In a comprehensive treatment of Statistical Mechanics from thermodynamics through the renormalization group, this book serves as the core text for a full-year graduate course in statistical mechanics at either the Masters or Ph.D. level. Each chapter contains numerous exercises, and several chapters treat special topics which can be used as the basis for student projects. The concept of scaling is introduced early and used extensively throughout the text. At the heart of the book is an extensive treatment of mean field theory, from the simplest decoupling approach, through the density matrix formalism, to self-consistent classical and quantum field theory as well as exact solutions on the Cayley tree. Proceeding beyond mean field theory, the book discusses exact mappings involving Potts models, percolation, self-avoiding walks and quenched randomness, connecting various athermal and thermal models. Computational methods such as series expansions and Monte Carlo simulations are discussed, along with exact solutions to the 1D quantum and 2D classical Ising models. The renormalization group formalism is developed, starting from real-space RG and proceeding through a detailed treatment of Wilson's epsilon expansion. Finally the subject of Kosterlitz-Thouless systems is introduced from a historical perspective and then treated by methods due to Anderson, Kosterlitz, Thouless and Young. Altogether, this comprehensive, up-to-date, and engaging text offers an ideal package for advanced undergraduate or graduate courses or for use in self study.

The title, "Laminated Composite Doubly-Curved Shell Structures. Differential and Integral Quadrature. Strong Form Finite Elements" illustrates the theme treated and the prospective followed during the composition of the present work. The aim of this manuscript is to analyze the static and dynamic behavior of thick and moderately thick composite shells through the application of the Differential Quadrature (DQ) method. The book is divided into two volumes wherein the principal higher order structural theories are illustrated in detail and the mechanical behavior of doubly-curved structures are presented by several static and dynamic numerical applications. In particular, the first volume is mainly theoretical, whereas the second one is mainly related to the numerical DQ technique and its applications in the structural field. The numerical results reported in the present volume are compared to the one available in the literature, but also to the ones obtained through several codes based on the Finite Element Method (FEM). Furthermore, an advanced version of the DQ method, termed Strong Formulation Finite Element Method (SFEM), is presented. The SFEM solves the differential equations inside each element in the strong form and implements the mapping technique typical of the FEM.

This book discusses the parametric modeling, performance evaluation, design optimization and comparative study of the high-speed, parallel pick-and-place robots. It collects the modeling methodology, evaluation criteria and design guidelines for parallel PnP robots to provide a systematic analysis method for robotic developers. Furthermore, it gathers the research results previously scattered in many prestigious international journals and conference proceedings and methodically edits them and presents them in a unified form. The book is of interest to researchers, R&D engineers and graduate students in industrial parallel robotics who wish to learn the core principles, methods, algorithms, and applications.

This textbook, now in an expanded third edition, emphasizes the importance of advanced quantum mechanics for materials science and all experimental techniques which employ photon absorption, emission, or scattering. Important aspects of introductory quantum mechanics are covered in the first seven chapters to make the subject self-contained and accessible for a wide audience. Advanced Quantum Mechanics: Materials and Photons can therefore be used for advanced undergraduate courses and introductory graduate courses which are targeted towards students with diverse academic backgrounds from the Natural Sciences or Engineering. To enhance this inclusive aspect of making the subject as accessible as possible, introductions to Lagrangian mechanics and the covariant formulation of electrodynamics are provided in appendices. This third edition includes 60 new exercises, new and improved illustrations, and new material on interpretations of quantum mechanics. Other special features include an introduction to Lagrangian field theory and an integrated discussion of transition amplitudes with discrete or continuous initial or final states. Once students have acquired an understanding of basic quantum mechanics and classical field theory, canonical field quantization is easy. Furthermore, the integrated discussion of transition amplitudes naturally leads to the notions of transition probabilities, decay rates, absorption cross sections and scattering cross sections, which are important for all experimental techniques that use photon probes.

A Practical Guide to Plastics Sustainability: Concept, Solutions, and Implementation is a groundbreaking reference work offering a broad, detailed and highly practical vision of the complex concept of sustainability in plastics. The book's aim is to present a range of potential pathways towards more sustainable plastics parts and products, enabling the reader to further integrate the idea of sustainability into their design process. It begins by introducing the context and concept of sustainability, discussing perceptions, drivers of change, key factors, and environmental issues, before presenting a detailed outline of the current situation with types of plastics, processing, and opportunities for improved sustainability. Subsequent chapters focus on the different possibilities for improved sustainability, offering a step-by-step technical approach to areas including design, properties, renewable plastics, and recycling and re-use. Each of these pillars are supported by data, examples, analysis and best practice guidance. Finally, the latest developments and future possibilities are considered.

This collection presents fundamentals and the current status of friction stir welding (FSW) and solid-state friction stir processing of materials, and provides researchers and engineers with an opportunity to review the current status of the friction stir related processes and discuss the future possibilities. Contributions cover various aspects of friction stir welding and processing including their derivative technologies. Topics include but are not limited to: * derivative technologies * high-temperature lightweight applications * industrial applications * dissimilar alloys and/or materials * controls and nondestructive examination * simulation * characterization

What are the physical mechanisms that underlie the efficient generation and transfer of energy at the nanoscale? Nature seems to know the answer to this question, having optimised the process of photosynthesis in plants over millions of years of evolution. It is conceivable that humans could mimic this process using synthetic materials, and organic semiconductors have attracted a lot of attention in this respect. Once an organic semiconductor absorbs light, bound pairs of electrons with positively charged holes, termed `excitons', are formed. Excitons behave as fundamental energy carriers, hence understanding the physics behind their efficient generation and transfer is critical to realising the potential of organic semiconductors for light-harvesting and other applications, such as LEDs and transistors. However, this problem is extremely challenging since excitons can interact very strongly with photons. Moreover, simultaneously with the exciton motion, organic molecules can vibrate in hundreds of possible ways, having a very strong effect on energy transfer. The description of these complex phenomena is often beyond the reach of standard quantum mechanical methods which rely on the assumption of weak interactions between excitons, photons and vibrations. In this thesis, Antonios Alvertis addresses this problem through the development and application of a variety of different theoretical methods to the description of these strong interactions, providing pedagogical explanations of the underlying physics. A comprehensive introduction to organic semiconductors is followed by a review of the background theory that is employed to approach the relevant research questions, and the theoretical results are presented in close connection with experiment, yielding valuable insights for experimentalists and theoreticians alike.

This book comprises the select proceedings of the International Conference on Future Learning Aspects of Mechanical Engineering (FLAME 2020). This volume focuses on current research in fluid and thermal engineering and covers topics such as heat transfer enhancement and heat transfer equipment, heat transfer in nuclear applications, microscale and nanoscale transport, multiphase transport and phase change, multi-mode heat transfer, numerical methods in fluid mechanics and heat transfer, refrigeration and air conditioning, thermodynamics, space heat transfer, transport phenomena in porous media, turbulent transport, theoretical and experimental fluid dynamics, flow measurement techniques and instrumentation, computational fluid dynamics, fluid machinery, turbo machinery and fluid power. Given the scope of its contents, this book will be interesting for students, researchers as well as industry professionals.

This book is for engineers and students to solve issues concerning the fluidized bed systems. It presents an analysis that focuses directly on the problem of predicting the fluid dynamic behavior which empirical data is limited or unavailable. The second objective is to provide a treatment of computational fluidization dynamics that is readily accessible to the non-specialist. The approach adopted in this book, starting with the formulation of predictive expressions for the basic conservation equations for mass and momentum using kinetic theory of granular flow. The analyses presented in this book represent a body of simulations and experiments research that has appeared in numerous publications over the last 20 years. This material helps to form the basis for university course modules in engineering and applied science at undergraduate and graduate level, as well as focused, post-experienced courses for the process, and allied industries.

This book provides a comprehensive review of functional nanomaterials for electrochemical applications, presenting interesting examples of nanomaterials with different dimensions and their applications in electrochemical energy storage. It also discusses the synthesis of functional nanomaterials, including quantum dots; one-dimensional, two-dimensional and three-dimensional nanostructures; and advanced nanocomposites. Highlighting recent advances in current electrochemical energy storage hotpots: lithium batteries, lithium-ion batteries, sodium-ion batteries, other metal-ion batteries, halogen ion batteries, and metal-gas batteries, this book will appeal to readers in the various fields of chemistry, material science and engineering.

This book highlights the concept of informed architecture as an alternative to performance-based approaches. Starting with an analysis of the state of art, the book defines an operative methodology in which performative parameters lead to the generation of the shape becoming the design's input, rather than being mere quantitative parameters. It then uses case studies to investigate the methodology. Lastly, the book discusses a novel way of conceiving and using the manufacturing tool, which is the basis for the definition of informed architectures in relation to data usage and the optimization process.

This book shows in a comprehensive presentation how Bond Graph methodology can support model-based control, model-based fault diagnosis, fault accommodation, and failure prognosis by reviewing the state-of-the-art, presenting a hybrid integrated approach to Bond Graph model-based fault diagnosis and failure prognosis, and by providing a review of software that can be used for these tasks. The structured text illustrates on numerous small examples how the computational structure superimposed on an acausal bond graph can be exploited to check for control properties such as structural observability and control lability, perform parameter estimation and fault detection and isolation, provide discrete values of an unknown degradation trend at sample points, and develop an inverse model for fault accommodation. The comprehensive presentation also covers failure prognosis based on continuous state estimation by means of filters or time series forecasting. This book has been written for students specializing in the overlap of engineering and computer science as well as for researchers, and for engineers in industry working with modelling, simulation, control, fault diagnosis, and failure prognosis in various application fields and who might be interested to see how bond graph modelling can support their work. Presents a hybrid model-based, data-driven approach to failure prognosis Highlights synergies and relations between fault diagnosis and failure prognostic Discusses the importance of fault diagnosis and failure prognostic in various fields

This book aims at identifying novel advanced materials of extreme wetting properties (MEWP) for practical, industrial applications. The state-of-the art superhdyrophobic, superhdyrophilic, superoleophobic, superoleophilic, and superomniphobic materials, that are MEWP, with respect to their technological and emerging industrial applications are discussed in this book. MEWP offer new perspectives providing numerous potential applications. Hence, these advanced MEWP have the potential to lead to a new generation of products and devices with unique properties and functionalities. Despite the large scientific progress on MEWP there are still some obstacles which have to be solved to make these materials available for real life applications. Recent advances on the production strategies, including methods and materials, of MEWP has shown that the durability and sustainability obstacles can be addressed thus offering the possibility for industrial exploitation. MEWP with wettabilities ranging from superhydrophobicity to superhydrophilicity provide promising avenues for several and important applications, which sometimes are crucial for the humankind. This book also discusses a large variety of other potential applications of MEWP, thus providing new ideas to scientists and engineers for further exploitation of these novel materials. Moreover, the whole spectrum of the recent technological developments, current research progress, future outlook, and the modern trends in the applications of MEWP are discussed in a consistent approach.

This book presents electrospinning as a processing technique in the field of graphene research. It brings together the current state of the art of processing, properties, and applications in different fields of science and technology of graphene and derived materials. The book not only discusses the various aspects of electrospun graphene but also covers the limitation and drawbacks of graphene owing to some of its intrinsic properties.

This book explores recent developments in theoretical research and data analysis of real-world complex systems, organized in three parts, namely Entropy, information, and complexity functions Multistability, oscillations, and rhythmic synchronization Diffusions, rotation, and convection in fluids The collection of works devoted to the memory of Professor Valentin Afraimovich provides a deep insight into the recent developments in complexity science by introducing new concepts, methods, and applications in nonlinear dynamical systems covering physical problems and mathematical modelling relevant to economics, genetics, engineering vibrations, as well as classic problems in physics, fluid and climate dynamics, and urban dynamics. The book facilitates a better understanding of the mechanisms and phenomena in nonlinear dynamics and develops the corresponding mathematical theory to apply nonlinear design to practical engineering. It can be read by mathematicians, physicists, complex systems scientists, IT specialists, civil engineers, data scientists, and urban planners.

Approximation Methods in Engineering and Science covers fundamental and advanced topics in three areas: Dimensional Analysis, Continued Fractions, and Stability Analysis of the Mathieu Differential Equation. Throughout the book, a strong emphasis is given to concepts and methods used in everyday calculations. Dimensional analysis is a crucial need for every engineer and scientist to be able to do experiments on scaled models and use the results in real world applications. Knowing that most nonlinear equations have no analytic solution, the power series solution is assumed to be the first approach to derive an approximate solution. However, this book will show the advantages of continued fractions and provides a systematic method to develop better approximate solutions in continued fractions. It also shows the importance of determining stability chart of the Mathieu equation and reviews and compares several approximate methods for that. The book provides the energy-rate method to study the stability of parametric differential equations that generates much better approximate solutions.

This book investigates the time-dependent behavior of fiber-reinforced ceramic-matrix composites (CMCs) at elevated temperatures. The author combines the time-dependent damage mechanisms of interface and fiber oxidation and fracture with the micromechanical approach to establish the relationships between the first matrix cracking stress, matrix multiple cracking evolution, tensile strength, tensile stress-strain curves and tensile fatigue of fiber-reinforced CMCs and time. Then, using damage models of energy balance, the fracture mechanics approach, critical matrix strain energy criterion, Global Load Sharing criterion, and hysteresis loops he determines the first matrix cracking stress, interface debonded length, matrix cracking density, fibers failure probability, tensile strength, tensile stress-strain curves and fatigue hysteresis loops. Lastly, he predicts the time-dependent mechanical behavior of different fiber-reinforced CMCs, i.e., C/SiC and SiC/SiC, using the developed approaches, in order to reduce the failure risk during the operation of aero engines. The book is intended for undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in the mechanical behavior of CMCs, researchers investigating the damage evolution of CMCs at elevated temperatures, and designers responsible for hot-section CMC components in aero engines.

This book describes analytical methods for modelling drop evaporation, providing the mathematical tools needed in order to generalise transport and constitutive equations and to find analytical solutions in curvilinear coordinate systems. Transport phenomena in gas mixtures are treated in considerable detail, and the basics of differential geometry are introduced in order to describe interface-related transport phenomena. One chapter is solely devoted to the description of sixteen different orthogonal curvilinear coordinate systems, reporting explicitly on the forms of their differential operators (gradient, divergent, curl, Laplacian) and transformation matrices. The book is intended to guide the reader from mathematics, to physical descriptions, and ultimately to engineering applications, in order to demonstrate the effectiveness of applied mathematics when properly adapted to the real world. Though the book primarily addresses the needs of engineering researchers, it will also benefit graduate students.

Computational Materials Science provides the theoretical basis necessary for understanding atomic surface phenomena and processes of phase transitions, especially crystallization, is given. The most important information concerning computer simulation by different methods and simulation techniques for modeling of physical systems is also presented. A number of results are discussed regarding modern studies of surface processes during crystallization. There is sufficiently full information on experiments, theory, and simulations concerning the surface roughening transition, kinetic roughening, nucleation kinetics, stability of crystal shapes, thin film formation, imperfect structure of small crystals, size dependent growth velocity, distribution coefficient at growth from alloy melts, superstructure ordering in the intermetallic compound.

Computational experiments described in the last chapter allow visualization of the course of many processes and better understanding of many key problems in Materials Science. There is a set of practical steps concerning computational procedures presented. Open access to executable files in the book make it possible for everyone to understand better phenomena and processes described in the book.
Valuable reference book, but also helpful as a supplement to coursesComputer programs available to supplement examplesPresents several new methods of computational materials science and clearly summarizes previous methods and results

The title, "Laminated Composite Doubly-Curved Shell Structures. Differential al Geometry and Higher-order Theories" illustrates the theme treated and the prospective followed during the composition of the present work. The aim of this manuscript is to analyze the static and dynamic behavior of thick and moderately thick composite shells through the application of the Differential Quadrature (DQ) method. The book is divided into two volumes wherein the principal higher order structural theories are illustrated in detail and the mechanical behavior of doubly-curved structures are presented by several static and dynamic numerical applications. In particular, the first volume is mainly theoretical, whereas the second one is mainly related to the numerical DQ technique and its applications in the structural field. The starting point to analyze higher-order structural theories is given by the so-called Unified Formulation (UF), which allows to consider and study several kinematic models in a unified manner. Both the Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) and Layer-Wise (LW) approaches are presented. A particular attention is paid to composite materials, due to their increasing development and use in many engineering fields during the last years.

Selenium and Tellurium Reagents provides an in-depth overview of recent advances on the chemistry of these elements. Written by internationally recognized experts, it gives insight into the synthesis, structure, analysis and mechanistic studies of these compounds. The book is organized into four parts which reflect the applications of Se and Te reagents in four areas: inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, materials science and biochemistry.