This book presents the findings of experimental and theoretical (including first-principles molecular dynamics simulation) studies of nanostructured and nanocomposite metal-based materials, and nanoscale multilayer coatings fabricated by physical or chemical vapor deposition, magnetron sputtering, electrospark alloying, ionic layer absorption, contact melting, and high-current electron beam irradiation. It also discusses novel methods of nanocomposite formation, as well as the structure of the deposited films, coatings and other nanoscale materials, their elemental and phase composition, and their physical-mechanical, tribological, magnetic and electrical properties. Lastly, it explores the influence of a various surface modification methods, such as thermal annealing, pulsed laser modification, and thermomechanical and ultrasonic treatment, as well as different properties of nanostructured films.

This book investigates geopolymers and geopolymer-based composites, with a focus on their preparation, geopolymerization mechanisms, microstructures, mechanical properties, and fracture behaviors. Geopolymers are inorganic materials consisting of tetrahedral units (such as [SiO4] and [AlO4]) linked by shared oxygens and forming long-range, covalently bonded and amorphous frameworks. Geopolymers have the advantages of low-temperature preparation, low cost, high heat and corrosion resistance, and being environmentally friendly. Using the preparation methods for epoxy-based composite, they can easily be formed into complex shapes or structures. Intended for researchers investigating geopolymers and their matrix composite materials, this book is also a valuable resource for engineers from various fields, such as materials, mechanical, civil and structural engineering, as well as students interested in other kinds of inorganic materials or even cementitious materials in general.

This book provides a comparison between melt electrospinning and meltblowing as techniques for the production of polypropylene nanofibers. The author compares the morphological, structural, chemical and mechanical characteristics of the different produced fibers. Moreover, the degree of thermal degradation of the different fibers is also analyzed. The book is useful to chemists and material scientists working on the synthesis of nanofibers by melt processes, showing the limitations of each technique for nanofiber fabrication.

This volume contains the proceedings of the 5th International Symposium on Symmetries in Subatomic Physics (SSP2012), that was held in Groningen, The Netherlands from 18 till 22 June 2012. This sequence of symposia is now firmly connected with one of the main branches in fundamental nuclear and particle physics, i.e. in searches for physics beyond the Standard Model, focused on the (violation of) the discrete symmetries of Parity, Charge conjugation and Time reversal invariance. This field comes in various disguises: With large experimental facilities and large collaborations, as in LHC physics or in neutrino experiments, but also as table top experiments by small groups in the field of nuclear, atomic and molecular physics, such as in searches for a permanent electric dipole moments and atomic parity violation.

Bringing the practitioners of these divergent fields together gives a coherent overview and see the complementarities of the various approaches to the same question: why is the Standard Model what it is and what lies beyond it.

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This book addresses perovskite quantum dots, discussing their unique properties, synthesis, and applications in nanoscale optoelectronic and photonic devices, as well as the challenges and possible solutions in the context of device design and the prospects for commercial applications. It particularly focuses on the luminescent properties, which differ from those of the corresponding quantum dots materials, such as multicolor emission, fluorescence narrowing, and tunable and switchable emissions from doped nanostructures. The book first describes the characterization and fabrication of perovskite quantum dots. It also provides detailed methods for analyzing the electrical and optical properties, and demonstrates promising applications of perovskite quantum dots. Furthermore, it presents a series of optoelectronic and photonic devices based on functional perovskite quantum dots, and explains the incorporation of perovskite quantum dots in semiconductor devices and their effect of the performance. It also explores the challenges related to optoelectronic devices, as well as possible strategies to promote their commercialization. As such, this book is a valuable resource for graduate students and researchers in the field of solid-state materials and electronics wanting to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of quantum dots, and the fundamental optoelectronic properties and operation mechanisms of the latest perovskite quantum dot-based devices.

The book gathers the peer-reviewed contributions presented at the 3rd International Conference on Application of Superabsorbent Polymers (SAP) and Other New Admixtures towards Smart Concrete, held in Skukuza, South Africa, on November 25-27, 2019. It features papers focusing on the behavior of SAP in concrete (in particular the absorption behavior) as well as the effect of SAP on fresh and hardened concrete properties. It also covers topics such as other modern admixtures, in particular rheology-modifying admixtures, including the recently emerging field of bio- or waste-derived admixtures. The conference builds on the experience and summarizes the activities of the RILEM Technical Committee 260-RSC "Recommendations for Use of Superabsorbent Polymers in Concrete Construction" and addresses other prominent research activities in the field of concrete admixtures.

This exhaustive work in several volumes and over 2500 pages provides a thorough treatment of ultra-high temperature materials (with melting points around or over 2500 DegreesC). The first volume focuses on carbon (graphene/graphite) and refractory metals (W, Re, Os, Ta, Mo, Nb and Ir), whilst the second and third are dedicated to refractory transition metal 4-5 groups carbides. Topics included are physical (structural, thermal, electro-magnetic, optical, mechanical, nuclear) and chemical (more than 3000 binary, ternary and multi-component systems, including those used for materials design, data on solid-state diffusion, wettability, interaction with various elements and compounds in solid and liquid states, gases and chemicals in aqueous solutions) properties of these materials. It will be of interest to researchers, engineers, postgraduate, graduate and undergraduate students alike. The readers/users are provided with the full qualitative and quantitative assessment, which is based on the latest updates in the field of fundamental physics and chemistry, nanotechnology, materials science, design and engineering.

This book comprehensively outlines synchrotron-based X-ray imaging technologies and their associated applications in gaining fundamental insights into the physical and chemical properties as well as reaction mechanisms of energy materials. In this book the major X-ray imaging technologies utilised, depending on research goals and sample specifications, are discussed. With X-ray imaging techniques, the morphology, phase, lattice and strain information of energy materials in both 2D and 3D can be obtained in an intuitive way. In addition, due to the high penetration of X-rays, operando/in situ experiments can be designed to track the qualitative and quantitative changes of the samples during operation. This book will broader the reader's view on X-ray imaging techniques and inspire new ideas and possibilities in energy materials research.

An extremely useful guide to the theory and applications of transport phenomena in materials processing

This book defines the unique role that transport phenomena play in materials processing and offers a graphic, comprehensive treatment unlike any other book on the subject. The two parts of the text are, in fact, two useful books. Part I is a very readable introduction to fluid flow, heat transfer, and mass transfer for materials engineers and anyone not yet thoroughly familiar with the subject. It includes governing equations and boundary conditions particularly useful for studying materials processing. For mechanical and chemical engineers, and anyone already familiar with transport phenomena, Part II covers the many specific applications to materials processing, including a brief description of various materials processing technologies.

Readable and unencumbered by mathematical manipulations (most of which are allocated to the appendixes), this book is also a useful text for upper-level undergraduate and graduate-level courses in materials, mechanical, and chemical engineering. It includes hundreds of photographs of materials processing in action, single and composite figures of computer simulation, handy charts for problem solving, and more. Transport Phenomena and Materials Processing:

• Describes eight key materials processing technologies, including crystal growth, casting, welding, powder and fiber processing, bulk and surface heat treating, and semiconductor device fabrication
• Covers the latest advances in the field, including recent results of computer simulation and flow visualization
• Presents special boundary conditions for transport phenomena in materials processing
• Includes charts that summarize commonly encountered boundary conditions and step-by-step procedures for problem solving
• Offers a unique derivation of governing equations that leads to both overall and differential balance equations
• Provides a list of publicly available computer programs and publications relevant to transport phenomena in materials processing

This thesis introduces a series of novel, non-conjugated polyarylether hosts that are not subject to the triplet-energy limitations of traditional conjugated polymer hosts. As a result of this major breakthrough, the long-standing problem of triplet energy back transfer has now been overcome, making it possible to design high-efficiency electrophosphorescent polymers (PhPs), especially the blue and all-phosphorescent white ones. In addition, the author proposes a spiro-linked hyperbranched architecture for PhPs to inhibit the undesired triplet energy back transfer process in low triplet-energy hosts. The work in this thesis provides vital new insights into the design of PhPs and has led to several publications in high-profile journals.

This volume gathers the latest advances, innovations, and applications in the field of accelerated pavement testing (APT), presented at the 6th International Conference on Accelerated Pavement Testing, in Nantes, France, in April 2022. Discussing APT, which involves rapid testing of full-scale pavement constructions for structural deterioration, the book covers topics such as APT facilities, APT of asphalt concrete and sustainable/innovative materials, APT for airfield pavements, testing of maintenance and rehabilitation solutions, testing of smart and multi-functional pavements, data analysis and modeling, monitoring and non-destructive testing, and efficient means of calibrating/developing pavement design methods. Featuring peer-reviewed contributions by leading international researchers and engineers, the book is a timely and highly relevant resource for materials scientists and engineers interested in determining the performance of pavement structures during their service life (10+ years) in a few weeks or months.

This book focuses on the justification and refinement of highly diverse approximate dynamic models for engineering structures arising in modern technology, including high-tech domains involving nano- and meta-materials. It proposes a classification for vibration spectra over a broad frequency domain and evaluates the range of validity of various existing 2D theories for thin-walled shells by comparing them with 3D benchmark solutions. The dynamic equations in 3D elasticity are applied to the analysis of harmonic vibrations in hollow bodies with canonical shapes. New exact homogeneous and inhomogeneous solutions are derived for cylinders, spheres and cones (including spherical and conical layers), as well as for plates of variable thickness. The book includes a wealth of numerical examples, as well as refined versions of 2D dynamic formulations. Boundary value problems for hollow bodies are also addressed.

This volume presents recent research work focused in the development of adequate theoretical and numerical formulations to describe the behavior of advanced engineering materials. Particular emphasis is devoted to applications in the fields of biological tissues, phase changing and porous materials, polymers and to micro/nano scale modeling. Sensitivity analysis, gradient and non-gradient based optimization procedures are involved in many of the chapters, aiming at the solution of constitutive inverse problems and parameter identification. All these relevant topics are exposed by experienced international and inter institutional research teams resulting in a high level compilation. The book is a valuable research reference for scientists, senior undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for engineers acting in the area of computational material modeling.

This thesis constitutes a detailed study of functional nanostructures (ferromagnetic, superconducting, metallic and semiconducting) fabricated by focused electron/ion beam induced deposition techniques. The nanostructures were grown using different precursor materials such as Co2(CO)8, Fe2(CO)9, W(CO)6, (CH3)3Pt(CpCH3), C10H8and were characterized by a wide range of techniques. This work reports results obtained for the morphology, the microstructure, the composition, the electrical transport mechanism, magnetic and superconducting properties of nanostructures. The results offers exciting prospects in a wide range of applications in nanotechnology and condensed matter physics.

This book presents the main outcomes of the first European research project on the seismic behavior of adjustable steel storage pallet racking systems. In particular, it describes a comprehensive and unique set of full-scale tests designed to assess such behavior. The tests performed include cyclic tests of full-scale rack components, namely beam-to-upright connections and column base connections; static and dynamic tests to assess the friction factor between pallets and rack beams; full-scale pushover and pseudodynamic tests of storage racks in down-aisle and cross-aisle directions; and full-scale dynamic tests on two-bay, three-level rack models. The implications of the findings of this extensive testing regime on the seismic behavior of racking systems are discussed in detail, highlighting e.g. the confirmation that under severe dynamic conditions "sliding" is the main factor influencing rack response. This work was conceived during the development of the SEISRACKS project. Its outcomes will contribute significantly to increasing our knowledge of the structural behavior of racks under earthquake conditions and should inform future rack design.

This book provides a line of communication between academia and end users/practitioners to advance forensic science and boost its contribution to criminal investigations and court cases. By covering the state of the art of promising technologies for the analysis of trace evidence using a controlled vocabulary, this book targets the forensics community as well as, crucially, informing the end users on novel and potential forensic opportunities for the fight against crime. By reporting end users commentaries at the end of each chapter, the relevant academic community is provided with clear indications on where to direct further technological developments in order to meet the law requirements for operational deployment, as well as the specific needs of the end users. Promising chemistry based technologies and analytical techniques as well as techniques that have already shown to various degrees an operational character are covered. The majority of the techniques covered have imaging capabilities, that is the ability to visualize the distribution of the target molecules within the trace evidence recovered. This feature enhances intelligibility of the information making it also accessible to a lay audience such as that typically found with a court jury. Trace evidence discussed in this book include fingermarks, bodily fluids, hair, gunshot residues, soil, ink and questioned documents thus covering a wide range of possible evidence recovered at crime scenes.

This book mainly focuses on the theoretical and experimental study of non-Fourier heat conduction behavior. A novel thermomass theory is used as the theoretical basis, which provides a general heat conduction equation for the accurate prediction of non-Fourier heat conduction. In order to prove the validity of this thermomass theory, a large current was used to heat the metallic nanofilm at the minimum temperature of 3 K. The measured average temperature of the nanofilm was notably higher than the prediction of Fourier's heat diffusion equation, while matching well with the general heat conduction equation. This is the first time that steady non-Fourier heat conduction has been observed. Moreover, this book concerns the role of electron-phonon interaction in metallic nanofilms, which involves the breakdown of the Wiedemann-Franz law at low temperatures and interfacial thermal resistance at femtosecond timescales. Readers will find useful information on non-Fourier heat conduction and the latest advances in the study of charge and heat transport in metallic nanofilms.

This book provides an overview of friction stir welding and friction stir spot welding with a focus on aluminium to aluminium and aluminium to copper. It also discusses experimental results for friction stir spot welding between aluminium and copper, offering a good foundation for researchers wishing to conduct more investigations on FSSW Al/Cu. Presenting full methodologies for manufacturing and case studies on FSSW Al/Cu, which can be duplicated and used for industrial purposes, it also provides a starting point for researchers and experts in the field to investigate the FSSW process in detail. A variant of the friction stir welding process (FSW), friction stir spot welding (FSSW) is a relatively new joining technique and has been used in a variety of sectors, such as the automotive and aerospace industries. The book describes the microstructural evolution, chemical and mechanical properties of FSW and FSSW, including a number of case studies.

The book examines advanced, non-standardized techniques that have been developed for determining different properties of cement paste, mortar and concrete, and provides state-of-the-art information on methods for monitoring hydration-induced changes in cement-based materials (CBMs). These methods are often nondestructive and allow quasi-continuous monitoring covering the time span from placement of the material to formation of a fully hardened cement composite. The book also presents various applications of acoustic emission for characterizing fresh concrete, recent developments in ultrasonic methods for characterizing CBMs since placement, application of ambient response methods for measuring elastic modulus, methods for determining deformational characteristics of CBMs since setting and methods for in situ measurements of stresses in concrete elements during hardening.

This monograph is devoted to problems of propagation and stability of linear and nonlinear waves in continuous media with complex structure. It considers the different media, such as solid with cavities, preliminary deformed disperse medium, solid with porosity filled by the electrically conductive and non-conductive liquid, magnetoelastic, piezo-semiconductors, crystals with dislocations, composites with inclusions, an electrically conductive asymmetrical liquid, a mixture of gas with a drop liquid. The book also considers the propagation of a laser beam through a two-level medium. The presented results are based on methods of evolution and modulation equations that were developed by the authors. The book is intended for scientific and technical researchers, students and post-graduate students specializing in mechanics of continuous media, physical acoustics, and physics of the solid state.

Proceedings of the 4th Joint International Conference on Hyperfine Interactions and International Symposium on Nuclear Quadrupole Interactions, HFI/NQI 2012 held in Beijing, China, September 10-14, 2012. The hyperfine interaction between the atomic nucleus and the surrounding charge distribution and the magnetic fields at the site of the nucleus remains a topic of high scientific interest. To this we have to add the field of nuclear quantum optics where the hyperfine interaction takes place between the atomic nucleus and synchrotron radiation. The study of this hyperfine interaction allows to shift the existing borders of scientific insight both in the properties of the atomic nucleus as in the properties of the solids and liquids in which it is imbedded. The 47 scientific contributions in this book describe studies presented at the HFI/NQI2012 conference. These studies are devoted to topics such as nuclear moments, nuclear polarization, fundamental interactions, magnetism and magnetic materials, semiconductors, metals, insulators, practical applications, developments in methodology and new directions in the field of hyperfine interactions.

This book introduces the fundamental theory of electromagnetic ultrasonic guided waves, together with its applications. It includes the dispersion characteristics and matching theory of guided waves; the mechanism of production and theoretical model of electromagnetic ultrasonic guided waves; the effect mechanism between guided waves and defects; the simulation method for the entire process of electromagnetic ultrasonic guided wave propagation; electromagnetic ultrasonic thickness measurement; pipeline axial guided wave defect detection; and electromagnetic ultrasonic guided wave detection of gas pipeline cracks. This theory and findings on applications draw on the author's intensive research over the past eight years. The book can be used for nondestructive testing technology and as an engineering reference work. The specific implementation of the electromagnetic ultrasonic guided wave system presented here will also be of value for other nondestructive test developers.

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to polymer rheology with a focus on the viscoelastic characterization of polymeric materials. It contains various numerical algorithms for the processing of viscoelastic data, from basic principles to advanced examples which are hard to find in the existing literature. The book takes a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the viscoelasticity of polymers, and is self-contained, including the essential mathematics, continuum mechanics, polymer science and statistical mechanics needed to understand the theories of polymer viscoelasticity. It covers recent achievements in polymer rheology, such as theoretical and experimental aspects of large amplitude oscillatory shear (LAOS), and numerical methods for linear viscoelasticity, as well as new insights into the interpretation of experimental data. Although the book is balanced between the theoretical and experimental aspects of polymer rheology, the author's particular interest in the theoretical side will not remain hidden. Aimed at readers familiar with the mathematics and physics of engineering at an undergraduate level, the multidisciplinary approach employed enables researchers with various scientific backgrounds to expand their knowledge of polymer rheology in a systematic way.

This book addresses the properties of particles in colloidal suspensions. It has a focus on particle aggregates and the dependency of their physical behaviour on morphological parameters. For this purpose, relevant theories and methodological tools are reviewed and applied to selected examples. The book is divided into four main chapters. The first of them introduces important measurement techniques for the determination of particle size and interfacial properties in colloidal suspensions. A further chapter is devoted to the physico-chemical properties of colloidal particles-highlighting the interfacial phenomena and the corresponding interactions between particles. The book's central chapter examines the structure-property relations of colloidal aggregates. This comprises concepts to quantify size and structure of aggregates, models and numerical tools for calculating the (light) scattering and hydrodynamic properties of aggregates, and a discussion on van-der-Waals and double layer interactions between aggregates. It is illustrated how such knowledge may significantly enhance the characterisation of colloidal suspensions. The final part of the book refers to the information, ideas and concepts already presented in order to address technical aspects of the preparation of colloidal suspensions-in particular the performance of relevant dispersion techniques and the stability of colloidal suspensions.

This thesis provides an innovative strategy for rail crack monitoring using the acoustic emission (AE) technique. The field study presented is a significant improvement on laboratory studies in the literature in terms of complex rail profile and crack conditions as well as high operational noise. AE waves induced by crack propagation, crack closure, wheel-rail impact and operational noise were obtained through a series of laboratory and field tests, and analyzed by wavelet transform (WT) and synchrosqueezed wavelet transform (SWT). A wavelet power-based index and the enhanced SWT scalogram were sequentially proposed to classify AE waves induced by different mechanisms according to their energy distributions in the time-frequency domain. A novel crack sizing method taking advantage of crack closure-induced AE waves was developed based on fatigue tests in the laboratory. The propagation characteristics of AE waves in the rail were investigated, and Tsallis synchrosqueezed wavelet entropy (TSWE) with time was finally brought forward to detect and locate rail cracks in the field. The proposed strategy for detection, location and sizing of rail cracks helps to ensure the safe and smooth operation of the railway system. This thesis is of interest to graduate students, researchers and practitioners in the area of structural health monitoring.