Like many other textbooks the present one is based on a lecture course given by the author for master students of the RWTH Aachen University. In spite of a somewhat di?cult matter those students were able to endure and, as far as I know, are still ?ne. I wish the same for the reader of the book. Although the present book can be referred to as a textbook one ?nds only little plain text inside. I tried to explain the matter in a brief way, nevert- lessgoinginto detailwherenecessary.Ialsoavoidedtediousintroductions and lengthy remarks about the signi?cance of one topic or another. A reader - terested in tensor algebra and tensor analysis but preferring, however, words instead of equations can close this book immediately after having read the preface. The reader is assumed to be familiar with the basics of matrix algebra and continuum mechanics and is encouraged to solve at least some of num- ous exercises accompanying every chapter. Having read many other texts on mathematics and mechanics I was always upset vainly looking for solutions to the exercises which seemed to be most interesting for me. For this reason, all the exercises here are supplied with solutions amounting a substantial part of the book. Without doubt, this part facilitates a deeper understanding of the subject. As a research work this book is open for discussion which will certainly contribute to improving the text for further editions. In this sense, I am very gratefulfor comments,suggestionsand constructivecriticismfromthe reader.
