For 100 years, between 1850 and 1950, the cargo liner grew to dominate the world’s trade routes, providing regular services that merchants, shippers and importers could rely on; they carried much of the world’s higher value manufactured goods and raw materials and their services spread to most corners of the world. They were the tool of the world’s first phase of globalization. This new book, evocatively illustrated with a magnificent collection of more than 300 photographs, begins with the establishment of routes around Europe and across the North Atlantic in the 1850s. Not until the Liverpool ship owner and engineer, Alfred Holt, developed high-pressure compound engines were coal-powered vessels able to steam further afield, to the Far East and Australia. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 cemented the dominance of the cargo liner and only with the appearance of the first container ship in the 1950s was that dominance finally overthrown. With its informative introductory texts and abundant photographs, this book will appeal to ship enthusiasts around the world and to all those who mourn the passing of the golden age of the steamship.

Mark Lee Inman looks at some of the beautiful postcards used as souvenirs on some less-glamorous ocean-going ships of the twentieth century.

Advanced composite materials or high performance polymer composites are an unusual class of materials that possess a combination of high strength and modulus and are substantially superior to structural metals and alloys on an equal weight basis. The book provides an overview of the key components that are considered in the design of a composite, of surface chemistry, of analyses/testing, of structure/property relationships with emphasis on compressive strength and damage tolerance. Newly emerging tests, particularly open hole compression tests are expected to provide greater assurance of composite performance. This publication is an "up-to-date" treatment of leading edge areas of composite technology with literature reviewed until recently and includes thermoplastic prepregs/composites and major application areas.

First published in 1986. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.