In recent years scientists have investigated a series of new methods for non-rocket space launch, which promise to revolutionize space launches and flight. Particularly in the current political climate new, cheaper, and more fuel efficient methods are being investigated. Such new methods include the gas tube method, cable accelerators, tether launch systems, space elevators, solar and magnetic sails, circle launcher space keepers and more.
The author brings a vast amount of experience to the topic, having worked as a engineer, designer, project director and researcher at key institutes including NASA and the US Air Force.
Explores all the new non-rocket space launch methods, and compares them with each other and traditional rockets.
Investigates the unifying principles of the different systems and shows how to select the best design suited to the mission.
Author brings together technical and theoretical expertise from both industry and academia

Plasticity is concerned with understanding the behavior of metals and alloys when loaded beyond the elastic limit, whether as a result of being shaped or as they are employed for load bearing structures.
Basic Engineering Plasticity delivers a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the theories of plasticity. It draws upon numerical techniques and theoretical developments to support detailed examples of the application of plasticity theory. This blend of topics and supporting textbook features ensure that this introduction to the science of plasticity will be valuable for a wide range of mechanical and manufacturing engineering students and professionals.
-Brings together the elements of the mechanics of plasticity most pertinent to engineers, at both the micro- and macro-levels
-Covers the theory and application of topics such as Limit Analysis, Slip Line Field theory, Crystal Plasticity, Sheet and Bulk Metal Forming, as well as the use of Finite Element Analysis
-Clear and well-organized with extensive worked engineering application examples, end of chapter exercises and a separate worked solutions manual

Calculation and optimisation of flight performance is required to design or select new aircraft, efficiently operate existing aircraft, and upgrade aircraft. It provides critical data for aircraft certification, accident investigation, fleet management, flight regulations and safety. This book presents an unrivalled range of advanced flight performance models for both transport and military aircraft, including the unconventional ends of the envelopes. Topics covered include the numerical solution of supersonic acceleration, transient roll, optimal climb of propeller aircraft, propeller performance, long-range flight with en-route stop, fuel planning, zero-gravity flight in the atmosphere, VSTOL operations, ski jump from aircraft carrier, optimal flight paths at subsonic and supersonic speed, range-payload analysis of fixed- and rotary wing aircraft, performance of tandem helicopters, lower-bound noise estimation, sonic boom, and more. This book will be a valuable text for undergraduate and post-graduate level students of aerospace engineering. It will also be an essential reference and resource for practicing aircraft engineers, aircraft operations managers and organizations handling air traffic control, flight and flying regulations, standards, safety, environment, and the complex financial aspects of flying aircraft.

Introduction to Fiber Optics is well established as an introductory text for engineers, managers and students. It meets the needs of systems designers, installation engineers, electronic engineers and anyone else looking to gain a working knowledge of fiber optics with a minimum of maths. Review questions are included in the text to enable the reader to check their understanding as they work through the book.
The new edition of this successful book is now fully up to date with the new standards, latest technological developments and includes a new chapter on specifying optical components.
Whether you are looking for a complete self-study course in fiber optics, a concise reference text to dip into, or a readable introduction to this fast moving technology, this book has the solution.
* A practical, no-nonsense guide to fiber optics
* Up-to-date coverage that minimises mathematics
* New material on specifying optical components

ISO/TS 16949: 2002 (TS2) will have a huge impact on the whole of the automobile industry as it formalises, under a single world-wide standard, the quality system that must be met by vehicle manufacturers and their suppliers. This handbook is the only comprehensive guide to understanding and satisfying the requirements of ISO/TS 16949: 2002. Written by best-selling quality author David Hoyle ("ISO 9000 Quality Systems Handbook") this new book is ideal for those new to the standard or establishing a single management system for the first time, as well as those migrating from existing quality management systems. It will suit quality system managers and quality professionals across the automotive industry, managers and executive level readers, consultants, auditors, trainers and students of management and quality.
*The only complete ISO/TS 16949: 2002 (TS2) reference: essential for understanding both TS2 and ISO 9001: 2000
*TS2 becomes mandatory for all auto manufacturers and their many thousands of suppliers in 2006
* Includes details of the certification scheme, the differences with previous standards, check lists, questionnaires, tips for implementers, flow charts and a glossary of terms
*David Hoyle is one of the world's leading quality management authors

As a step-by-step guide from circuit design to finished product, this practical electronics book actually explains how to select the right tools and components for the job, use a soldering iron, etch a printed circuit board and mount the finished product in a case - and puts skills into practice through simple self-build projects.
Whilst most electronics texts focus on theoretical knowledge, Keith Brindley presents a genuinely 'practical' bench guide and reference for electronics experimenters. The straightforward, interactive style of this book makes it ideal for home electronics work and particularly suitable as an introduction to university lab courses for students who are not familiar with hands-on electronics construction. The book also lends itself as a self-contained resource for secondary school and vocational course classroom projects.
* Master the practical techniques of electronics construction, from using a soldering iron to etching a printed circuit board, and mounting the finished product in a case
* Apply practical electronics skills through a series of simple self-build projects
* A bench reference guide to selecting and using the right tools, techniques and components, whatever your project

8 1/4 X 11 11/16 in

Pathogens respond dynamically to their environment. Understanding their behaviour is critical both because of evidence of increased resistance to established sanitation and preservation techniques, and because of the increased use of minimal processing technologies which are more vulnerable to the development of resistance. Understanding pathogen behaviour summarises the wealth of recent research and its implications for the food industry.
After two introductory chapters on ways of analysing and modelling pathogens, Part one summarises current research on what determines pathogenicity, stress response, adaptation and resistance. Part two reviews the behaviour of particular pathogens, reviewing virulence, stress response and resistance mechanisms in such pathogens as Salmonella, E.coli and Campylobacter. The final part of the book assesses how pathogens react and adapt to particular stresses from heat treatment and the effects of low temperature to the use of disinfectants and sanitisers.
With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Understanding pathogen behaviour is a standard reference for the food industry in ensuring food safety.
Summarises the wealth of recent research in pathogen behaviourAssesses implications for microbiologists and QA staff in the food industry

The role of the Maillard reaction in forming flavors from amino acid and sugar precursors has been studied for many years. To establish the basic chemistry of the reaction, researchers have used model systems, often solutions of a single amino acid with a single sugar. Despite the apparent simplicity of the system, heating such a solution can generate tens if not hundreds of compounds, which requires careful and time-consuming analysis to identify and quantify each component.
Data from the model systems has allowed researchers to study the pathways that lead to flavor formation, and various schemes have been proposed to identify the main "routes" that lead to flavor compounds. Such schemes have led to one of the main control principles, namely an understanding of the role of amino acids in forming some characteristic aromas, e.g., bread flavor from proline, as well as an appreciation of the role of C5 and C6 sugars in controlling the rate of reaction.
Recently, the formation of taste compounds through the Maillard reaction has been investigated and new potent compounds have been discovered that can contribute to the overall flavor formed during the Maillard reaction. These findings also offer the potential for control and manipulation of the Maillard reaction to form specific types of flavor. Although the nature of the end-products of the Maillard reaction in both food and model systems are well documented, applying these principles to control flavor formation in real foods has proved difficult.
This book describes recent research and developments related to the control of the Maillard reaction to give optimum flavor quality. These include kinetic modeling of the reaction, the effect of physical parameters (temperature, time, moisture content, pH), and the effect of chemical parameters (amino acid and sugar composition, the presence of other components). The topics covered relate to real food systems and reaction product flavorings, as well as model systems. Contributors from academia and industry have come together to provide an up to date overview of progress in this important area of flavor research.

Current debates in life course studies increasingly reference theories of individualization, standardization, and differentiation in the structure of the life course. This volume brings together leading scholars from a variety of fields to assess the theoretical underpinnings, the empirical evidence, and the implications of existing arguments. The contributions include comparative-historical work, demographic analysis, and detailed survey research. The topics covered include historical, cross-cultural, and racioethnic variation in the transition to adulthood, the school-to-work transition, educational careers, retirement, activity characteristics over the life span and the life course context of psychological well-being. The various contributions expand our understanding of the contemporary life course and its implications. The authors offer innovative theoretical and methodological approaches that demonstrate the utility of holistic approaches to conceptualizing the life course and understanding its implications for modern society.

Constitutive modelling is the mathematical description of how materials respond to various loadings. This is the most intensely researched field within solid mechanics because of its complexity and the importance of accurate constitutive models for practical engineering problems.
Topics covered include:
Elasticity - Plasticity theory - Creep theory - The nonlinear finite element method - Solution of nonlinear equilibrium equations - Integration of elastoplastic constitutive equations - The thermodynamic framework for constitutive modelling Thermoplasticity - Uniqueness and discontinuous bifurcations
More comprehensive in scope than competitive titles, with detailed discussion of thermodynamics and numerical methods.
Offers appropriate strategies for numerical solution, illustrated by discussion of specific models.
Demonstrates each topic in a complete and self-contained framework, with extensive referencing.

Worm gears are special gears that resemble screws, and can be used to drive other gears. Worm gears, enable two non-touching shafts in a machine to mesh (join) together.
This publication, unique in that it combines both theoretical and practical design aspects, including the latest results of research and development, provides detailed treatment of the theory and production of worm drives, as well as the overarching subject of production geometry of helicoidal surfaces.
Included are mathematical models for a number of practical applications; a description of dressing equipment required; treatment of inspection and measurement; the use of intelligent systems; worm gearing for power transmission; selection criteria.
.Covers theory and practice of the production and use of these common machine elements
.Ideal for researchers and engineers dealing with mechanical drives, gears and manufacturing
.The first single volume text in this diverse field

A proceedings volume from teh 1st IFAC Symposium, Expo, Finland, 21-23 June 2004

Electroplating: Basic Principles, Processes and Practice offers an understanding of the theoretical background to electroplating, which is essential if the practical results are to be as required. This book is different in that it explains HOW the electrodeposition processes work, covering such topics as the elctrodeposition of composites, multilayers, whisker formation and giant magnetoresistive effects. The section on R & D approaches will be especially useful for organisations in the field. This is the first English language version of a well-known German language book from a prestigious author of international repute. Electroplating is an invaluable resource for manufacturers of coatings, electrochemists, metal finishers and their customers and academics in surface engineering.
.Offers an understanding of the theoretical background to electroplating
.Explains how the electrodeposition processes work
.Prestigious author of international repute

Sintering is the process of forming materials and components from a powder under the action of thermal energy. It is a key materials science subject: most ceramic materials and many specialist metal powder products for use in key industries such as electronics, automotive and aerospace are formed this way. Written by one of the leading experts in the field, this book offers an unrivalled introduction to sintering and sintering processes for students of materials science and engineering, and practicing engineers in industry.
The book is unique in providing a complete grounding in the principles of sintering and equal coverage of the three key sintering processes: densification, grain growth and microstructure. Students and professional engineers alike will be attracted by the emphasis on developing a detailed understanding of the theory and practical processes of sintering, the balanced coverage of ceramic and metal sintering, and the accompanying examination questions with selected solutions.
-Delivering unrivalled depth of coverage on the basis of sintering, science, including thermodynamics and polycrystalline microstructure.
-Unique in its balanced coverage of the three key sintering elements - densification, grain growth and microstructure.
-A key reference for students and engineers in materials science and engineering, accompanied by examination questions and selected solutions.

Digital Dilemmas is a groundbreaking ethnographic, mixed method approach to understanding dynamics of power and resistance as they are played out around the future of the internet. M. I. Franklin looks at the way that publics, governments, and multilateral institutions are being redefined and reinvented in digital settings that are ubiquitous and yet controlled by a relative few. Franklin does this through three original and wide-ranging case studies that get at the way that computer-mediated power relations play out "on the ground" through a mixture of overlapping online and offline activity, at personal, community, and transnational levels. Case studies include online activities around homelessness and street papers in the U.S. and around the world, digital and human rights activism carried out though the United Nations, and the ongoing battle between proprietary and free and open source software proponents. The result is a thought-provoking and seminal work on the way that the new paradigms of power and resistance forged online reshape localized and traditional power structures offline.

The role of the textile finisher has become increasingly demanding, and now requires a careful balance between the compatibility of different finishing products and treatments and the application processes used to provide textiles with desirable properties. In one comprehensive book, Chemical finishing of textiles details the fundamentals of final chemical finishing, covering the range of effects that result from the interplay between chemical structures and finishing products.
After an introductory chapter covering the importance of chemical finishing, the following chapters focus on particular finishing techniques, from softening, easy-care and permanent press, non-slip and soil-release, to flame-retardant, antistatic and antimicrobial. Within each chapter, sections include an introduction, mechanisms, chemistries, applications, evaluations and troubleshooting. The book concludes with a chapter on the future trends in chemical finishing.
Chemical finishing of textiles is an essential reference for all academic and industrial textile chemists and for those studying textile education programmes.
Discusses the advantages and disadvantages of every important type of chemical finishCombines technical understanding and practical experience conciselyEssential tool to assist in the demanding challenge of chemical finishing for textiles

The book will tell the history and story of Down East Maine lobster fishing. Author Christina Lemieux's family has been lobster fishermen for four generations, and the book draws from their personal recollections and documentation. It will then bring to life the experience of Down East Maine lobster fishing and living in a lobster fishing community. The book details how one goes about catching lobster, the seasons of lobster fishing and the perils of such a physically grueling job. It also talks about "lobster culture" some of the unique pastimes of lobster fishermen, such as the sport of Maine lobster boat racing. Finally, the book will give a brief overview of how to properly cook Maine lobster and provide some of the area's favorite lobster recipes.

Microporous materials, including both zeolites and aluminophosphates are amongst the most fascinating classes of materials, with wide ranging important applications in catalysis, gas separation and ion exchange. The breadth of the field has, moreover, been extended in the last ten years by the discovery of the versatile and exciting ranges of mesoporous materials.
Computational methods have a long and successful history of application in solid state and materials science, where they are indeed established tools in modelling structural and dynamic properties of the bulk and surfaces of solids; and where they are playing an increasingly important role in understanding reactivity. Their application to zeolite science developed strongly in the 1980's, with the initial successes in modelling structure and sorption, and with emerging capability in quantum mechanical methods. The field was reviewed over ten years, since then there have been major developments in techniques and of course the power of the available hardware, which have promoted a whole range of new applications to real complex problems in the science of microporous materials. This book aims to summarise and illustrate the current capabilities of atomistic computer modelling methods in this growing field.
- Details advances in the rapidly expanding field of microporous materials.
- Summarises key current techniques in this type of modelling.
- Illustrates the current capabilities of atomistic computer modelling methods.

This book will allow you to gain practical skills and know-how in grounding, bonding, lightning & surge protection. Few topics generate as much controversy and argument as that of grounding and the associated topics of surge protection, shielding and lightning protection of electrical and electronic systems. Poor grounding practice can be the cause of continual and intermittent difficult-to-diagnose problems in a facility. This book looks at these issues from a fresh yet practical perspective and enables you to reduce expensive downtime on your plant and equipment to a minimum by correct application of these principles.
Learning outcomes:
* Apply the various methods of grounding electrical systems
* Detail the applicable national Standards
* Describe the purposes of grounding and bonding
* List the types of systems that cannot be grounded
* Describe what systems can be operated ungrounded
* Correctly shield sensitive communications cables from noise and interference
* Apply practical knowledge of surge and transient protection
* Troubleshoot and fix grounding and surge problems
* Design, install and test an effective grounding system for electronic equipment
* Understand lightning and how to minimize its impact on your facility
* Protect sensitive equipment from lightning
. An engineer's guide to earthing, shielding, lightning and surge protection designed to deliver reliable equipment and communications systems that comply with international and national codes
. Discover how to reduce plant downtime and intermittent faults by implementing best-practice grounding/earthing techniques
. Learn the principles of cable shielding in communication networks"

A uniquely practical DSP text, this book gives a thorough understanding of the principles and applications of DSP with a minimum of mathematics, and provides the reader with an introduction to DSP applications in telecoms, control engineering and measurement and data analysis systems.
The new edition contains:
- Expanded coverage of the basic concepts to aid understanding
- New sections on filter sysnthesis, control theory and contemporary topics of speech and image recognition
- Full solutions to all questions and exercises in the book
- A complete on-line resource
The on-line resource offers instructors and students complete lecture notes, lecture videos, PowerPoint slides for presentations, final exams and solutions, project exercises, URLs to DSP applet experiment animations and e-meeting software for direct communication with the authors.
Assuming the reader already has some prior knowledge of signal theory, this textbook will be highly suitable for undergraduate and postgraduate students in electrical and electronic engineering taking introductory and advanced courses in DSP, as well as courses in communications and control systems engineering. It will also prove an invaluable introduction to DSP and its applications for the professional engineer.
- Expanded coverage of the basic concepts to aid understanding, along with a wide range of DSP applications
- New textbook features included throughout, including learning objectives, summary
sections, exercises and worked examples to increase accessibility of the text
- Full solutions to all questions and exercises included in the book, with extra resources on-line