The inner architecture of a material can have an astonishing effect on its overall properties and is vital to understand when designing new materials. Nature is a master at designing hierarchical structures and so researchers are looking at biological examples for inspiration, specifically to understand how nature arranges the inner architectures for a particular function in order to apply these design principles into man-made materials. Materials Design Inspired by Nature is the first book to address the relationship between the inner architecture of natural materials and their physical properties for materials design. The book explores examples from plants, the marine world, arthropods and bacteria, where the inner architecture is exploited to obtain specific mechanical, optical or magnetic properties along with how these design principles are used in man-made products. Details of the experimental methods used to investigate hierarchical structures are also given. Written by leading experts in bio-inspired materials research, this is essential reading for anyone developing new materials.

Materials Technology, Volume 2: The Fabrication of Materials deals with the processes of materials fabrication. This book focuses on systems used to transform raw materials into shaped states suitable for practical service. Principles of manufacture are discussed, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each method of fabrication and the diverse manufacturing sequences that are possible. The administrative aspects of manufacture are also considered. This volume is comprised of eight chapters and begins by introducing the reader to casting methods, including solidification casting, gravity-flow mold-filling, and pressurized mold-filling. Emphasis is placed on how materials that are reduced to a liquid state and then solidified can be prepared for service or formed to a useful shape. The chapters that follow explore powder preparation, mixing, compacting, and consolidation; mechanical means of fabrication; fabrication by bonding and machining; and the role of inventors and designers in fabrication. This volume concludes by assessing the economic aspects of fabrication, with particular reference to essential needs, conveniences, and luxuries. This book will be useful to first-year university undergraduates in engineering technician courses and more specialized technician courses.

This established textbook provides an understanding of materials’ behaviour through knowledge of their chemical and physical structure. It covers the main classes of construction materials: metals, concrete, other ceramics (including bricks and masonry), polymers, fibre composites, bituminous materials, timber, and glass. It provides a clear and comprehensive perspective on the whole range of materials used in modern construction, to form a must-have for civil and structural engineering students, and those on courses such as architecture, surveying and construction. It begins with a Fundamentals section followed by a section on each of the major groups of materials. In this new edition: - The section on fibre composites FRP and FRC has been completely restructured and updated. - Typical questions with answers to any numerical examples are given at the end of each section, as well as an instructor’s manual with further questions and answers. - The links in all parts have also been updated and extended, including links to free reports from The Concrete Centre, as well as other online resources and material suppliers’ websites. - and now with solutions manual and resources for adopting instructors on https://www.crcpress.com/9781498741101

This book deals with a group of architectured materials. These are hybrid materials in which the constituents (even strongly dissimilar ones) are combined in a given topology and geometry to provide otherwise conflicting properties. The hybridization presented in the book occurs at various levels - from the molecular to the macroscopic (say, sub-centimeter) ones. This monograph represents a collection of programmatic chapters, defining archimats and summarizing the results obtained by using the geometry-inspired materials design. The area of architectured or geometry-inspired materials has reached a certain level of maturity and visibility for a comprehensive presentation in book form. It is written by a group of authors who are active researchers working on various aspects of architectured materials. Through its 14 chapters, the book provides definitions and descriptions of the archetypes of architectured materials and addresses the various techniques in which they can be designed, optimized, and manufactured. It covers a broad realm of archimats, from the ones occurring in nature to those that have been engineered, and discusses a range of their possible applications. The book provides inspiring and scientifically profound, yet entertaining, reading for the materials science community and beyond.

Describes the structure and mechanics of a wide range of cellular materials in botany, zoology, and medicine.

Covers the scientific principles, developments and recent technological advances of stimuli responsive materials for those new to and active in the field.

So far in the twenty-first century, there have been many developments in our understanding of materials’ behaviour and in their technology and use. This new edition has been expanded to cover recent developments such as the use of glass as a structural material. It also now examines the contribution that material selection makes to sustainable construction practice, considering the availability of raw materials, production, recycling and reuse, which all contribute to the life cycle assessment of structures. As well as being brought up-to-date with current usage and performance standards, each section now also contains an extra chapter on recycling. Covers the following materials: metals concrete ceramics (including bricks and masonry) polymers fibre composites bituminous materials timber glass. This new edition maintains our familiar and accessible format, starting with fundamental principles and continuing with a section on each of the major groups of materials. It gives you a clear and comprehensive perspective on the whole range of materials used in modern construction. A must have for Civil and Structural engineering students, and for students of architecture, surveying or construction on courses which require an understanding of materials.