To the Western world, Lekhnitskii is often considered the first author
who systematically introduced anisotropy into the study of solid me-
chanics. The English translation of the first edition of his Anisotropic
Plates was not published as a regular book. The present translation is
based on the second edition and contains a considerable amount of
new material, including many important diagrams and tables.
Aside from the general interest in the basic formulation of aniso-
tropic elasticity and plates problems, the present book is of special
relevance to the emerging technology of composite materials. The re-
searchers and engineers interested in composite materials are advised to
get acquainted with what Lekhnitskii wrote during the last 25 years,
most of which is still highly pertinent.