The IUT AM / IFToMM Symposium on Synthesis of Nonlinear Dynamical Systems, held in Riga, Latvia, 24-28 August 1998, was one of a series of IUTAM sponsored symposia which focus on the theory and application of methods of nonlinear dynamics in mechanics. The symposium follows eighteen symposia on Analysis and Synthesis of Nonlinear Mechanical Oscillatory Systems held at Riga Technical University from 1971 to 1991 and in 1996 (prof. E. Lavendelis and Prof. M. Zakrzhevsky). Early in the late fifties and sixties Prof. J. G. Panovko organised several successful conferences in Riga on Nonlinear Oscillations. The participants in all these conferences and symposia (except 1996) were only from the ex-Soviet Union. This symposium, organised by the Institute of Mechanics of Riga Technical University, brought together scientists active in different fields of nonlinear dynamics. Selected scientists from 14 countries represented a wide range of expertise in' mechanics, from pure theoreticians to people primarily oriented towards application of nonlinear and chaotic dynamics and nonlinear oscillations. The goal of the symposium was to stimulate development of the theory of strongly nonlinear dynamical systems and its new applications in the fields of applied mechanics, engineering and other branches of science and technology.

Key Lectures.- Forming the Properties of Nonlinear Mechanical Systems by Means of Vibration.- Steady-State Dynamics of Two Nonlinear MDOF Mechanical Engineering Systems.- Nonlinear Wave Motion: Complexity and Simplicity Revisited.- Ship Capsizing as a Nonlinear Dynamics Problem.- Lectures.- Various Approaches for the Simulation of Mechanisms with Flexible Beams.- Nonlinear Dynamics of Three-Degree-of-Freedom Manipulator's Model.- Analytical and Numerical Investigation of Vibro-Impact Dynamics Control.- Optimal Electrodes Configuration of Piezodrives.- Nonlinear Vibration Analysis of Machine Oil Viscosity.- Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of Mechanical Systems with Energy Dissipation.- An Asymptotic Numerical Method to Compute Stationary Navier-Stokes Solutions and Bifurcations Points.- On Nonlinear Vibration of Nonuniform Beam with Rectangular Cross-Section and Parabolic Thickness Variation.- Dynamics of an Impact System Analysed by MATHEMATICA.- Global Modal Parameter Estimation of Weak Nonlinear MDOF System with Coupled Modes - Experimental Study.- Using an Unsteady Panel Method with Fluid-Structure Interaction Problems.- About Some Methods of Dynamic Analysis of Open and Closed Manipulators Incorporating Dry Friction in Joints.- Method for Optimisation of Random Vibrations of Nonlinear Mechanical System.- Effects of High-Frequency Bi-directional Support-Excitation of the Follower-Loaded Double Pendulum.- A Global Map of Local Bifurcations.- Nonlinear Vibrations of Elastic-Plastic Structures by Galerkin's Method.- Influence of Random Pitch Errors on the Non-Linear Dynamics of Gear Trains.- Lateral Vibrations of the Lower Part of a Drillstring.- Setting up of Resonance in Self Controlled Oscillator.- Using Fast Vibration to Change the Nonlinear Properties of MechanicalSystems.- Vibration-Induced Displacement Using High-Frequency Resonators and Friction Layers.- Analysis of the Volterra Series Convergence.- Nonlinear Phenomena Resulting from High-Voltage Discharge in Fluid and Their Utilisation in Vibration Engineering.- Simultaneous Collisions in Connected Bodies Systems.- Chaotic Vibrations in Regenerative Cutting Process.- Stable Forced Hilltop Oscillations.