The papers contained herein were presented at the Fifth International Conference on Composite Structures (ICCS/5) held at Paisley College of Technology, Scotland in July 1989. The conference was organised and sponsored by Paisley College of Technology. It was co-sponsored by the Scottish Development Agency, the National Engineering Laboratory, the US Air Force European Office of Aerospace Research and Development, the US Army Research, Development and Standardisation Group-UK, Strathclyde Regional Council and Renfrew District Council. It forms a natural and ongoing progression from the highly successful ICCS/1/2/3 and /4 held at Paisley in 1981, 1983, 1985 and 1987 respectively. It has often been said that at the end of each decade there is much to be gained by reflecting on the manifold factors that have influenced the path of one's life. Doubtless there is much truth in that ancient adage. since it is only by subjectively considering the past that a glimmer of the future is possible.