Deep connections are emerging in the physics of non-thermal systems,such as granular media, and other "complex systems" such as glass formers, spin glasses, colloids or gels. This book discusses the unifying physical theories, developed in recent years, for the description of these systems. The special focus of the book is on recent important developments in the formulation of a Statistical Mechanics approach to granular media and the description of out-of-equilibrium dynamics, such as "jamming" phenomena, ubiquitous in these "complex systems". The book collects contributions from leading researchers in these fields, providing both an introduction, at a graduate level, to these rapidly developing subjects and featuring an up to date, self contained, presentation of theoretical and experimental developments for researchers in areas ranging from Chemistry, to Engineering and Physical Sciences.·the book discusses very hot topics in physical sciences·it includes contributions from the most prominent researchers in the area·it is clearly written and self contained

2007 account of developments in granular physics for researchers in statistical and mathematical physics.

The science of complex materials continues to engage researchers from a vast range of disciplines, including physics, mathematics, computational science, and virtually all domains of engineering.This volume presents a unique multidisciplinary panorama of the current research in complex materials. The contributions explore an array of problems reflecting recent developments in four main areas: characterization and modeling of disordered packings, micromechanics and continuum theory; discrete element method; statistical mechanics. The common theme is the quest to unravel the connection between the microscopic and macroscopic properties of complex materials.

Most everyday solid materials, from plastics to cosmetic gels, exist in a non-crystalline, amorphous form: they are glasses. Yet we are still seeking an explanation as to what glasses really are and to why they form. In this book, leading experts present broad and original perspectives on one of the deepest mysteries of condensed matter physics.

This book again continues the biannual series of (now six) conference proceedings, which has become a classical reference in traffic and granular research alike. It addresses new developments at the borderline between physics, engineering and computational science. Complex systems, where many simple agents, be it vehicles or particles, give rise to surprising and fascinating phenomena.

This book presents the latest advances in Discrete Element Methods (DEM) and technology. It is the proceeding of 7th International Conference on DEM which was held at Dalian University of Technology on August 1 - 4, 2016. The subject of this book are the DEM and related computational techniques such as DDA, FEM/DEM, molecular dynamics, SPH, Meshless methods, etc., which are the main computational methods for modeling discontinua. In comparison to continua which have been already studied for a long time, the research of discontinua is relatively new, but increases dramatically in recent years and has already become an important field. This book will benefit researchers and scientists from the academic fields of physics, engineering and applied mathematics, as well as from industry and national laboratories who are interested in the DEM.

Given that for centuries, the standard tool to understand diseases in tissues was the microscope and that its major limitation was that only excised tissue could be used, recent technology now permits the examination of diseased tissue in vivo. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has promising potential when applied to coronary artery disease. OCT has the capability to identify coronary plaque and to distinguish between plaques that are stable and unstable. If the plaques are stable then OCT can direct percutaneous intervention (angioplasty or stenting). Optical coherence tomography is a light-based imaging technology that allows for very high resolution imaging in biological tissues. It has been first applied in ophthalmology, where it soon became the golden standard for the assessment of (epi-) retinal processes. The unique imaging capabilities have raised the interest of researchers and clinicians in the field of cardiovascular disease, since OCT offers unique possibilities to study atherosclerosis pathophysiology in vivo. With over 1.1M Americans having a heart attack this year because of unstable plaque rupture, OCT may have an increasingly important role in the early diagnosis of coronary artery disease. This unique publication offers the reader the basic background to OCT and its role in the diagnosis and management of coronary artery disease. The Handbook of Optical Coherence Tomography in Cardiovascular Research introduces the cardiovascular application of this technology. Clinicians, biologists, engineers and physicist are discussing different aspects of cardiovascular OCT application in a multidisciplinary approach. The handbook offers the readership a concise overview on the current state of the art of vascular OCT imaging and sheds light on a variety of exciting new developments. The physics, technical principles of OCT and its application in a broad spectrum of cardiovascular research areas are summarized by highly recognized specialists. The potential of OCT in peripheral and coronary arteries and in developmental cardiology are described. Each research area is introduced by a clinical expert in the field followed by discussion of different aspects from an engineering, biomedical and clinical perspective. Specifically, the current capabilities for plaque characterization, detection of vulnerable plaque, guidance of interventional procedures, Doppler-assessment, and molecular contrast imaging are being described. The Handbook of Optical Coherence Tomography in Cardiovascular Research targets researchers and clinicians involved in the field of atherosclerosis. The summary of basic physics, engineering solutions, pre-clinical and clinical application covers all relevant aspects and will be a valuable reference source.