G. I. Barenblatt is Emeritus G. I. Taylor Professor of Fluid Mechanics at the University of Cambridge, Emeritus Professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and Principal Scientist in the Institute of Oceanology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.

• Preface; Introduction; 1. Dimensions, dimensional analysis and similarity; 2. The application of dimensional analysis to the construction of intermediate asymptotic solutions to problems of mathematical physics. Self-similar solutions; 3. Self-similarities of the second kind: first examples; 4. Self-similarities of the second kind: further examples; 5. Classification of similarity rules and self-similarity solutions. Recipe for application of similarity analysis; 6. Scaling and transformation groups. Renormalization groups. 7. Self-similar solutions and travelling waves; 8. Invariant solutions: special problems of the theory; 9. Scaling in deformation and fracture in solids; 10. Scaling in turbulence; 11. Scaling in geophysical fluid dynamics; 12. Scaling: miscellaneous special problems.

'A splendid and very readable work … Greatly recommended!' Sjoerd Rienstra, ITW Nieuws