This book casts new light on the process that in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries led to a profound transformation in the study of nature with the emergence of mechanistic philosophy, the new mixed mathematics, and the establishment of the experimental approach. It is argued that modern European science originated from Hellenistic mathematics not so much because of rediscovery of the latter but rather because its "applied" components, namely mechanics, optics, harmonics, and astronomy, and their methodologies continued to be transmitted throughout the Middle Ages without serious interruption. Furthermore, it is proposed that these "applied" components played a role in their entirety; thus, for example, "new" mechanics derived not only from "old" mechanics but also from harmonics, optics, and astronomy. Unlike other texts on the subject, the role of mathematicians is stressed over that of philosophers of nature and the focus is particularly on epistemological aspects. In exploring Galilean and post-Galilean epistemology, attention is paid to the contributions of Galileo's disciples and also the impact of his enemies. The book will appeal to both historians of science and scientists.

This proceedings contains contributions to the series of seminars held in Vienna (1992), Miskolc, Hungary (1993 and 1994) and Vienna (1995) and provides a valuable resource for those concerned with the teaching of fracture and fatigue. It presents a wide range of approaches relevant to course and curriculum development. It is aimed particularly at those concerned with graduate and post-graduate education. This book should be of interest to lecturers and researchers in the field of mechanics of materials, especially related to mechanical and structural engineering.

The use of positive muons to simulate protons in solids is a relatively new, but already successful field of research, which exploits the unique properties of the muon. This book is a collection of papers for special issues of the Philosophical Magazine Part B and the Philosophical Magazine Transactions A, together with previously unreleased material presented at a seminar on the subject. The 30 papers here are written by an international team of experts who effectively cover both the theoretical and experimental aspects of the subject.

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Invited international contributions to this exciting new research field are included in this volume. It contains the specially selected papers from 45 key specialists given at the Symposium held under the auspices of the prestigious International Union of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics at Turin in October 1994.

This book presents the most recent research advances in the theory, design, control and application of robotic systems, which are intended for a variety of purposes such as manipulation, manufacturing, automation, surgery, locomotion and biomechanics. The issues addressed are fundamentally kinematic in nature, including synthesis, calibration, redundancy, force control, dexterity, inverse and forward kinematics, kinematic singularities, as well as over-constrained systems. Methods used include line geometry, quaternion algebra, screw algebra, and linear algebra. These methods are applied to both parallel and serial multi-degree-of-freedom systems. The results should interest researchers, teachers and students, in fields of engineering and mathematics related to robot theory, design, control and application. All articles in the book were reported at the seventh international symposium on Advances in Robot Kinematics that was organised in June 2000 in the beautiful ancient Mediterranean town of Piran in Slovenia. The preceding symposia of the series took place in Ljubljana (1988), Linz (1990), Ferrara (1992), Ljubljana (1994), and Piran (1996), and Salzburg (1998).

This book reports research findings and outcome from various discipline of engineering and technology, focusing on industrial technology operation and sustainable development. The content is the results of research done at the Research and Innovation Section of the Universiti Kuala Lumpur - MITEC as well as several experts from other institutions in Malaysia. The content describes the latest knowledge and development aligned with current trends of industrial technology operation in Malaysia.

In Mechanics of Poroelastic Media the classical theory of poroelasticity developed by Biot is developed and extended to the study of problems in geomechanics, biomechanics, environmental mechanics and materials science. The contributions are grouped into sections covering constitutive modelling, analytical aspects, numerical modelling, and applications to problems. The applications of the classical theory of poroelasticity to a wider class of problems will be of particular interest. The text is a standard reference for researchers interested in developing mathematical models of poroelasticity in geoenvironmental mechanics, and in the application of advanced theories of poroelastic biomaterials to the mechanics of biomaterials.

This book provides a comprehensive and authoritative review of durability of the frost resistance of concrete. It will enable both concrete materials specialists and practising engineers to better understand the deterioration processes which take place during freezing and thawing, and the effects of de-icing salts on concrete. It shows how test procedures can be used to provide worthwhile information and explains the many problems associated with their use. Durability of Concrete in Cold Climates explains how concrete can be designed and produced to be durable in cold environments, through careful selection of materials, mixture composition and proper use of air entrainment. It is fully illustrated with photographs and diagrams and contains over 250 references to sources and other publications. The main topics covered are: theories of frost ction and de-icer salt scaling mechanisms; laboratory tests; influence of materials and mix characteristics; air entrainment; field performance; and frost durability of dry concretes.

A state-of-the-art report prepared by RILEM Technical Committee 116-PCD. At present, durability of concrete is controlled by specifying the materials to be used, the methods of mixing, placing, curing and so on. This approach is often unsatisfactory and it is a common objective of concrete researchers and engineers to develop performance criteria which allow the potential durability of a particular concrete mix or structure to be estimated. However, the complexity of concrete as a material and the difficulty of developing consistent and reliable test methods has meant that progress has been slow. International interest in the subject is growing strongly with the development of international standards and so this book is very timely in giving an authoritative, international review of the subject. It will set the scene for the next few years as a key source of information and advice.

The book presents nonlinear, chaotic and fractional dynamics, complex systems and networks, together with cutting-edge research on related topics. The fifteen chapters - written by leading scientists working in the areas of nonlinear, chaotic, and fractional dynamics, as well as complex systems and networks - offer an extensive overview of cutting-edge research on a range of topics, including fundamental and applied research. These include but are not limited to, aspects of synchronization in complex dynamical systems, universality features in systems with specific fractional dynamics, and chaotic scattering. As such, the book provides an excellent and timely snapshot of the current state of research, blending the insights and experiences of many prominent researchers.

This book collects 42 peer-reviewed papers presented in the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Nanostructured Materials by High-Pressure Severe Plastic Deformation, held in Donetsk, Ukraine, September 22-24, 2004.

Recently, it was reported that nanostructured materials processed under high pressure by HPT and ECAP have an extraordinary combination of both high strength and high ductility, which are two desirable, but rarely co-existing properties. These findings indicate that high-pressure is a critical factor that can be employed to process nanostructured materials with superior mechanical, and possibly also physical, properties. It is the objective of this workshop to review our current knowledge, identify issues for future research, and discuss future directions on the processing and properties of nanostructured materials via SPD techniques, with a special emphasis on high-pressure effects.

During the 3-day workshop, about 60 scientists from 12 countries presented 60 papers. Over 20 keynote presentations were given by distinguished scientists in this field. Papers in this book cover areas of high pressure effect on the nanostructure and properties of SPD-processed materials, fundamentals of nanostructured materials, development of high-pressure SPD technologies for commercializations, recent advances of SPD technologies as well as applications and future markets of SPD-processed nanostructured materials

This book addresses problems in structural dynamics and control encountered in such applications as: aerospace structures, robotics, earthquake-damage prevention, and active noise suppression. The rapid developments of new technologies and computer power have made it possible to formulate and solve engineering problems that seemed unapproachable only a few years ago. The treatment combines concepts from control engineering (such as system norms and controllability) and structural engineering (such as modal properties and modal models), thereby both revealing new structural properties as well as giving new insights into well-known laws. The techniques discussed will make it easier for structural engineers to design control systems and for control engineers to deal with structural dynamics. The discussion begins by defining flexible structures and structural models, using such examples as the international space station and the antennas of NASA's deep-space network. The book then turns to controllability and observability; properties of system norms (Häsubinfinityü, Häsub2ü, and Hankel); and model reduction in terms of these norms. A discussion of sensor and actuator location follows: selecting these is rarely an easy task. The concluding chapters discuss the design of dissipative LQG and Häsubinfinityü controllers. Matlab codes for many of the procedures and methods discussed in the book are included.

This book deals with the new developments and application of the geometric method to the nonlinear stability problem for thin non-elastic shells. A.V. Pogorelov (Harkov, Ukraine) was the first to provide in his monographs the geometric construction of the deformed shell surface in a post-critical stage and deriving explicityly the asymptotic formulas for the upper and lower critical loads. The geometric method by Pogorelov is one of the most importanty analytical methods developed during the last century. Its power consists in its ability to provide a clear geometric picture of the post critical form of a deformed shell surface, successfully applied to a direct variational approach to the nonlinear shell stability problems. Until now, most of Pogorelov's monographs were written in Russian, which limited the diffusion of his ideas among the international scientific community. The present book is intended to assist and encourage the researchers in this field to apply the geometric method and the related results to everyday engineering practice. Further developments of the geometric method are carried out in this book and are directed to stability of thin shells in the case of elastic anisotropy, elastic anisotropy with linear memory and elasto-plastic properties of the shell material. This book is intended to serve both as a textbook for post-graduate students in structural engineering and applied mathematics, and as a revference monograph for academic and industrial researchers.

Student Study Pack is a supplement that contains chapter-by-chapter study materials, a Free-Body Diagram Workbook and access Mastering Engineering. Part I - A chapter-by-chapter review including key points, equations, and check up questions. Part II - Free Body Diagram workbook - 75 pages that step students through numerous free body diagram problems. Full explanations and solutions are provided.

The book contains state-of the-art reviews in the area of effective properties of heterogeneous materials - the classical field at interface of materials science and solid mechanics. The primary focus is on thermo-mechanical properties, materials science applications, as well as computational aspects and new opportunities provided by rapidly increasing computer powers. The reviews are at the level that is appropriate for a substantial community of researchers working in this field, both at universities and in the industry, and to graduate students. The book can be used as supplementary reading to graduate level courses.

Derived from the invited IUTAM Symposium in September 1993, this volume's contributions discuss recent advances in fracture mechanics, studies of concrete, rock, ceramics and other brittle disordered materials at micro and structural levels. It draws together research and new applications in continuum, damage and fracture mechanics approaches.

The fundamental theories of simulating blast effects in elastic and elastoplastic media are presented in this monograph. Both classical and modern methods for modelling the processes of rock breakage by blasting are described. Contemporary methods for recording the processes occurring at high speeds are also presented. Physical and mathematical models of the major phenomena associated with blasting in open-cast and underground mines are illustrated. This monograph is intended for professionals involved in research and in the utilisation of blast energy in various sectors of the national economy.

This book offers a unique treatment of building insulating products and the integration of these products with building components. This book was written for all those involved in building design, specification, construction, and commissioning, providing them with an understanding of and appreciation for the wide variety of thermal insulation products and technologies available for use in all types of buildings. The book proceeds from basic definitions and discussion of heat-transfer topics and thermal insulation concepts, to the design and use of these products. The impact of thermal insulation on dynamic building performance, including factors other than heating and cooling, is also discussed. The book does not require an advanced mathematical background. The authors provide sufficient information to provide a qualitative understanding, with more mathematical sections included for those interested in modeling and analysis. The basic physics associated with heat transfer in buildings are presented, along with the steady-state and transient analysis techniques needed for the effective implementation of thermal insulation and assemblies. Modern building design involves the integration of comfort, safety, economics, durability and cost considerations, all of which impact the selection and use of thermal insulation materials in buildings. In addition to theoretical explanations of the underlying science, the book details the properties and application of new thermal insulation materials, including vacuum panels, gas-filled panels, aerogels, phase-change materials, and radiation control technologies. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to researchers and building engineers wishing to understand the latest technologies and materials available, so as to achieve reduced energy consumption in commercial and residential buildings.

The present monograph defines, interprets and uses the matrix of partial derivatives of the state vector with applications for the study of some common categories of engineering. The book covers broad categories of processes that are formed by systems of partial derivative equations (PDEs), including systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs). The work includes numerous applications specific to Systems Theory based on Mpdx, such as parallel, serial as well as feed-back connections for the processes defined by PDEs. For similar, more complex processes based on Mpdx with PDEs and ODEs as components, we have developed control schemes with PID effects for the propagation phenomena, in continuous media (spaces) or discontinuous ones (chemistry, power system, thermo-energetic) or in electro-mechanics (railway - traction) and so on. The monograph has a purely engineering focus and is intended for a target audience working in extremely diverse fields of application (propagation phenomena, diffusion, hydrodynamics, electromechanics) in which the use of PDEs and ODEs is justified.

A few years ago the Helmholtz Association (HGF) consisting of 15 research Institutions including the German Aerospace Center (DLR) started a network research program called 'Virtual Institutes'. The basic idea of this program was to establish research groups formed by Helmholtz research centers and universities to study and develop methods or technologies for future applications and educate young scientists. It should also enable and encourage the partners of this Virtual Institute after 3 years funding to continue their cooperation in other programs. Following this HGF request and chance the DLR Windtunnel Department of the Institute of Aerodynamics and Flow Technology took the initiative and established a network with other DLR institutes and German u- versities RWTH Aachen, University of Stuttgart and Technical University Munich. The main goal of this network was to share the experience in system analysis, ae- dynamics and material science for aerospace for improving the understanding and applicability of some key technologies for future reusable space transportation s- tems. Therefore, the virtual institute was named RESPACE (Key Technologies for Re- Usable Space Systems).

Although several books and conference proceedings have already appeared dealing with either the mathematical aspects or applications of homogenization theory, there seems to be no comprehensive volume dealing with both aspects. The present volume is meant to fill this gap, at least partially, and deals with recent developments in nonlinear homogenization emphasizing applications of current interest. It contains thirteen key lectures presented at the NATO Advanced Workshop on Nonlinear Homogenization and Its Applications to Composites, Polycrystals and Smart Materials. The list of thirty one contributed papers is also appended.

The key lectures cover both fundamental, mathematical aspects of homogenization, including nonconvex and stochastic problems, as well as several applications in micromechanics, thin films, smart materials, and structural and topology optimization. One lecture deals with a topic important for nanomaterials: the passage from discrete to continuum problems by using nonlinear homogenization methods. Some papers reveal the role of parameterized or Young measures in description of microstructures and in optimal design. Other papers deal with recently developed methods both analytical and computational for estimating the effective behavior and field fluctuations in composites and polycrystals with nonlinear constitutive behavior.

All in all, the volume offers a cross-section of current activity in nonlinear homogenization including a broad range of physical and engineering applications. The careful reader will be able to identify challenging open problems in this still evolving field. For instance, there is the need to improve bounding techniques for nonconvex problems, as well as for solving geometrically nonlinear optimum shape-design problems, using relaxation and homogenization methods."

Computational kinematics is an enthralling area of science with a rich spectrum of problems at the junction of mechanics, robotics, computer science, mathematics, and computer graphics. The covered topics include design and optimization of cable-driven robots, analysis of parallel manipulators, motion planning, numerical methods for mechanism calibration and optimization, geometric approaches to mechanism analysis and design, synthesis of mechanisms, kinematical issues in biomechanics, construction of novel mechanical devices, as well as detection and treatment of singularities.

The results should be of interest for practicing and research engineers as well as Ph.D. students from the fields of mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, and computer graphics.

Designed for engineers, this work considers flow-induced vibrations. It covers topics such as body oscillators; fluid loading and response of body oscillators; fluid oscillators; vibrations due to extraneously-induced excitation; and vibrations due to instability-induced excitation.

This is the first book devoted to a systematic description of the linear theory of piezoelectric shells and plates theory. The book contains two parts. In the first part, the theories for electroelastic thin-walled elements of arbitrary form with different directions of preliminary polarization are presented in an easy form for practical use. The approximate methods for integrating the equations of piezoelectric shells and plates are developed and applied for solving some engineering problems. In the second part, the theory of piezoelectric shells and plates is substantiated by the asymptotic method. The area of applicability for different kinds of electroelastic shell theories is studied. A new problem concerning the electroelastic phenomena at the edge of a thin-walled element is raised and solved.
The Theory of Piezoelectric Shells and Plates will be valuable to researchers working in the field of electroelasticity as well as to electrical and electronic engineers who use thin-walled piezoelements. It is also be helpful for students and post-graduates specializing in mechanics and for scientists concerning asymptotic methods.