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.

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 "

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.

Provides comprehensive coverage of organic corrosion inhibitors used in modern industrial platforms, including current developments in the design of promising classes of organic corrosion inhibitors Corrosion is the cause of significant economic and safety-related problems that span across industries and applications, including production and processing operations, transportation and public utilities infrastructure, and oil and gas exploration. The use of organic corrosion inhibitors is a simple and cost-effective method for protecting processes, machinery, and materials while remaining environmentally acceptable. Organic Corrosion Inhibitors: Synthesis, Characterization, Mechanism, and Applications provides up-to-date coverage of all aspects of organic corrosion inhibitors, including their fundamental characteristics, synthesis, characterization, inhibition mechanism, and industrial applications. Divided into five sections, the text first covers the basics of corrosion and prevention, experimental and computational testing, and the differences between organic and inorganic corrosion inhibitors. The next section describes various heterocyclic and non-heterocyclic corrosion inhibitors, followed by discussion of the corrosion inhibition characteristics of carbohydrates, amino acids, and other organic green corrosion inhibitors. The final two sections examine the corrosion inhibition properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene oxide, and review the application of natural and synthetic polymers as corrosion inhibitors. Featuring contributions by leading researchers and scientists from academia and industry, this authoritative volume: Discusses the latest developments and issues in the area of corrosion inhibition, including manufacturing challenges and new industrial applications Explores the development and implementation of environmentally-friendly alternatives to traditional toxic corrosion inhibitors Covers both established and emerging classes of corrosion inhibitors as well as future research directions Describes the anticorrosive mechanisms and effects of acyclic, cyclic, natural, and synthetic corrosion inhibitors Offering an interdisciplinary approach to the subject, Organic Corrosion Inhibitors: Synthesis, Characterization, Mechanism, and Applications is essential reading for chemists, chemical engineers, researchers, industry professionals, and advanced students working in fields such as corrosion inhibitors, corrosion engineering, materials science, and applied chemistry.

"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