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Books in Engineering and technology

The Engineering and Technology portfolio includes comprehensive overviews of all major research and practical developments in aerospace and automotive engineering, civil and environmental engineering, mechanical and industrial engineering, materials engineering, electrical engineering, communications engineering, and more. In-depth coverage, innovative state-of-the-art approaches, and real-world case studies provide valuable, actionable insights for researchers, applied engineers and students. The content in Elsevier's Engineering and Technology books program addresses core issues in industry and society, such as sustainability, the circular economy, AI, and automation.

  • Power Systems for Space Flight

    • 1st Edition
    • Morris Zipkin
    • English
    Progress in Astronautics and Aeronautics, Volume 11: Power Systems for Space Flight covers certain major technical areas of space electric power. This book is organized into four parts encompassing 43 chapters that specifically tackle the selection of power systems; chemical power systems; solar power systems; heat transfer, storage, and rejection. The opening part examines the basic criteria governing the selection of space power systems for specific applications. These systems range from the very limited power requirements of a ballistic space test through the potential goals of life support in lunar exploration to the long-rage goal of electric power systems for vehicle propulsion. The second part presents the dynamics of chemical power systems, in which in which a high-temperature working fluid is employed, and static systems, such as the battery and fuel cell, in which reversible electrochemical processes are involved. The third part discusses the operative systems using photovoltaic cells and explores technological developments leading to advanced thermoelectric and thermionic static conversion systems and the larger conversion systems employing rotating machinery. This part also provides a series of papers on solar concentrators, requisite for obtaining the required high temperatures, as well as thermionic and dynamic solar power systems. The final part on heat transfer, storage, and rejection covers the space power system from energy source to waste-heat rejecting radiators. Several papers in this part describe the characteristics of alkali metal heat transfer and radiator surface conditioning. Finally, a series of papers on meteoroid penetration leads to discussions of specific radiator designs.
  • Introduction to Continuum Mechanics

    • 3rd Edition
    • David Rubin + 2 more
    • English
    Continuum mechanics studies the response of materials to different loading conditions. The concept of tensors is introduced through the idea of linear transformation in a self-contained chapter, and the interrelation of direct notation, indicial notation and matrix operations is clearly presented. A wide range of idealized materials are considered through simple static and dynamic problems, and the book contains an abundance of illustrative examples and problems, many with solutions.Through the addition of more advanced material (solution of classical elasticity problems, constitutive equations for viscoelastic fluids, and finite deformation theory), this popular introduction to modern continuum mechanics has been fully revised to serve a dual purpose: for introductory courses in undergraduate engineering curricula, and for beginning graduate courses.
  • Limit Analysis in Soil Mechanics

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 52
    • W.F. Chen + 1 more
    • English
    During the last ten years, our understanding of the perfect plasticity and the associated flow rule assumption on which limit analysis is based has increased considerably. Many extensions and advances have been made in applications of limit analysis to the area of soil dynamics, in particular, to earthquake-induced slope failure and landslide problems and to earthquake-induced lateral earth pressures on rigid retaining structures. The purpose of the book therefore is in part to discuss the validity of the upper bound work (or energy) method of limit analysis in a form that can be appreciated by a practicing soil engineer, and in part to provide a compact and up-to-date summary of recent advances in the applications of limit analysis to earthquake-induced stability problems in soil mechanics.
  • Natural Phenomena

    • 1st Edition
    • Volume 14A
    • English
    Developments in Geotechnical Engineering, Vol. 14A: Rockslides and Avalanches, 1: Natural Phenomena focuses on attempts to provide a foundation for studies of mass movement phenomena in the Western Hemisphere. The selection first elaborates on Albert Heim's observations on landslides and relevance to modern interpretations, Frank rockslide in Alberta, Canada, and Lower Gros Ventre slide in Wyoming, U.S.A. Discussions focus on geologic environment, events triggered by rise and fall of slide lake level, description of slide mass and zone of detachment, stability analysis, travel distance of sturzstrom deposits, and geometry of the Elm sturzstrom deposits. The publication then takes a look at Madison Canyon rockslide in Montana, U.S.A., Little Tahoma Peak rockfalls and avalanches in Mount Rainier, Washington, U.S.A., Sherman Glacier rock avalanche in Alaska, U.S.A., and Nevados Huascaran avalanches in Peru. Topics include rockslide kinematics, associated seismic activity, meteorological and hydrological conditions, mode of emplacement of other Alaskan rock avalanches, and applicability of mechanical fluidization to other rock avalanches. The text examines the mechanics of glacier movement, dynamics of snow avalanches, failure of snow slopes, and role of gravity in plate tectonics. The selection is a valuables reference for researchers wanting to study further rockslides and avalanches.
  • Rapidly Quenched Metals

    • 1st Edition
    • S Steeb
    • English
    Rapidly Quenched Metals, Volume I covers the proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Rapidly Quenched Metals, held in Wurzburg, Germany on September 3-7, 1984. The book focuses on amorphous and crystalline metals formed by rapid quenching from the melt. The selection first covers the scope and trends of developments in rapid solidification technology, rapid solidification, and undercooling of liquid metals by rapid quenching. Discussions focus on experimental method, powders, strip, particulate production, consolidation, and alloys and alloy systems. The text then examines the solidification of undercooled liquid alloys entrapped in solid; crystallization kinetics in undercooled droplets; and grain refinement in bulk undercooled alloys. The manuscript tackles the undercooling of niobium-germanium alloys in a 100 meter drop tube; influence of process parameters on the cooling rate of the meltspinning process; and the mechanism of ribbon formation in melt-spun copper and copper-zirconium. The formation and structure of thick sections of rapidly-solidified material by incremental deposition and production of ultrafine dispersions of rare earth oxides in Ti alloys using rapid solidification are also mentioned. The selection is a valuable reference for physicists, chemists, physical metallurgists, and engineers.
  • Introduction to Wastewater Treatment Processes

    • 1st Edition
    • R Ramalho
    • English
    Introduction to Wastewater Treatment Processes considers various types of wastewater problems and the selection of proper mode of treatment, as well as the design of the equipment required. This book is divided into eight chapters and begins with a summary of the theory involved in the specific process, such as chemical kinetics and material and energy balances. The next chapter deals with the physical and chemical principles of wastewater treatment processes. These topics are followed by discussions of the important design parameters involved in the process and the determination of such parameters using laboratory-scale or pilot-plant equipment. Other chapters explore the development of a systematic design procedure for the treatment plant. The final chapters look into the mathematical modeling of biological treatment processes. This book will prove useful to practicing engineers and students.
  • Detonation and Two-Phase Flow

    • 1st Edition
    • S Penner
    • English
    Progress in Astronautics and Rocketry, Volume 6: Detonation and Two-Phase Flow compiles technical papers presented at the ARS Propellants, Combustion, and Liquid Rockets Conference held in Palm Beach, Florida on April 26-28, 1961. This book provides an excellent illustration of research and development on a selected group of problems relating to detonations, two-phase nozzle flow, and combustion in liquid fuel rocket engines. This volume is divided into two parts. Part 1 covers the entire range of physical conditions under which detonation may be initiated or sustained, such as high explosives, solid propellants, liquid sprays, and gases. Experimental and theoretical studies are also discussed, including the significant progress of the basic phenomena involved in transition from deflagration to detonation, and nature of stable detonations in dilute sprays and other systems. The perennial problems associated with high frequency instabilities in liquid fuel rocket engines are considered in Part 2. This publication is valuable to students and investigators working in the field of propulsion research and development.
  • Advanced Materials '93

    Ceramics, Powders, Corrosion and Advanced Processing
    • 1st Edition
    • Shigeyuki Somiya
    • English
    Ceramics, Powders, Corrosion and Advanced Processing covers the proceedings of the Third International Union of Materials Research Societies (IUMRS) International Conference on Advanced Materials (ICAM), held in Sunshine City, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan from August 31 to September 4, 1993. The said conference discusses the procedures for advanced materials. The book is divided into four parts. Part 1 includes topics such as preparation of powders from different compounds and substances and the application of different methods and techniques. Part 2 talks about high temperature oxidations and corrosions; degradation resistance of thermal barrier coatings; the environmental effects on corrosion behavior of stainless steel; effect of gas composition and pressure on high temperature corrosion; and other related concepts. Part 3 includes topics such as fatigue-crack behavior; the factors that lead to it; fracture resistance and how it is increased; and the application of ceramics to heat-resistant engines and turbines. Part 4 covers the advanced processing of ceramics, and Part 5 deals with the fabrication of silicon-based ceramics. The text is highly recommended for chemists and engineers in the field of ceramics who would like to know more about the advances in its studies and research.
  • Reasoning About Actions & Plans

    • 1st Edition
    • Michael P. Georgeff
    • English
    Reasoning About Actions and Plans discusses approaches to a number of the more challenging problems in reasoning about the future and forming plans of action to achieve their goals. Reasoning about actions and plans can be seen as fundamental to the development of intelligent machines that are capable of dealing effectively with real-world problems. This book comprises 17 chapters, with the first delving into the semantics of STRIPS. The following chapters then discuss a theory of plans; formulating multiagent, dynamic-world problems in the classical planning framework; and a representation of parallel activity based on events, structure, and causality. Other chapters cover branching regular expressions and multi-agent plans; a representation of action and belief for automatic planning systems; possible worlds planning; and intractability and time-dependent planning. The remaining chapters discuss goal structure, holding periods and "clouds"; a model of plan inference that distinguishes between the beliefs of actors and observers; persistence, intention, and commitment; the context-sensitivity of belief and desire; the doxastic theory of intention; an architecture for intelligent reactive systems; and abstract reasoning as emergent from concrete activity. This book will be of interest to practitioners in the fields of cognition and artificial intelligence.
  • Metapopulation Dynamics: Empirical and Theoretical Investigations

    • 1st Edition
    • Michael Gilpin
    • English
    Metapopulation Dynamics: Empirical and Theoretical Investigations covers the 1989 proceedings of a metapopulation dynamics workshop held at Lammi Biological Station, Helsinki, Finland. It is divided into 18 chapters that cover various approaches to spatially structured population and community dynamics. After briefly discussing the history of metapopulation ideas and the major conceptual links, the book covers types of studies that have been conducted on single-species and multispecies metapopulations. Then, it examines the relationships between metapopulation dynamics, the equilibrium theory of island biogeography, and the dynamics of populations living in patchy environments. It further tackles practical issues and the links between metapopulation dynamics and landscape ecology, and between metapopulation dynamics and conservation biology. Chapters 4 and 5 present structured models describing changes in the number of individuals within patches and an empirical evaluation of local extinction in metapopulation studies. The subsequent chapters discuss several aspects of metapopulation, including dispersal and connectivity, colonization, conspecific attraction, extinction and isolation, and forest fragmentation. The latter chapters describe the concept of habitat fragmentation, the diversity and competition in metapopulations, the community collapse, and the effects of metapopulation studies in predator-prey systems.