Promotions - Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles 2017 -

This is a remarkable book, considering the large number of examples involving the principles, analysis, and application of the contact forces and wear at the interface between two different phases that Popov (Technical Univ. of Berlin, Germany) contemplates. The scope is greater than just tribology (the science of friction and wear), considering the variety of media, geometries, and materials studied, including solids, fluids, elastomers, viscoelastic media, etc. A variety of example problems, figures, and diagrams are included, as well as a list of problems with each chapter. The 20 chapters cover a large scope of topics pertaining to tribology and other related fields. At the conclusion of the work, Popov offers four appendixes that contain detailed examples. In addition, a "Further Reading" list provides other resources that interested readers can examine. It is important to note that the book assumes a reasonably high level of understanding in calculus and is best suited for advanced students and those actively involved in the field of research.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.

This volume is a short and readable text on the subject of particulates and particulate delivery. Within the field of engineering, it takes an interdisciplinary approach to particulate characteristics, formation, and applications, with a focus on materials custom-designed for specific tasks. Furthermore, it addresses both process and product design approaches, encouraging students to think about designing particles for specific functions while considering, at the same time, issues of efficiency in long-term and large-scale creation of the desired materials. Each chapter begins with a case study and then moves through short sections of learning goals, specific lessons, a summary, a bibliography, and problem sets illustrated sparingly with graphs, tables, and occasional images. The illustrations are reasonably large and clear, and the equations are presented in enough space to be easily read. Given the specialized nature of the text, its usefulness in a collection will be determined by the needs of the users. This volume will serve as an excellent reference book, as well as a strong textbook for a course on the subject.Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.

Robertson's autobiography illustrates how he became one of the most innovative and productive structural engineers in the world--responsible for the structural engineering of hundreds of spectacular skyscrapers and other unique structures. Most of the book is a wonderfully illustrated description of his structural engineering innovations and accomplishments. The most extensive exposition and analysis is on the World Trade Center--55 pages written with insight and accompanied by relevant photographs and diagrams. Other interesting aspects of the work include Robertson's descriptions of his relationships with architects such as Philip Johnson, I. M. Pei, Kiyonori Kikutake, Minoru Yamasaki, etc. He offers significant insights pertaining to engineering education that both students and faculty should read. This is an attractive book, an excellent autobiography, a perceptive history of modern architecture and structural engineering, and a superb guide book on how to succeed. It is recommended to all interested in architecture, design, and innovation--especially architects, civil engineers, students, and the intrigued general public.Summing Up: Highly recommended. All readers.

Battjes and Labeur (both, Technische Univ., Delft, the Netherlands) present unified and rigorous mathematical models of unsteady flow in open channels. In a modest volume, the authors cover a wide spectrum of topics in chapters that include "Basic Equations for Long Waves," "Classification and Analysis of Long Waves," "Translatory Waves," "Tidal Basins," "Harmonic Wave Propagation," "Flood Waves in Rivers," "Transport Processes," and "Numerical Computation of Solutions." A key characteristic of this book lies in the elucidating style and effective management of the various mathematical models. The authors begin with a sweeping introduction to the mathematics necessary to model unsteady flow in open channels using the foundation of fluid mechanics, then engage readers in a multitude of topics by qualitatively and quantitatively describing several distinguishing long-wave phenomena. Each chapter effectively provides the necessary theory in sufficient detail coupled with graphical explanations. The book culminates in modelling of transport processes and numerical solutions of unsteady flows. This book is strongly recommended for graduate students in civil and environmental engineering, physics, and applied mathematics. Additionally, it is recommended for researchers and professional engineers, as it provides thorough analytical coverage "of various classes of unsteady flow phenomena in open channels...."Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; faculty and professionals.

It is useful to highlight the differences between this new edition of a very strong book and its previous editions. Vehicle Dynamics is a big, heavy book--it weighs around six pounds, but given its large size it feels much heavier. The weight of this edition is approximately twice that of the previous editions. The first edition (CH, Aug'08, 45-6811) has 1,015 pages, the second edition (CH, Jul'14, 51-6199) has 1,066 pages, and this third edition 985 pages. The lower page numbers reflect a corrected and polished version of the second edition, with a number of topics removed and a few topics added. The work contains very large bottom and side margins. If the publisher printed the book with standard margins and formatting, it could have cut the weight of the book by one-half, and the number of pages by at least one-third, thus enabling the book to be more useful as a textbook and much less of a burden in students' backpacks. Nonetheless, this work remains one of the best organized and pedagogically sound treatments of the dynamics of vehicles available. It is well suited for a course in vehicle dynamics for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in mechanical engineering.Summing Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above.