In 1969 scientists came together for the first time to discuss problems of instability of continuous systems on a IUTAM - Symposium. Since then twelve years of a fast and interesting development in the field of stability have passed. Therefore it was necessary to arrange a meeting for scientists again in order to exchange experiences and opinions about this topic. In 1978 the Bureau of IUTAM asked me to become chairman of the scientific committee of the Second IUTAM Symposium on Stability in the Mechanics of Continua and to organize this meeting. The following scientists have been appointed as members of this scientific committee: Prof. T. B. Benjamin University of Oxford, Mathematical Institute Oxford, GB Prof. V. V. Bolotin USSR Academy of Science, Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, Moscow, USSR Prof. J. W. Hutchinson Harvard University, Division of Applied Sciences Cambridge, USA Prof. K. Kirchgassner Universitat Stuttgart, Mathematisches Institut A Stuttgart, FRG Prof. A. Kulikovsky Mechanics National Committee Moscow, USSR VI Prof. H. H. E. Leipholz University of Waterloo, Department of Civil Engineering Waterloo, Canada Prof. R. C. Di Prima Rensselaer Poly technical Institute, Department of Mathematical Science, Troy, USA The symposium took place in Nlimbrecht near Cologne from th th August the 31 to September the 4 , 1981 and it dealt with both solid and fluid continua. The following volume contains the lectures in the succession as they were held during the symposium, devided into two parts: 1.