This book reviews the state of the art in the use of organic materals as physical, chemical and biomedical sensors in a variety of application settings. Topics covered include organic semiconductors for chemical and physical sensing; conducting polymers in sensor applications; chemically functionalized organic semiconductors for highly selective sensing; composite organic-inorganic sensors; artificial skin applications; organic thin film transistor strain gauges for biomedical applications; OTFT infrared sensors for touchless human-machine interaction; smart fabric sensors and e-textile technologie; image capture with organic sensors; organic gas sensors and electronic noses; electrolyte gated organic transistors for bio-chemical sensing; ion-selective organic electrochemical transistors; DNA biosensors; metabolic organic sensors; and conductive polymer based sensors for biomedical applications.

Control volume finite element methods (CVFEM) bridge the gap between finite difference and finite element methods, using the advantages of both methods for simulation of multi-physics problems in complex geometries. In Hydrothermal Analysis in Engineering Using Control Volume Finite Element Method, CVFEM is covered in detail and applied to key areas of thermal engineering. Examples, exercises, and extensive references are used to show the use of the technique to model key engineering problems such as heat transfer in nanofluids (to enhance performance and compactness of energy systems), hydro-magnetic techniques in materials and bioengineering, and convective flow in fluid-saturated porous media. The topics are of practical interest to engineering, geothermal science, and medical and biomedical sciences.

"Damage on Pumps and Systems. The Handbook for the Operation of Centrifugal Pumps" offers a combination of the theoretical basics and practical experience for the operation of circulation pumps in the engineering industry.

Centrifugal pumps and systems are extremely vulnerable to damage from a variety of causes, but the resulting breakdown can be prevented by ensuring that these pumps and systems are operated properly. This book provides a total overview of operating centrifugal pumps, including condition monitoring, preventive maintenance, life cycle costs, energy savings and economic aspects. Extra emphasis is given to the potential damage to these pumps and systems, and what can be done to prevent breakdown.
Addresses specific issues about pumping of metal chips, sand, abrasive dust and other solids influidsEmphasis on economic and efficiency aspects of predictive maintenance and condition monitoring Uses life cycle costs (LCC) to evaluate and calculatethe costs of pumping systems "

Recent agricultural, food, and pharmaceutical research focuses attention on the development of delivery systems that can encapsulate, protect, and deliver natural compounds. Nanoemulsions are recognized as the best delivery systems for natural-origin nutraceuticals and phytochemicals, having many agri-food applications. Bio-based Nanoemulsions for Agri-Food Applications provides information on food-grade nanoemulsions and their application in agriculture and the food industry. This book covers concepts, techniques, current advances, and challenges in the formulation of the application of emerging food grade nanoemulsions. Particular attention is placed on food-grade nanoemulsion production methods and components used, such as plant/microbial products, biosurfactants, cosurfactants, emulsifiers, ligand targets, and bioactive/functional ingredients. This is an important reference source for materials scientists, engineers and food scientists who are looking to understand how nanoemulsions are being used in the agri-food sector.

Reinforced concrete structures are one of the major structural types and must adhere to design regulation codes. It is ideal to find the best design (section dimension, material type, and amount of reinforcement) with the minimum cost providing the design constraints (design formulation considering loading of structure). Metaheuristic methods inspired by natural phenomena can consider design constraints by combining the analyses of formulation of reinforced concrete structures with an iterative numerical algorithm using several convergence options of random generation of candidate design solutions. Metaheuristic Approaches for Optimum Design of Reinforced Concrete Structures: Emerging Research and Opportunities is a pivotal reference source that focuses on several metaheuristic algorithms and the design of several types of structural members. Additionally, retrofit applications and seismic design issues are considered for readers in earthquake zones. Highlighting a wide range of topics including algorithms, design variables, and retrofit design, this book is ideally designed for architects, engineers, urban designers, government officials, policymakers, researchers, academicians, and students.

Many physical properties of our universe, such as the relative strength of the fundamental interactions, the value of the cosmological constant, etc., appear to be fine-tuned for existence of human life. One possible explanation of this fine tuning assumes existence of a multiverse, which consists of a very large number of individual universes having different physical properties. Intelligent observers populate only a small subset of these universes, which are fine-tuned for life. In this book we will review several interesting metamaterial systems, which capture many features of important cosmological models and offer insights into the physics of many other non-trivial spacetime geometries, such as microscopic black holes, closed time-like curves (CTCs) and the Alcubierre warp drive.

This book describes the fundamentals and potential applications of friction stir superplasticity for unitized structures . Conventional superplastic forming of sheets is limited to the thickness of 3 mm because the fine grained starting material is produced by rolling. Friction stir superplasticity has grown rapidly in the last decade because of the effectiveness of microstructural refinement. The thickness of the material remains almost constant, and that allows for forming of thick sheets/plates, which was not possible before. The field has reached a point where designers have opportunities to expand the extent of unitized structures, which are structures in which the traditional primary part and any supporting structures are fabricated as a single unit. With advanced optimization and material considerations, this class of structures can be lighter weight and more efficient, making them less costly, as well as mechanically less complex, reducing areas of possible failure.
Discusses how friction stir processing allows selective microstructural refinement without thickness changeDemonstrates how higher thickness sheets and plates can be superplastically formedExamples are presented for aluminum, magnesium and titanium alloysCovers the production of low-cost unitized structures by selectively processing cast sheets/plates "

Open microfluidics, the study of microflows having a boundary with surrounding air, encompasses different aspects such as paper or thread-based microfluidics, droplet microfluidics and open-channel microfluidics. Open-channel microflow is a flow at the micro-scale, guided by solid structures, and having at least a free boundary (with air or vapor) other than the advancing meniscus. This book is devoted to the study of open-channel microfluidics which (contrary to paper or thread or droplet microfluidics) is still very sparsely documented, but bears many new applications in biology, biotechnology, medicine, material and space sciences. Capillarity being the principal force triggering an open microflow, the principles of capillarity are first recalled. The onset of open-channel microflow is next analyzed and the fundamental notion of generalized Cassie angle (the apparent contact angle which accounts for the presence of air) is presented. The theory of the dynamics of open-channel microflows is then developed, using the notion of averaged friction length which accounts for the presence of air along the boundaries of the flow domain. Different channel morphologies are studied and geometrical features such as valves and capillary pumps are examined. An introduction to two-phase open-channel microflows is also presented showing that immiscible plugs can be transported by an open-channel flow. Finally, a selection of interesting applications in the domains of space, materials, medicine and biology is presented, showing the potentialities of open-channel microfluidics.

This comprehensive reference on sheet metal forming and fabrication provides state-of-the-art reference information for product and production engineers. Coverage addresses all methods of sheet metal fabrication technologies, selection of equipment and die materials, specification of forming practices for specific alloys, and new techniques for process design and control. This Volume provides you with practical reference information on the basic processes of press forming, drawing, bending, spinning, shearing, blanking, and piercing of sheet with additional coverage on forming with bar, tube, wire, shapes, or long parts. New content areas include:Expanded coverage on computer-based methods for process simulation and control Advanced high-strength steels (AHSS) forming and material developments Expanded coverage on the evaluation and mitigation of springback and the troubleshooting of formability problems Rapid prototyping and die-less flexible manufacturing techniques such as thermal forming and peen forming Updates on cold-work powder metallurgy tool steels and tool coatings Updates and addition of practical reference information on basic operations of bending, press forming, and press brake forming Application of tailor weld blanks New process related developments in superplastic forming and conventional forming of aluminum, titanium, nickel, magnesium, and refractory alloys Recent process modifications in hydroforming and high-velocity metal forming Contents Include: Introduction to Forming Processes Shearing, Cutting, Blanking, and Piercing Equipment for Forming of Sheet Metal Tooling and Fabrication for Forming Sheet, Strip, and Plate Forming Processes for Sheet, Strip, and Plate Forming of Bar, Tube, and Wire Sheet Forming of Specific Ferrous and Nonferrous Metals Formability Analysis Process Design and Modeling for Sheet Forming Reference Information Index