The 31st volume of the journal "Advanced Engineering Forum" contains peer-reviewed manuscripts describing the results of engineering solutions and research dealing with actual problems in the area of strength of materials and structures, building materials, architecture, determination of optimal parameters for the technology of equal channel angular pressing and modeling for the multiple-criteria decision making in manufacturing environment. Published articles will be useful for professionals in the various branches of engineering and for students and academic staff concerned with the related specialties.

Das Forum Bauinformatik steht unter dem Motto „von jungen Forschenden für junge Forschende“. Es bietet jungen Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftlern sowie interessierten Studierenden die Möglichkeit, ihre Forschungsarbeiten zu präsentieren, Problemstellungen fachspezifisch zu diskutieren und sich ganz allgemein über den neusten Stand der Forschung zu informieren. Zudem ergibt sich dadurch eine ausgezeichnete Gelegenheit, in die wissenschaftliche Gemeinschaft im Bereich der Bauinformatik einzusteigen und Kontakte zu anderen Forschenden zu knüpfen. According to the motto “from young researchers for young researchers” the Forum Bauinformatik offers researchers as well as interested undergraduates the opportunity to present their research work, to discuss discipline-specific problems and to catch up to the current state in research. Furthermore, it gives an excellent chance to get in touch with the scientific community in the field of Computing in Civil Engineering and socialize with other researchers

In this book project, all the American Ceramic Society's Engineering Ceramics Division Mueller and Bridge Building Award Winners, the ICACC Plenary Speakers and the past Engineering Ceramics Division Chairs have been invited to write book chapters on a topic that is compatible with their technical interests and consistent with the scope of the book, which is to focus on the current status and future prospects of various technical topics related to engineering ceramics, advanced ceramics and composite materials. Topics include: Mechanical Behavior and Performance of Ceramics & Composites Non-Destructive Evaluation and Mechanical Testing of Engineering Ceramics Brittle and Composite Material Design Modern Fracture Mechanics of Ceramics Thermal/Environmental Barrier Coatings Advanced Ceramic Coatings for Functional Applications Advanced Ceramic Joining Technologies Ceramics for Machining, Friction, Wear, and Other Tribological Applications Ceramic Composites for High-Temperature Aerospace Structures and Propulsion Systems Thermal Protection Materials: From Retrospect to Foresight Carbon/Carbon Composites Ceramic-Matrix Composites for Lightweight Construction Ultra High-Temperature Ceramics (UHTC) Nanolaminated Ternary Carbides and Nitrides (MAX Phases) Ceramics for Heat Engine and Other Energy Related Applications Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) Armor Ceramics Next Generation Bioceramics Ceramics for Innovative Energy and Storage Systems Designing Ceramics for Electrochemical Energy Storage Devices Nanostructured Materials and Nanotechnology Advanced Ceramic Processing and Manufacturing Technologies Engineering Porous Ceramics Thermal Management Materials and Technologies Geopolymers Advanced Ceramic Sensor Technology Advanced Ceramics and Composites for Nuclear and Fusion Applications Advanced Ceramic Technologies for Rechargeable Batteries

Socially engaged architecture is a broad and emerging architectural genre that promises to redefine architecture from a market-driven profession to a mix of social business, altruism, and activism that intends to eradicate poverty, resolve social exclusion, and construct an egalitarian global society. The Routledge Companion to Architecture and Social Engagement offers a critical enquiry of socially engaged architecture’s current context characterized by socio-economic inequity, climate change, war, increasing global poverty, microfinance, the evolving notion of professionalism, the changing conception of public, and finally the growing academic interest in re-visioning the social role of architecture. Organized around case studies from the United States, Brazil, Venezuela, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Thailand, Germany, Australia, Taiwan, and Japan the book documents the most important recent developments in the field. By examining diverse working methods and philosophies of socially engaged architecture, the handbook shows how socially engaged architecture is entangled in the global politics of poverty, reconstruction of the public sphere, changing role of the state, charity, and neoliberal urbanism. The book presents debates around the issue of whether architecture actually empowers the participators and alleviates socio-economic exclusion or if it instead indirectly sustains an exploitive capitalism. Bringing together a range of theories and case studies, this companion offers a platform to facilitate future lines of inquiry in education, research, and practice.

Though conflicts continue to arise over land use and land cover changes, the conversion of forest land to cropland or other land uses such as housing and urban development have been on the rise in recent years. Decisions regarding land use and land cover influence climate change as well as various natural processes. While proper changes can minimize the effects and speed of climatic changes, the continued adverse changes may be accelerating the deterioration of the world’s condition. Examining International Land Use Policies, Changes, and Conflicts presents the latest research on the present status of land use and land cover changes throughout the world in order to determine appropriate land use policies that can protect earth’s present and future condition. The findings of the studies investigate the conflicts behind the land tenure and land uses in different countries of the world and examines existing policies and the reasons behind changes in them. Ultimately, the book provides readers with knowledge on how land can be managed in a sustained manner, how landscape models are helpful for predicting and determining future land uses, how land can be managed with the best architectural measures, and how urban forestry is helpful for better environmental management and adapting or mitigating climate change effects. Land users, agriculturalists, urban planners, policymakers, government officials, researchers, academicians, and students looking to improve their understanding of this topic for better use of land in the future will find this book to be an asset to their current research.

Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Advanced Composite Materials and Technologies for Aerospace Applications held at Glynd

Superalloy, or high-performance alloy, is an alloy that exhibits several key characteristics: excellent mechanical strength, resistance to thermal creep deformation, good surface stability, and resistance to corrosion or oxidation. The crystal structure is typically face-centered cubic austenitic. Superalloy development has relied heavily on both chemical and process innovations. Superalloys develop high temperature strength through solid solution strengthening. An important strengthening mechanism is precipitation strengthening which forms secondary phase precipitates such as gamma prime and carbides. Oxidation or corrosion resistance is provided by elements such as aluminium and chromium. This book collects new developments about superalloys.

Sandwich Structural Composites: Theory and Practice offers a comprehensive coverage of sandwich structural composites. It describes the structure, properties, characterization, and testing of raw materials. In addition, it discusses design and process methods, applications and damage assessments of sandwich structural composites. The book: Offers a review of current sandwich composite lamination processes and manufacturing methods Introduces raw materials, including core materials, skin reinforcements, resin substrates and adhesives Discusses sandwich structure characterization, finite element analysis of the structures, and product design and optimization Describes benefits other than structural, including acoustic, thermal, and fire Details applications in various industries, including aerospace, wind energy, marine ships, recreational boats and vehicles, sport equipment, building construction, and extreme temperature applications The book will be of benefit to industrial practitioners, researchers, academic faculty, and advanced students in materials and mechanical engineering and related disciplines looking to advance their understanding of these increasingly important materials.

This book constitutes the proceedings of the 6th International Workshop on Communication Technologies for Vehicles, Nets4Cars/Nets4Trains/Nets4Aircraft 2014, held in Offenburg, Germany in May 2014. The 10 papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 15 submissions. The book also contains 4 invited papers. The contributions are organized in topical sections named: automotive issues, car-to-car, aviation issues, in-car, and infrastructures.