In the preliminary stage of designing new structural hardware that must perform a given mission in a fluctuating load environment, there are several factors the designers should consider. Trade studies for different design configurations should be performed and, based on strength and weight considerations, among others, an optimum configuration selected. The selected design must be able to withstand the environment in question without failure. Therefore, a comprehen sive structural analysis that consists of static, dynamic, fatigue, and fracture is necessary to ensure the integrity of the structure. During the past few decades, fracture mechanics has become a necessary discipline for the solution of many structural problems. These problems include the prevention of failures resulting from preexisting cracks in the parent material, welds or that develop under cyclic loading environment during the life of the structure. The importance of fatigue and fracture in nuclear, pressure vessel, aircraft, and aerospace structural hardware cannot be overemphasized where safety is of utmost concern. This book is written for the designer and strength analyst, as well as for the material and process engineer who is concerned with the integrity of the structural hardware under load-varying environments in which fatigue and frac ture must be given special attention. The book is a result of years of both acade mic and industrial experiences that the principal author and co-authors have accumulated through their work with aircraft and aerospace structures."

In the preliminary stage of designing new structural hardware that must perform a given mission in a fluctuating load environment, there are several factors the designers should consider. Trade studies for different design configurations should be performed and, based on strength and weight considerations, among others, an optimum configuration selected. The selected design must be able to withstand the environment in question without failure. Therefore, a comprehen sive structural analysis that consists of static, dynamic, fatigue, and fracture is necessary to ensure the integrity of the structure. During the past few decades, fracture mechanics has become a necessary discipline for the solution of many structural problems. These problems include the prevention of failures resulting from preexisting cracks in the parent material, welds or that develop under cyclic loading environment during the life of the structure. The importance of fatigue and fracture in nuclear, pressure vessel, aircraft, and aerospace structural hardware cannot be overemphasized where safety is of utmost concern. This book is written for the designer and strength analyst, as well as for the material and process engineer who is concerned with the integrity of the structural hardware under load-varying environments in which fatigue and frac ture must be given special attention. The book is a result of years of both acade mic and industrial experiences that the principal author and co-authors have accumulated through their work with aircraft and aerospace structures."

Snacks For Thought is a collection of random thoughts, some serious others not so. Thoughts that were developed at different times under different circumstances. They are not to be devoured in large quantities but rather nibbled in small bites. Each snack should be consumed, digested and discarded or absorbed. As a small book it might be kept in a purse or pocket for partial consumption while riding the subway, waiting in the doctor's office, resting in the park or settling down to sleep. They are not like blogs, tweets, twitters, hashtags or whatever gimmick next appeals to the illiterate. They are based on thought not the mechanical constraints of the newest machine. How delightful!

Throughout his 36-year career in the Canadian Army, the author saw some wonderful sights and met hundreds of interesting people, some of whom appear in this collection of anecdotes. From the first sergeant major at cadet camp to the witty and erudite professor at the staff college, they all enlightened and amused the impressive youngster who grew into an ancient and, at times, cynical old colonel. Along the way there were adventures galore at places with unusual names: Canoe River, the Imjin, Shilo, Kophinou and at others better known: England, Labrador, Ottawa and Washington. Those adventures are the stuff of stories that old soldiers tell when they gather in the mess and the emphasis is on the good times.
These are the stories.