applications.