This open access book brings out the state of the art on how informatics-based tools are used and expected to be used in nanomaterials research. There has been great progress in the area in which "big-data" generated by experiments or computations are fully utilized to accelerate discovery of new materials, key factors, and design rules. Data-intensive approaches play indispensable roles in advanced materials characterization. "Materials informatics" is the central paradigm in the new trend. "Nanoinformatics" is its essential subset, which focuses on nanostructures of materials such as surfaces, interfaces, dopants, and point defects, playing a critical role in determining materials properties. There have been significant advances in experimental and computational techniques to characterize individual atoms in nanostructures and to gain quantitative information. The collaboration of researchers in materials science and information science is growing actively and is creating a new trend in materials science and engineering.

This book focuses on pulverized coal particle devolatilization, ignition, alkali metal release behavior, and burnout temperature using several novel optic diagnostic methods on a Hencken multi-flat flame burner. Firstly, it presents a novel multi-filter technique to detect the CH* signal during coal ignition, which can be used to characterize the volatile release and reaction process. It then offers observations on the prevalent transition from heterogeneous ignition to hetero-homogeneous ignition due to ambient temperature based on visible light signal diagnostics. By utilizing the gap between the excitation energies of the gas and particle phases, a new low-intensity laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (PS-LIBS) is developed to identify the presence of sodium in the particle or gas phase along the combustion process. For the first time, the in-situ verification of the gas phase Na release accompanying coal devolatilization is fulfilled when the ambient temperature is high enough. In fact, particle temperature plays a vital role in the coal burnout process and ash particle formation. The last part of the book uses RGB color pyrometry and the CBK model to study the char particle temperature on a Hencken burner. It offers readers valuable information on the technique of coal ignition and combustion diagnostics as well as coal combustion characteristics.

This book highlights the environmental and economic benefits of recycling in textiles and fashion; vis-a-vis virgin textiles. Recycling plays an inevitable part when it comes to sustainable innovations in textiles and fashion sector. As basic information pertaining to the benefits, challenges of recycling in textiles are discussed to the sufficient extent in the literature, this book deals with the innovative at the same time, sustainable products made from the recycled textiles.

The series Advances in Polymer Science presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in polymer and biopolymer science. It covers all areas of research in polymer and biopolymer science including chemistry, physical chemistry, physics, material science. The thematic volumes are addressed to scientists, whether at universities or in industry, who wish to keep abreast of the important advances in the covered topics. Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Single contributions can be specially commissioned.Readership: Polymer scientists, or scientists in related fields interested in polymer and biopolymer science, at universities or in industry, graduate students.

Corrosion remains one of the key issues affecting the performance and availability of nuclear power plants. Therefore, reliable in-plant corrosion monitoring methods are essential both for the future operation of existing plants and to ensure the safety of future nuclear waste disposal systems. In two parts, this book was stimulated by a workshop organised by EFC Working Party 4 on Nuclear Corrosion and the European Cooperative Group on Corrosion Monitoring of Nuclear Materials (EGC-COMON). The first part deals mainly with research into the detection of stress corrosion crack initiation in nuclear power plant environments (essentially high temperature water at 300 ) by various methods, particularly the electrochemical noise technique but also including the electrochemical impedance, acoustic emission and direct current potential drop methods. The second part addresses the goal to develop in-situ techniques and includes examples of the application of electrochemical corrosion potential monitoring. This book will be of particular interest to scientists and engineers concerned with the mitigation of corrosion in nuclear power plants and the long-term storage of radioactive waste.

Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) is now playing an increasing role in the modern global economy, in security-sensitive industries, for instance. The complexity of the inspection task and either large or limited lot runs now require more operator-assisted or fully automated signal processing. This book deals with both fields of expertise: NDE and signal processing. On the signal processing side, in the particular context of NDE applications, the following topics are discussed: sensor fusion, signal knowledge representation, artificial intelligence, fuzzy logic, computer vision, integration of numeric and non-numeric informations, parallel decomposition, noise processing and calibration of sensor devices as well as reliability of detection. Some hardware considerations are introduced as well, to discuss platforms on which processing is done. On the NDE side, applications include advances in holographic inteferometry, microwave resonance or shearography and also on more traditional NDE techniques such as ultrasonics, infrared techniques, X-ray, computed tomography and Eddy currents. Inverse problems are also discussed. This book is suitable for those who already have some experience in one or both fields (signal processing and/or NDE).

Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist.

The growing use of polymer composites is leading to increasing demand for fractographic expertise. Fractography is the study of fracture surface morphologies and it gives an insight into damage and failure mechanisms, underpinning the development of physically-based failure criteria. In composites research it provides a crucial link between predictive models and experimental observations. Finally, it is vital for post-mortem analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite components, the findings of which can be used to optimise future designs.
Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites covers the following topics: methodology and tools for failure analysis; fibre-dominated failures; delamination-dominated failures; fatigue failures; the influence of fibre architecture on failure; types of defect and damage; case studies of failures due to overload and design deficiencies; case studies of failures due to material and manufacturing defects; and case studies of failures due to in-service factors.
With its distinguished author, Failure analysis and fractography of polymer composites is a standard reference text for researchers working on damage and failure mechanisms in composites, engineers characterising manufacturing and in-service defects in composite structures, and investigators undertaking post-mortem failure analysis of components. The book is aimed at both academic and industrial users, specifically final year and postgraduate engineering and materials students researching composites and industry designers and engineers in aerospace, civil, marine, power and transport applications.
Examines the study of fracture surface morphologies in uderstanding composite structural behaviourDiscusses composites research and post-modern analysis of failed or crashed polymer composite componentsProvides an overview of damage mechanisms, types of defect and failure criteria

This volume collects the papers from the World Conference on Acoustic Emission 2017 (WCAE-2017) in Xi'an, China. The latest research and applications of acoustic emission (AE) are explored, with a particular emphasis on detecting and processing AE signals, the development of AE instrument and testing standards, AE of materials, engineering structures and systems, including the processing of collected data and analytical techniques. Numerous case studies are also included. This proceedings volume will appeal to students, professors and researchers working in these fields as physicists and/or engineers.

Advances in Polymer Science enjoys a longstanding tradition and good reputation in its community. Each volume is dedicated to a current topic, and each review critically surveys one aspect of that topic, to place it within the context of the volume. The volumes typically summarize the significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years and discuss them critically, presenting selected examples, explaining and illustrating the important principles, and bringing together many important references of primary literature. On that basis, future research directions in the area can be discussed. Advances in Polymer Science volumes thus are important references for every polymer scientist, as well as for other scientists interested in polymer science - as an introduction to a neighboring field, or as a compilation of detailed information for the specialist.

"Materials and Reliability Handbook for Semiconductor Optical and Electron Devices" provides comprehensive coverage of reliability procedures and approaches for electron and photonic devices. These include lasers and high speed electronics used in cell phones, satellites, data transmission systems and displays. Lifetime predictions for compound semiconductor devices are notoriously inaccurate due to the absence of standard protocols. Manufacturers have relied on extrapolation back to room temperature of accelerated testing at elevated temperature. This technique fails for scaled, high current density devices. Device failure is driven by electric field or current mechanisms or low activation energy processes that are masked by other mechanisms at high temperature.

The" Handbook "addresses reliability engineering for III-V devices, including materials and electrical characterization, reliability testing, and electronic characterization. These are used to develop new simulation technologies for device operation and reliability, which allow accurate prediction of reliability as well as the design specifically for improved reliability. The "Handbook" emphasizes physical mechanisms rather than an electrical definition of reliability. Accelerated aging is useful only if the failure mechanism is known. The Handbook also focuses on voltage and current acceleration stress mechanisms."

This book is a compilation of selected papers presented in the International Conference on the theme 'Wood is Good: Current Trends and Future Prospects in Wood'. The contents of the book deal with recent innovations, trends and challenges in wood science and are grouped in five distinct sections. They cover a wide range of topics like wood variability, processing and utilization, wood protection, wood-based composites, wood energy and the role of wood in mitigating climate change. With the ever increasing human population and growing demand for wood, this book offers valuable insights for better understanding and efficient utilization of this wonderful gift of nature. This book will be useful to researchers, professionals, and policy makers involved in forestry and wood related areas.

Durability of Industrial Composites offers numerical and quantitative solutions to long-term composite failures that are useful to practicing engineers, researchers, and students. All modes of laminate long-term failure are contemplated, with resin toughness and environmental conditions considered. The book develops a simple unified equation to compute the load-dependent durability of laminates under the simultaneous action of cyclic and static loads. The load-independent durability and residual life of equipment immersed in corrosive chemicals are also discussed. The book presents a full discussion of the elusive strain-corrosion mode of failure as well as a complete solution to the durability issue of underground sanitation pipes. The currently accepted durability parameters of HDB, Sb and Sc are discarded as incorrect and replaced with the appropriate threshold parameters. The entirely new concept of the "anomalous failure" is fully discussed and solved. The effects of overpressure and spike strains, as well as of the operating temperature and moisture, are quantitatively evaluated and illustrated in numerical examples.

This book presents a collection of papers presented at the 3rd World Congress on Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), a specialty conference organized by The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society (TMS). This meeting convened ICME stakeholders to examine topics relevant to the global advancement of ICME as an engineering discipline. The papers presented in these proceedings are divided into six sections: (1) ICME Applications; (2) ICME Building Blocks; (3) ICME Success Stories and Applications (4) Integration of ICME Building Blocks: Multi-scale Modeling; (5) Modeling, Data and Infrastructure Tools, and (6) Process Optimization. . These papers are intended to further the global implementation of ICME, broaden the variety of applications to which ICME is applied, and ultimately help industry design and produce new materials more efficiently and effectively.

This book highlights the latest advances in AFM nano-manipulation research in the field of nanotechnology. There are numerous uncertainties in the AFM nano-manipulation environment, such as thermal drift, tip broadening effect, tip positioning errors and manipulation instability. This book proposes a method for estimating tip morphology using a blind modeling algorithm, which is the basis of the analysis of the influence of thermal drift on AFM scanning images, and also explains how the scanning image of AFM is reconstructed with better accuracy. Further, the book describes how the tip positioning errors caused by thermal drift and system nonlinearity can be corrected using the proposed landmark observation method, and also explores the tip path planning method in a complex environment. Lastly, it presents an AFM-based nano-manipulation platform to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method using theoretical research, such as tip positioning and virtual nano-hand.

This book collects several contributions presented at the 2019 meeting of the Italian Synchrotron Radiation Society (SILS), held in Camerino, Italy, from 9 to 11 September 2019. Topics included are recent developments in synchrotron radiation facilities and instrumentation, novel methods for data analysis, applications in the fields of materials physics and chemistry, Earth and environmental science, coherence in x-ray experiments. The book is intended for advanced students and researchers interested in synchrotron-based techniques and their application in diverse fields.

This collection addresses the need for sustainable technologies with reduced energy consumption and pollutants and the development and application of alternative sustainable energy to maintain a green environment and energy supply. Contributions focus on energy-efficient technologies including innovative ore beneficiation, smelting technologies, and recycling and waste heat recovery, as well as emerging novel energy technologies. Papers also cover various technological aspects of sustainable energy ecosystems, processes that improve energy efficiency, reduce thermal emissions, and reduce carbon dioxide and other greenhouse emissions. Papers from the following symposia are presented in the book: Energy Technologies and Carbon Dioxide Management Solar Cell Silicon Advanced Materials for Energy Conversion and Storage

Synchrotron radiation is today extensively used for fundamental and applied research in many different fields of science. Its exceptional characteristics in terms of intensity, brilliance, spectral range, time structure and now also coherence pushed many experimental techniques to previously un-reachable limits, enabling the performance of experiments unbelievable only few years ago.

The book gives an up-to-date overview of synchrotron radiation research today with a view to the future, starting from its generation and sources, its interaction with matter, illustrating the main experimental technique employed and provides an overview of the main fields of research in which new and innovative results are obtained.

The book is addressed to PhD students and young researchers to provide both an introductory and a rather deep knowledge of the field. It will also be helpful to experienced researcher who want to approach the field in a professional way.

Fiber sensing technologies have enabled both fundamental studies and a wide spectrum of applications in every aspect of life. This book highlights the recent advancement in fiber sensing technologies based on newly developed sensing mechanisms, advanced fiber structures, and functional materials. In particular, the integration of functional materials with different electrical, optical, thermal, or mechanical properties into a single fiber offers a wealth of new opportunities in sensing. The book covers the major developments in novel fiber materials, such as semiconductors, metals, polymers, soft glasses, and carbon materials, as well as the sensing applications based on both single fiber and multi-dimensional fiber arrays for temperature, light, strain, vibration, electric and magnetic fields, hazardous chemicals, gases, and physiological signals.

This guide reviews the way asphalt mixture can be specified, with particular emphasis on the test methods used to measure performance. The advantages and limitations of the tests are described for measuring the desired property, and engineers can specify a test according to the material's use. The book starts with a resume of specifications and their relative advantages and disadvantages for different situations. Then different properties are discussed in terms of: their specification; the test methods that can be used (primarily the EN 12697 suite of European methods, of which the author has been responsible for drafting); the extent to which the results predict performance; the levels that can be achieved with different asphalt mixes and types; what levels, if any, should be specified in various situations and pavement layers; and which other properties are adversely affected by enhanced performance. The final section covers various aspects of sustainability, with a strong emphasis on durability. Better understanding should enable clients and consultants who specify pavements to produce durable asphalt pavements more economically, and also help asphalt producers and students trying to understand the black art of asphalt.

The second edition of High Voltage Test Techniques has been completely revised. The present revision takes into account the latest international developments in High Voltage and Measurement technology, making it an essential reference for engineers in the testing field.
High Voltage Technology belongs to the traditional area of Electrical Engineering. However, this is not to say that the area has stood still. New insulating materials, computing methods and voltage levels repeatedly pose new problems or open up methods of solution; electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) or components and systems also demand increased attention. The authors hope that their experience will be of use to students of Electrical Engineering confronted with High Voltage problems in their studies, in research and development and also in the testing field.
Benefit from a completely revised edition
Brings you up-to-date with th latest international developments in High Voltage and Measurement technology
An essential reference for engineers in the testing field

Metallic Glass-Based Nanocomposites: Molecular Dynamics Study of Properties provides readers with an overview of the most commonly used tools for MD simulation of metallic glass composites and provides all the basic steps necessary for simulating any material on Materials Studio. After reading this book, readers will be able to model their own problems on this tool for predicting the properties of metallic glass composites. This book provides an introduction to metallic glasses with definitions and classifications, provides detailed explanations of various types of composites, reinforcements and matrices, and explores the basic mechanisms of reinforcement-MG interaction during mechanical loading. It explains various models for calculating the thermal conductivity of metallic glass composites and provides examples of molecular dynamics simulations. Aimed at students and researchers, this book caters to the needs of those working in the field of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation of metallic glass composites.

This fully illustrated text explains the basic measurement techniques, describes the commercially available instruments and provides an overview of the current perception of 3-D topography analysis in the academic world and industry, and the commonly used 3-D parameters and plots for the characterizing and visualizing 3-D surface topography.
It also includes new sections providing full treatment of surface characterization, filtering technology and engineered surfaces, as well as a fully updated bibliography.

This book covers a wide range of measurement techniques broadly referred to as Optical Metrology, with emphasis on their applications to nondestructive testing. If we look separately at each of the two terms making the generic name Optical Metrology, we find a link to two of the most distinctive aspects of humans: a particularly well developed sense of vision and a desire to classify things using numbers and rules.
Of all our five senses, vision is certainly the most developed and the closest to the rational part of our brain. It can be argued that our memory is strongly dependent on images and the brain is particularly good at processing the stimuli received from these images to extract information. Measuring, sizing and counting are, on the other hand, among the fundamental building blocks of modern society. The use of abstract quantities like size, value or intensity has simplified the description of complex enquiry and is the basis of modern science and economy. Hence, it would seem natural that the combination of two such basic aspects should result in the birth of a new field of science. However, it is known that his has not been the case. Optical Metrology remains classified as a group of special techniques used mainly in niche applications. Optical Metrology may be rightly described as an ensemble of techniques in which fields such as physics, electrical and mechanical engineering, and computer science merge and blend in new ways.
This book is intended as a tribute to the career of Professor Leopold Pflug. By looking back at his lifelong commitment to the application of optical metrology to the service of engineering sciences, more particularly devoted to the observation of the real behavior of structural components, one can retrace the major revolutions that have taken place in this domain. Starting his activity in 1971 as the head of the Laboratory for Stress Analysis at the EPFL in Switzerland, he first employed photoelasticity as a tool to improve the understanding of the real behavior of complex structures. However he soon recognized the necessity of working with the real materials used to build these structures instead of on replicas made of optically birefringent materials. He then focussed on the use of moire techniques which sparked his fascination with laser-based holography and speckle-based methods. The advent of information technology led him to open up to the use of ESPI and digital image processing techniques. Finally, in the mid 1990s he became interested in the use of optical fibers as a tool for sensing deformations inside structures, not only on their surfaces as in the case of whole-field methods. It is interesting to note the parallel in the evolution of optical metrology vis a vis developments in other fields: the development of lasers led to holographic interferometry, the availability of frame-grabbers led to ESPI and the emergence of fiber optic communications opened the way to the development of fiber optic sensors. This puts in sharp perspective the strong dependence of optical metrology on the latest technology for its development. Also interesting to note is that all fields in optical metrology touched upon by Professor Pflug are still of great relevance, as shown by the contributions in this volume.
This book is, however, not intended as a commemoration, rather as an occasion to review the trends and undercurrents that are driving the field of optical metrology, with emphasis on nondestructive testing. All the authors were asked to summarize the recent achievements in their respective fields and to speculate about the future. As a result it has become apparent that it is difficult although not impossible to spot general trends in these disparate fields. Optical metrology has considerably benefited from some of the most important innovations of the recent past: lasers, computers and fiber optics communication, all of which found their direct inspiration from the developments in the world of electronics.
In recent years we have also witnessed a shift of power from states to corporations. This has created the need to produce quick results useful to industry. Optical nondestructive testing has certainly adapted to this evolution, and several contributions in this book show that the researchers in this field understand the importance of developing technology that can be used by the industry to solve specific problems. We should also not forget that optical nondestructive testing is essentially a "service technology" and should as such not only focus on serving its clients in the best possible way, but also should continually emphasize, extend and enhance its services to new users still unaware of its potential. Hopefully this book will help in spreading awareness of the potentials of optical metrology and in focusing on the challenges of the future.

This book offers an essential introduction to the linear and non-linear behavior of solid materials, and to the concepts of deformation, displacement and stress, within the context of continuum mechanics and thermodynamics. To illustrate the fundamental principles, the book starts with an overview of solid mechanics, experimental methods, classes of material behaviors, and the thermodynamic modeling framework. It then explores linear elastic behavior, thermoelasticity, plasticity, viscoplasticity, fracture mechanics and damage behavior. The last part of the book is devoted to conventional and magnetic shape memory alloys, which may be used as actuators or sensors in adaptive structures. Given its range of coverage, the book will be especially valuable for students of engineering courses in Mechanics. Further, it includes a wealth of examples and exercises, making it accessible to the widest possible audience.