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.

Corrosion is a high-cost and potentially hazardous issue in numerous industries. The potential use of diverse carbon nanoallotropes in corrosion protection, prevention and control is a subject of rising attention. This book covers the current advancements of carbon nanoallotropes in metal corrosion management, including the usage of nanostructure materials to produce high-performance corrosion inhibitors and corrosion-resistant coatings.

The rail-based transit system is a popular public transportation option, not just with members of the public but also with policy makers looking to install a form of convenient and rapid travel. Even for moving bulk freight long distances, a rail-based system is the most sustainable transportation system currently available. The Handbook of Research on Emerging Innovations in Rail Transportation Engineering presents the latest research on next-generation public transportation infrastructures. Emphasizing a diverse set of topics related to rail-based transportation such as funding issues, policy design, traffic planning and forecasting, and engineering solutions, this comprehensive publication is an essential resource for transportation planners, engineers, policymakers, and graduate-level engineering students interested in uncovering research-based solutions, recommendations, and examples of modern rail transportation systems.

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 "

The latest edition in the gold standard of project management case study collections As a critical part of any successful, competitive business, project management sits at the intersection of several functional areas. And in the newly revised Sixth Edition of Project Management Case Studies, world-renowned project management professional Dr. Harold Kerzner delivers practical and in-depth coverage of project management in industries as varied as automotive, healthcare, government, manufacturing, communications, construction, chemical, aerospace, and more. The latest edition of this bestselling book acts as the perfect supplement to any project management textbook or as an aid in the preparation for the PMP certification exam. The author includes new topics, like risk management, information sharing, scope changes, crisis dashboards, and innovation. The Sixth Edition includes ten new case studies and a wide array of updates to existing cases to meet today's industry standards and reflect the unique challenges facing modern project management professionals. This new edition: Features 10 new case studies from LEGO, NorthStar, Berlin Brandenburg Airport, and more Includes over 100 case studies drawn from real companies illustrating successful and poor implementation of project management Provides coverage of broad areas of project management as well as focused content on the automotive, healthcare, government, manufacturing, communications, construction, chemical, and aerospace industries Offers new topics including risk management, information sharing, scope changes, crisis dashboards, and innovation Perfect for students taking courses on project management during their undergraduate degrees and at the graduate level as part of an MBA or graduate engineering program, Project Management Case Studies is also an indispensable resource for consulting and training companies who work with other professionals.

"Extended Finite Element Method" provides an introduction to the extended finite element method (XFEM), a novel computational method which has been proposed to solve complex crack propagation problems. The book helps readers understand the method and make effective use of the XFEM code and software plugins now available to model and simulate these complex problems.

The book explores the governing equation behind XFEM, including level set method and enrichment shape function. The authors outline a new XFEM algorithm based on the continuum-based shell and consider numerous practical problems, including planar discontinuities, arbitrary crack propagation in shells and dynamic response in 3D composite materials.
Authored by an expert team from one of China's leading academic and research institutionsOffers complete coverage of XFEM, from fundamentals to applications, with numerous examplesProvides the understanding needed to effectively use the latest XFEM code and software tools to model and simulate dynamic crack problems