This book discusses the latest developments of the synthesis, preparation, characterization, and applications of nano/microstructure-based materials in biomedical and energetic fields. It introduces several popular approaches to fabricating these materials, including template-assisted fabrication, electrospinning of organic/inorganic hybrid materials, biomineralization-mediated self-assembly, etc. The latest results in material evaluation for targeted applications are also presented. In particular, the book highlights the latest advances and future challenges in polymer nanodielectrics for energy storage applications. As such, it offers a valuable reference guide for scholars interested in the synthesis and evaluation of nano/microstructure-based materials, as well as their biomedical and energetic applications. It also provides essential insights for graduate students and scientists pursuing research in the broad fields of composite materials, polymers, organic/inorganic hybrid materials, nano-assembly, etc.

This book was developed with the goal of providing an easily understood text for those users of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) who have little or no background in the area. The SEM is routinely used to study the surface structure and chemistry of a wide range of biological and synthetic materials at the micrometer to nanometer scale. Ease-of-use, typically facile sample preparation, and straightforward image interpretation, combined with high resolution, high depth of field, and the ability to undertake microchemical and crystallographic analysis, has made scanning electron microscopy one of the most powerful and versatile techniques for characterization today. Indeed, the SEM is a vital tool for the characterization of nanostructured materials and the development of nanotechnology. However, its wide use by professionals with diverse technical backgrounds-including life science, materials science, engineering, forensics, mineralogy, etc., and in various sectors of government, industry, and academia-emphasizes the need for an introductory text providing the basics of effective SEM imaging.A Beginners' Guide to Scanning Electron Microscopy explains instrumentation, operation, image interpretation and sample preparation in a wide ranging yet succinct and practical text, treating the essential theory of specimen-beam interaction and image formation in a manner that can be effortlessly comprehended by the novice SEM user. This book provides a concise and accessible introduction to the essentials of SEM includes a large number of illustrations specifically chosen to aid readers' understanding of key concepts highlights recent advances in instrumentation, imaging and sample preparation techniques offers examples drawn from a variety of applications that appeal to professionals from diverse backgrounds.

Heterogeneous catalysts are an important tool for greener catalytic processes due to the ease of their removal from the reaction mixture and feasibility of reuse. When these catalysts can operate in the ideal green solvent, water, they improve the sustainability of the process. This book explores aqueous mediated heterogeneous catalysts and their use in synthesis. Topics covered include nanomaterials, quantum dots, metal organic frameworks, and their use as catalysts.

Conducting and semiconducting (conjugated) polymers have a unique set of properties, combining the electronic properties of metals and semiconductors with the processing advantages and mechanical properties of polymers. Now, thirty-five years after their discovery, metallic conducting polymers have been demonstrated in the laboratory to have electrical conductivities approaching that of copper, and mechanical strengths exceeding that of steel, a remarkable achievement. A wide variety of electrical and optical devices have been demonstrated using semiconducting polymers. Light-emitting devices have been made which are as bright as fluorescent lamps at applied voltages of only a few volts; photovoltaic solar energy conversion using conjugated polymer composites is in industrial production; conjugated polymer transistors, circuits and chips have been demonstrated. Indeed, semiconducting and metallic polymers can be thought of as electronic 'inks'. The advances in printing technology (ink-jet printing, off-set printing, etc) combined with the science and technology of conducting polymers will revolutionize the way in which electronic devices are manufactured. In addition, semiconducting and metallic polymers can be used in applications which require special mechanical properties such as flexibility. The field of semiconducting and conducting polymers has become one of the most attractive areas of interdisciplinary materials science and technology. Ranging from physics, chemistry, electrical and electronic engineering to the optical sciences, this field covers a wide range of competences and interdisciplinary knowledge.

This collection presents papers on the science, engineering, and technology of shape castings, with contributions from researchers worldwide. Among the topics that are addressed are structure-property-performance relationships, modeling of casting processes, and the effect of casting defects on the mechanical properties of cast alloys.

This book presents the topology optimization theory for laminar flows with low and moderate Reynolds numbers, based on the density method and level-set method, respectively. The density-method-based theory offers efficient convergence, while the level-set-method-based theory can provide anaccurate mathematical expression of the structural boundary. Unsteady, body-force-driven and two-phase properties are basic characteristics of the laminar flows. The book discusses these properties, which are typical of microfluidics and one of the research hotspots in the area of Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS), providing an efficient inverse design approach for microfluidic structures. To demonstrate the applications of this topology optimization theory in the context of microfluidics, it also investigates inverse design for the micromixer, microvalve and micropump, which are key elements in lab-on-chip devices.

In this book the authors show that it is possible to construct efficient computationally oriented models of multi-parameter complex systems by using asymptotic methods, which can, owing to their simplicity, be directly used for controlling processes arising in connection with composite material systems. The book focuses on this asymptotic-modeling-based approach because it allows us to define the most important out of numerous parameters describing the system, or, in other words, the asymptotic methods allow us to estimate the sensitivity of the system parameters. Further, the book addresses the construction of nonlocal and higher-order homogenized models. Local fields on the micro-level and the influence of so-called non-ideal contact between the matrix and inclusions are modeled and investigated. The book then studies composites with non-regular structure and cluster type composite conductivity, and analyzes edge effects in fiber composite materials. Transition of load from a fiber to a matrix for elastic and viscoelastic composites, various types of fiber composite fractures, and buckling of fibers in fiber-reinforced composites is also investigated. Last but not least, the book includes studies on perforated membranes, plates, and shells, as well as the asymptotic modeling of imperfect nonlinear interfaces.

This book gathers 23 papers by top experts from 11 countries, presented at the 3rd Houston International Forum: Concrete Structures in Earthquake. Designing infrastructures to resist earthquakes has always been the focus and mission of scientists and engineers located in tectonically active regions, especially around the "Pacific Rim of Fire" including China, Japan, and the USA. The pace of research and innovation has accelerated in the past three decades, reflecting the need to mitigate the risk of severe damage to interconnected infrastructures, and to facilitate the incorporation of high-speed computers and the internet. The respective papers focus on the design and analysis of concrete structures subjected to earthquakes, advance the state of knowledge in disaster mitigation, and address the safety of infrastructures in general.

The book presents a state-of-the-art overview of current developments in the field in a way accessible to attendees coming from a variety of fields. Relevant examples are turbulence research, (environmental) fluid mechanics, lake hydrodynamics and atmospheric physics. Topics discussed range from the fundamentals of rotating and stratified flows, mixing and transport in stratified or rotating turbulence, transport in the atmospheric boundary layer, the dynamics of gravity and turbidity currents eventually with effects of background rotation or stratification, mixing in (stratified) lakes, and the Lagrangian approach in the analysis of transport processes in geophysical and environmental flows. The topics are discussed from fundamental, experimental and numerical points of view. Some contributions cover fundamental aspects including a number of the basic dynamical properties of rotating and or stratified (turbulent) flows, the mathematical description of these flows, some applications in the natural environment, and the Lagrangian statistical analysis of turbulent transport processes and turbulent transport of material particles (including, for example, inertial and finite-size effects). Four papers are dedicated to specific topics such as transport in (stratified) lakes, transport and mixing in the atmospheric boundary layer, mixing in stratified fluids and dynamics of turbidity currents. The book is addressed to doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers, but also to academic and industrial researchers and practicing engineers, with a background in mechanical engineering, applied physics, civil engineering, applied mathematics, meteorology, physical oceanography or physical limnology.

The use of plastics in agriculture - to increase crop output, improve food quality and improve sustainability - has grown substantially in both quantity and the range of applications. Many of the early researchers that conducted field research in the use of plastics in agriculture have either retired or are deceased. These early pioneers in plasticulture research, the basis of plant production using plastics, were very creative and persistent in discovering uses of plastics in agricultural applications. A Guide to the Manufacture, Performance, and Potential of Plastics in Agriculture contains both references not only to their accomplishments but also their publications. The book discusses plasticulture-the basis of plant production using plastics - including topics such as plastic mulch, row covers, drip irrigation, and high/low tunnels. It covers the process of producing polyethylene and polypropylene plastics that are used in plant and animal production agriculture, and the many uses of plastics in all aspects of agriculture, including plastic greenhouses, rigid mold plastics, disposal of plastics, and plastics in animal production. This book introduces a range of academics and industrial practitioners to the impact of plastics in agriculture, both historically and in a range of current applications. It also provides new perspectives on future developments to enable further research and application. It is an invaluable reference on the use of polyethylene, polypropylene films, and such products in all aspects of agricultural production.

Composite Materials: Concurrent Engineering Approach covers different aspects of concurrent engineering approaches in the development of composite products. It is an equally valuable reference for teachers, students, and industry sectors, including information and knowledge on concurrent engineering for composites that are gathered together in one comprehensive resource.

Nano and Bio Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow focuses on the use of nanoparticles for bio application and bio-fluidics from an engineering perspective. It introduces the mechanisms underlying thermal and fluid interaction of nanoparticles with biological systems. This book will help readers translate theory into real world applications, such as drug delivery and lab-on-a-chip. The content covers how transport at the nano-scale differs from the macro-scale, also discussing what complications can arise in a biologic system at the nano-scale. It is ideal for students and early career researchers, engineers conducting experimental work on relevant applications, or those who develop computer models to investigate/design these systems. Content coverage includes biofluid mechanics, transport phenomena, micro/nano fluid flows, and heat transfer.

This collection features papers presented at the 146th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society.

The second edition of this textbook includes a refined presentation of concepts in each chapter, additional examples; new problems and sections, such as conformal mapping and mechanical behavior of wood; while retaining all the features of the original book. The material included in this book is based upon the development of analytical and numerical procedures pertinent to particular fields of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and plastic fracture mechanics (PFM), including mixed-mode-loading interaction. The mathematical approach undertaken herein is coupled with a brief review of several fracture theories available in cited references, along with many color images and figures. Dynamic fracture mechanics is included through the field of fatigue and Charpy impact testing.

The investigation of the origin and formation of microstructures and the effect that microstructure has on the properties of materials are important issues in materials science and technology. Geometrical analysis is often the key to understanding the formation of microstructures and the resulting material properties. The authors make use of mathematical morphology, spatial statistics, image processing, stereology and stochastic geometry to analyze microstructures arising in materials science.

• Quantitative microstructure analysis is one of the most successful experimental techniques in materials science

• Uses examples to demonstrate the techniques

• Program code included enables the reader to apply the numerous algorithms

• Accessible to material scientists with limited statistical knowledge

This book offers in-depth insights into the photochemical behavior of multicomponent polymeric-based materials, with a particular emphasis on the photodegradation and photostabilization of these materials. Studying various classes of materials bases such as polysaccharides, wood, synthetic polymers, rubber blends, and nanocomposites, it offers a valuable reference source for graduate and postgraduate students, engineering students, research scholars and polymer engineers working in industry.

This book describes the development of three dimensional electroactive fibres using a novel coaxial wet-spinning approach from organic conductors in combination with non-conducting hydrogel polymers. This book also presents the characterization and evaluation of multiaxial biofibres in terms of mechanical, physical, electrochemical and biological properties, and explores their use in a diverse range of applications including implantable electrodes, drug delivery systems and energy-storage systems. In the first chapter, the author highlights the significance of engineering three dimensional fibres, introduces the involved hydrogels and organic conductors with emphasis on their biomedical application, and collects some of the previously established methods for fabrication of biofibres. In the second chapter, particular attention is given to the overall experimental fabrication methods and characterization analyses conducted in the work. Chapters three to five present the main findings of this work, in which readers will discover how novel hybrid hydrogel fibres with an inner core of chitosan and alginate were prepared and characterized, how graphene was incorporated into coaxial wet-spun biofibres, and how one-dimensional triaxial fibres were developed using a novel coaxial wet-spinning fibre production method and applied as potential battery devices. In the final chapter of this work, the author summarizes the main achievements of the work and outlines some recommendations for future research.

This book focuses on surface layers fracture of cyclical contacting bodies (machine parts). Calculation models and calculating procedures of stress-strain states of cyclically contacting solids with cracks, are included. Recommendations for the optimization of operating parameters of joints (contact stresses magnitude, friction/lubrication conditions, materials crack resistance etc) for elements of rolling pairs (wheel-rail systems, backup roll - working roll of rolling mills etc.) and some fretting pairs are formulated.

The book covers the theory of Michell structures being the lightest and fully stressed systems of bars, designed within a given domain, possibly within the whole space, transmitting a given load towards a given support. Discovered already in 1904 by A.G.M. Michell, the structures named after him have attracted constant attention due to their peculiar feature of disclosing the optimal streams of stresses equilibrating a given load and thus determining the optimal layout of bars. The optimal layouts emerge from among all possible structural topologies, thus constituting unique designs being simultaneously light and stiff. The optimal structures turn out to be embedded in optimal vector fields covering the whole feasible domain. Key features include: a variationally consistent theory of bar systems, thin plates in bending and membrane shells; recapitulation of the theory of optimum design of trusses of minimum weight or of minimal compliance; the basis of 2D Michell theory for a single load case; kinematic and static approaches; 2D benchmark constructions including Hemp's structures and optimal cantilevers; L-shape domain problems, three forces problem in 2D, bridge problems; revisiting the old - and delivering new - 3D benchmark solutions; extension to multiple load conditions; Prager-Rozvany grillages; the theory of funiculars and archgrids; the methods of optimum design of shape and material inspired by the theory of Michell structures, industrial applications. The book can be useful for graduate students, professional engineers and researchers specializing in the Optimum Design and in Topology Optimization in general.

Mechanics of Flow-Induced Sound and Vibration, Volume 1: General Concepts and Elementary Sources, Second Edition, enables readers to fully understand flow-induced vibration and sound, unifying the disciplines of fluid dynamics, structural dynamics, vibration, acoustics, and statistics in order to classify and examine each of the leading sources of vibration and sound induced by various types of fluid motion. Starting with classical theories of aeroacoustics and hydroacoustics, a formalism of integral solutions valid for sources near boundaries is developed and then broadened to address different source types, including jet noise, flow tones, dipole sound from cylinders, and cavitation noise. Step-by-step derivations clearly identify any assumptions made throughout. Each chapter is illustrated with comparisons of leading formulas and measured data. Along with its companion, Mechanics of Flow-Induced Sound and Vibration, Volume 2: Complex Flow-Structure Interactions, the book covers everything an engineer needs to understand flow-induced sound and vibration. This book will be essential reading for postgraduate students, and for engineers and researchers with an interest in aerospace, ships and submarines, offshore structures, construction, and ventilation.

Aircraft Sustainment and Repair is a one-stop-shop for practitioners and researchers in the field of aircraft sustainment, adhesively bonded aircraft joints, bonded composites repairs, and the application of cold spray to military and civil aircraft. Outlining the state-of-the-art in aircraft sustainment, this book covers the use of quantitative fractography to determine the in-service crack length versus flight hours curve, the effect of intergranular cracking on structural integrity and the structural significance of corrosion. The book additionally illustrates the potential of composite repairs and SPD applications to metallic airframes.

The book summarizes the results of the European research project "Intelligent fixtures for the manufacturing of low rigidity components" (INTEFIX). The structure of the book follows the sub-projects which are dedicated to case studies within the scenarios "vibrations", "deformations" and "positioning". The INTEFIX project deals with the development and analysis of several exemplary types of intelligent, sensor and actuator integrated fixtures for the clamping of sensitive workpieces in cutting machine tools. Thus, the book gives a representative overview about this innovative field of technology. The demands of the case studies are described and the technological approaches and solutions are introduced. Furthermore, innovative methods for the design and optimization of intelligent fixtures are presented.

Peptide Applications in Biomedicine, Biotechnology and Bioengineering summarizes the current knowledge on peptide applications in biomedicine, biotechnology and bioengineering. After a general introduction to peptides, the book addresses the many applications of peptides in biomedicine and medical technology. Next, the text focuses on peptide applications in biotechnology and bioengineering and reviews of peptide applications in nanotechnology. This book is a valuable resource for biomaterial scientists, polymer scientists, bioengineers, mechanical engineers, synthetic chemists, medical doctors and biologists.