Contribution of experimental stress analysis to safety and economy of technical systems

Introductory remarks on the conference of 'Experimental Stress Analysis'. The author points out that experimental stress analysis and the use of its techniques in adjacent fields of testing, measurement and control have at all times given and will continue to give essential services by their application to the discovery and study of new facts, to new developments, and to ongoing activities in wide fields not only of engineering but also of medical and environmental endeavour. By contributing to safety and economy they may prevent misuse and preserve health not only of man-made technical systems but also of man himslef and of the environment on which he depends. (orig./RW)