Welding Engineering and Technology theme in two volumes is a component of Encyclopedia of Physical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias.

Welding is a fabrication or sculptural process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing fusion. Welding is a very important process in the construction of steel structures (in shipbuilding, bridge construction, and heavy machine-building), but almost all other metals, glass and some polymers (thermoplastics) can also be welded.

This theme provides examples of fundamentals of science, technology development and engineering projects involving welding engineering and technology. By no means is the theme a complete coverage of all issues, including success and challenges that welding engineering and technology face. This theme with contributions from distinguished experts in the field, discusses Welding and Allied Processes; Fundamentals of Resistance Welding Processes; High Energy Density Welding Processes; Joining Of Plastics and Composites; Underwater Welding; Micro/Nano Material Processing; Welding Jigs and Fixtures; Thermal Spraying; Thermal Cutting; Welding Metallurgy; Fundamentals of Welding-Related Metal Science and Weldability of Materials; Design, Analysis and Fabrication of Welded Structures; Health and Safety Aspect of Arc Welding; Education and Certification in Welding; Cost of Welding and Cost Of Welded Structures.

These volumes are aimed at the following five major target audiences: University and College Students Educators, Professional Practitioners, Research Personnel and Policy Analysts, Managers, and Decision Makers, NGOs and GOs.

Mr. Slobodan Kralj was born in 1945 in Subotica. He acquired graduate degree at Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, in 1971. He has finished postgraduate studies in 1979, and in 1985 he was awarded PhD degree at the same Faculty. He has undertaken specialization in Germany in ZIS, Halle (6 months), at TU Berlin (3 months), and in United Kingdom at University of Cambridge-Engineering Department (6 months). He also made study-visits to companies Hobart and Lincoln Electric in USA.

From 1971 to 1973 he was employed in company “Koncar- Division Large Rotating Units” in Zagreb. Since 1973 he is employed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Zagreb, in positions of assistant professor, docent and currently full professor. Since 1980 he was a head of Welding Laboratory and since 1989 head of Chair for welded structures. Also, in the period from 1996 to1998 he was holding position of dean of Faculty.

In the period from 1990 to 1994 he was the president of Governing Board of Croatian Welding Society and since 1994 is the president of the same society. Since 1992 he is Croatian representative to European Welding Federation and International Institute of Welding. In period from 2006 to 2008 he was serving vice-president of the International Institute of Welding.

He had published more than 40 articles in journals in 8 countries. On international conferences he had presented more than 60 lectures. He is member of Croatian Society for Materials and Tribology, American Welding Society and Croatian Society for Robotics where he was one of the society founders.

He was the president of number of international conferences devoted to welding. He was a leader of number of international projects within frame of European Programs such as TEMPUS, EURECA and Leonardo.

Branko Bauer has received his diploma of Engineering (Dipl.Ing.) from the University of Zagreb, Faculty of mechanical engineering and naval architecture, Department of Welded Structures, Chair of Welding, Croatia in 1997. He began to work at the Faculty of mechanical engineering and naval architecture, Zagreb in 1997. He obtained a certificate of European Welding Engineer after completing course according EWF program in 1999. After completing further studies he obtained a Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree in 2002, and he earned a PhD-degree (Dr.sc.) in 2006. At the Welding department of the Faculty he is in charge of research in laser beam welding and cutting. In 2007 he was appointed Assistant professor at the Faculty of mechanical engineering and naval architecture in Zagreb. He has published more than 30 scientific and technical papers.