This book consists of 113 selected papers presented at the 2015 International Conference on Mechanical Engineering and Control Systems (MECS2015), which was held in Wuhan, China during January 23-25, 2015. All accepted papers have been subjected to strict peer review by two to four expert referees, and selected based on originality, ability to test ideas and contribution to knowledge.MECS2015 focuses on eight main areas, namely, Mechanical Engineering, Automation, Computer Networks, Signal Processing, Pattern Recognition and Artificial Intelligence, Electrical Engineering, Material Engineering, and System Design. The conference provided an opportunity for researchers to exchange ideas and application experiences, and to establish business or research relations, finding global partners for future collaborations. The conference program was extremely rich, profound and featured high-impact presentations of selected papers and additional late-breaking contributions.

Mechanics of Structures and Materials: Advancements and Challenges is a collection of peer-reviewed papers presented at the 24th Australasian Conference on the Mechanics of Structures and Materials (ACMSM24, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, 6-9 December 2016). The contributions from academics, researchers and practising engineers from Australasian, Asia-pacific region and around the world, cover a wide range of topics, including: • Structural mechanics • Computational mechanics • Reinforced and prestressed concrete structures • Steel structures • Composite structures • Civil engineering materials • Fire engineering • Coastal and offshore structures • Dynamic analysis of structures • Structural health monitoring and damage identification • Structural reliability analysis and design • Structural optimization • Fracture and damage mechanics • Soil mechanics and foundation engineering • Pavement materials and technology • Shock and impact loading • Earthquake loading • Traffic and other man-made loadings • Wave and wind loading • Thermal effects • Design codes Mechanics of Structures and Materials: Advancements and Challenges will be of interest to academics and professionals involved in Structural Engineering and Materials Science.

This comprehensive monograph deals with detectors, signal processors and related noise phenomena. Detailed quantitative analyses are developed in a consistent format for thermal detectors, vacuum detectors, semiconductor detectors and avalanche detectors, as well as their accompanying noise currents. For signal processing applocations, the monograph treats in detail the operational amplifier, signal averagers, waveform analyzers, correlation techniques and heterodyne detection. Several original extensions are reported, especially for correlation devices and heterodyne detection with noise rejection. In addition, results of analyses are illustrated with examples of operating systems and of applications in space communication and laser radar.