Shell Structures: Theory and Applications (Vol. 2)

Shell Structures: Theory and Applications (Vol. 2)
Author: Wojciech Pietraszkiewicz
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 686
Release: 2009-09-22
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1439859191

Shell Structures. Theory and Applications, Volume 2 contains 77 contributions from over 17 countries, reflecting a wide spectrum of scientific and engineering problems of shell structures. The papers are divided into six broad groups: 1. General lectures; 2. Theoretical modeling; 3. Stability; 4. Dynamics; 5. Numerical analysis; 6. Engineering

Progress in Smart Materials and Structures

Progress in Smart Materials and Structures
Author: Peter L. Reece
Publisher: Nova Publishers
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2007
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781600211065

"Smart" materials respond to environmental stimuli with particular changes in some variables. For that reason they are often also called responsive materials. Depending on changes in some external conditions, "smart" materials change either their properties (mechanical, electrical, appearance), their structure or composition, or their functions. Mostly, "smart" materials are embedded in systems whose inherent properties can be favourably changed to meet performance needs. Smart materials and structures have widespread applications in: 1. Materials science: composites, ceramics, processing science, interface science, sensor/actuator materials, chiral materials, conducting and chiral polymers, electrochromic materials, liquid crystals, molecular-level smart materials, biomaterials. 2. Sensing and actuation: electromagnetic, acoustic, chemical and mechanical sensing and actuation, single-measurand sensors, multiplexed multimeasurand distributed sensors and actuators, sensor/actuator signal processing, compatibility of sensors and actuators with conventional and advanced materials, smart sensors for materials and composites processing. 3. Optics and electromagnetics: optical fibre technology, active and adaptive optical systems and components, tuneable high-dielectric phase shifters, tuneable surface control. 4. Structures: smart skins for drag and turbulence control, other applications in aerospace/hydrospace structures, civil infrastructures, transportation vehicles, manufacturing equipment, repairability and maintainability. 5. Control: structural acoustic control, distributed control, analogue and digital feedback control, real-time implementation, adaptive structure stability, damage implications for structural control. 6. Information processing: neural networks, data processing, data visualisation and reliability. This book presents leading research from around the globe in this field.

Reaching High Altitudes on Mars With an Inflatable Hypersonic Drag Balloon

Reaching High Altitudes on Mars With an Inflatable Hypersonic Drag Balloon
Author: Hannes Stephan Griebel
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2011-06-21
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3834899119

Hannes Griebel studies space applications for the hypersonic drag balloon (ballute), specifically emergency low Earth orbit recovery and delivering payloads to high altitude landing sites on Mars. The author discusses the theory behind such a mission along with experience gained during its practical implementation, such as mission design, manufacturing, packing and deployment techniques as well as ground and flight tests.

Mechanosensitivity of the Nervous System

Mechanosensitivity of the Nervous System
Author: Andre Kamkin
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 355
Release: 2008-09-22
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1402087160

This book presents the latest findings in mechanosensitivity of the nervous system. The nervous system stands out from a number of tissues because besides reacting to the mechanical stress it is transmitting its own response to other organs and tissues, which are located downstream of its signaling pathway. For this reason any type of mechanical stimulation of the nervous system, which is capable of triggering a physiological response, has high scientific and practical significance, since it allows its use beyond a particular experimental model anywhere where it is contributing to a particular pathological condition. This book is a unique collection of reviews outlining the current knowledge and the future developments in this rapidly growing field. Currently, investigations of the effects of mechanical stress on the nervous system are focused on several issues. The majority of studies investigate the effects of mechanical stimulation on mechanosensitive channels, as its primary target and interactive agent, and aim on description of downstream intracellular signaling pathways together with addressing general issues of biomechanics of the nervous system. Knowledge of biomechanics, and mechanisms, which underlie it on organism, organ, tissue and cellular level, is necessary for understanding of the normal functioning of living organisms and allows to predict changes which arise due to alterations of their environment, and possibly will allow to develop new methods of artificial intervention. The book brings up the problem closer to the experts in related medical and biological sciences as well as practicing doctors besides just presenting the latest achievements in the field.

ICAF 2011 Structural Integrity: Influence of Efficiency and Green Imperatives

ICAF 2011 Structural Integrity: Influence of Efficiency and Green Imperatives
Author: Jerzy Komorowski
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 950
Release: 2011-05-06
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 9400716648

Proceedings of the 26th Symposium of the International Committee on Aeronautical Fatigue are a widely referenced summary of advances in aeronautical design against fatigue. This is a bi-annual event and the proceedings have been published in book form for over 35 years.

Biomimetic Robotic Artificial Muscles

Biomimetic Robotic Artificial Muscles
Author: Kwang Jin Kim
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 300
Release: 2013
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814390364

Biomimetic Robotic Artificial Muscles presents a comprehensive up-to-date overview of several types of electroactive materials with a view of using them as biomimetic artificial muscles. The purpose of the book is to provide a focused, in-depth, yet self-contained treatment of recent advances made in several promising EAP materials. In particular, ionic polymer-metal composites, conjugated polymers, and dielectric elastomers are considered. Manufacturing, physical characterization, modeling, and control of the materials are presented. Namely, the book adopts a systems perspective to integrate recent developments in material processing, actuator design, control-oriented modeling, and device and robotic applications. While the main focus is on the new developments in these subjects, an effort has been made throughout the book to provide the reader with general, basic information about the materials before going into more advanced topics. As a result, the book is very much self-contained and expected to be accessible for a reader who does not have background in EAPs.Based on the good fundamental knowledge and the versatility of the materials, several promising biomimetic and robotic applications such robotic fish propelled by an IPMC tail, an IPMC energy harvester, an IPMC-based valveless pump, a conjugated polymer petal-driven micropump, and a synthetic elastomer actuator-enabled robotic finger are demonstrated.

Proceedings of ISES World Congress 2007 (Vol.1-Vol.5)

Proceedings of ISES World Congress 2007 (Vol.1-Vol.5)
Author: D. Yogi Goswami
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 3091
Release: 2009-09-01
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3540759972

ISES Solar World Congress is the most important conference in the solar energy field around the world. The subject of ISES SWC 2007 is Solar Energy and Human Settlement, it is the first time that it is held in China. This proceedings consist of 600 papers and 30 invited papers, whose authors are top scientists and experts in the world. ISES SWC 2007 covers all aspects of renewable energy, including PV, collector, solar thermal electricity, wind, and biomass energy.