This monograph written by two Chinese scientists of the younger generation opens a window into the world of thoughts on Mechanical Metallurgy in this fascinating area of our world, characterized by age old cultural heritage as weil as by its dynamic evolution into the future. Based on notions and names all so familiar to the western scientist, and regarding the subject from the point of view of the theoretical mechanical engineer (Yang) as weil as that of the materials and manufacturing engineer (Lee), the authors present a synthesis of both approaches and endeavour to guide the reader from basic theory to engineering applications. Between structural defects in the micrometer scale and the meter-measures of engineering components, the term of mesoplasticity is meant to place the reader right in the center: This is certainly achallenging enterprise, and the editor expresses his sincere wishes as to enrichment and stimulation which will emanate from this interesting book and its creative perspective. Prof. B. Ilschner March, 1993. Preface In the past two decades, enormous advances in materials and manufacturing tech­ nology have been achieved, which upgrade the material design, processing and precision manufacturing as quantitative and concise scientific disciplines. Rapid improvements on mechanics understanding have been instrumental in the above­ mentioned development. A topic of great interest and importance in plasticity re­ search has been the design and processing of materials themselves on the mesoscale to achieve the desired macroscopic properties.