The mechanical tests presented in this book are essential for determining the basic properties of the materials used. Areas covered include elasticity, tensile and compression tests, hardness, endurance tests and dynamic tests.

CREEP, SHRINKAGE AND DURABILITY MECHANICS OF CONCRETE AND CONCRETE STRUCTURES contains the keynote lectures, technical reports and contributed papers presented at the Eighth International Conference on Creep, Shrinkage and Durability of Concrete and Concrete Structures (CONCREEP8, Ise-shima, Japan, 30 September - 2 October 2008). The topics covered

This collection of papers is a state of the art presentation of theories and methods related to the problem of the behaviour of mechanical structures under variable loads beyond their elastic limit In particular, the problems of shakedown, ratchetting, transient and asymptotic cyclic states are addressed. The volume is composed of four chapters devoted to material modelling for cyclic loading conditions; general theory of accommodated states of structures; effects of changes of the geometry on the inelastic structural response; and numerical techniques with applications to particular engineering problems. It was aimed to provide a unified approach in order to understand both inelastic material and structural response under variable loading conditions. The attempt to extend the classical shakedown theory of Melan and Koiter to geometrically non-linear problems is presented in several papers. The industrial application of cyclic plasticity to the analysis and the design of pressure bellows, compensators, turbine disks, or flange connections under thermal and pressure cycles illustrates the great potential of the numerical techniques developed for this purpose using mostly min-max approaches. The treatment of railway problems and the analysis and optimisation of pavements are further examples of important areas of applications. Emphasis was laid on approaches that take into account the fact that loading histories are often not precisely known Therefore, the center of interest lies in other than step by step calculation methods.

The growing interest in the overlap between technical, legal and insurance aspects of technology and engineering is reflected in the formation of the new International Society for Technology, Law and Insurance (ISTLI). This book forms the proceedings of the founding symposium and contains wide ranging papers from engineers, lawyers, and other specialists in insurance, technical approvals and product liability.

This book gives a unified presentation of the research performed in the field of multiscale modelling in sheet metal forming over the course of more than thirty years by the members of six teams from internationally acclaimed universities. The first chapter is devoted to the presentation of some recent phenomenological yield criteria (BBC 2005 and BBC 2008) developed at the CERTETA center from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca. An overview on the crystallographic texture and plastic anisotropy is presented in Chapter 2. Chapter 3 is dedicated to multiscale modelling of plastic anisotropy. The authors describe a new hierarchical multi-scale framework that allows taking into account the evolution of plastic anisotropy during sheet forming processes. Chapter 4 is focused on modelling the evolution of voids in porous metals with applications to forming limit curves and ductile fracture. The chapter details the steps needed for the development of dissipation functions and Gurson-type models for non-quadratic anisotropic plasticity criteria like BBC 2005 and those based on linear transformations. Chapter 5 describes advanced models for the prediction of forming limit curves developed by the authors. Chapter 6 is devoted to anisotropic damage in elasto-plastic materials with structural defects. Finally, Chapter 7 deals with modelling of the Portevin-Le Chatelier (PLC) effect. This volume contains contributions from leading researchers from the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium, Clausthal University of Technology, Germany, Amirkabir University of Technology, Iran, the University of Bucharest, Romania, and the Institute of Mathematics of the Romanian Academy, Romania. It will prove useful to postgraduate students, researchers and engineers who are interested in the mechanical modeling and numerical simulation of sheet metal forming processes.

Thematerialsusedinmanufacturingtheaerospace,aircraft,automobile,andnuclear parts have inherent aws that may grow under uctuating load environments during the operational phase of the structural hardware. The design philosophy, material selection, analysis approach, testing, quality control, inspection, and manufacturing are key elements that can contribute to failure prevention and assure a trouble-free structure. To have a robust structure, it must be designed to withstand the envir- mental load throughout its service life, even when the structure has pre-existing aws or when a part of the structure has already failed. If the design philosophy of the structure is based on the fail-safe requirements, or multiple load path design, partial failure of a structural component due to crack propagation is localized and safely contained or arrested. For that reason, proper inspection technique must be scheduled for reusable parts to detect the amount and rate of crack growth, and the possible need for repairing or replacement of the part. An example of a fail-sa- designed structure with crack-arrest feature, common to all aircraft structural parts, is the skin-stiffened design con guration. However, in other cases, the design p- losophy has safe-life or single load path feature, where analysts must demonstrate that parts have adequate life during their service operation and the possibility of catastrophic failure is remote. For example, all pressurized vessels that have single load path feature are classi ed as high-risk parts. During their service operation, these tanks may develop cracks, which will grow gradually in a stable manner.

The authors are pleased to present Thermal Stresses – Advanced Theory and Applications. This book will serve a wide range of readers, in particular, gr- uate students, PhD candidates, professors, scientists, researchers in various industrial and government institutes, and engineers. Thus, the book should be considered not only as a graduate textbook, but also as a reference handbook to those working or interested in areas of Applied Mathematics, Continuum Mechanics, Stress Analysis, and Mechanical Design. In addition, the book p- vides extensive coverage of great many theoretical problems and numerous references to the literature. The ?eld of Thermal Stresses lies at the crossroads of Stress Analysis, T- ory of Elasticity, Thermodynamics, Heat Conduction Theory, and advanced methods of Applied Mathematics. Each of these areas is covered to the extend it is necessary. Therefore, the book is self-contained, so that the reader should not need to consult other sources while studying the topic. The book starts from basic concepts and principles, and these are developed to more advanced levels as the text progresses. Nevertheless, some basic preparation on the part of the reader in Classical Mechanics, Stress Analysis, and Mathematics, - cluding Vector and Cartesian Tensor Analysis is expected. While selecting material for the book, the authors made every e?ort to present both classical topics and methods, and modern, or more recent, dev- opments in the ?eld. The book comprises ten chapters.

Coal- and gas-based power plants currently supply the largest proportion of the world's power generation capacity, and are required to operate to increasingly stringent environmental standards. Higher temperature combustion is therefore being adopted to improve plant efficiency and to maintain net power output given the energy penalty that integration of advanced emissions control systems cause. However, such operating regimes also serve to intensify degradation mechanisms within power plant systems, potentially affecting their reliability and lifespan.Power plant life management and performance improvement critically reviews the fundamental degradation mechanisms that affect conventional power plant systems and components, as well as examining the operation and maintenance approaches and advanced plant rejuvenation and retrofit options that the industry are applying to ensure overall plant performance improvement and life management.Part one initially reviews plant operation issues, including fuel flexibility, condition monitoring and performance assessment. Parts two, three and four focus on coal boiler plant, gas turbine plant, and steam boiler and turbine plant respectively, reviewing environmental degradation mechanisms affecting plant components and their mitigation via advances in materials selection and life management approaches, such as repair, refurbishment and upgrade. Finally, part five reviews issues relevant to the performance management and improvement of advanced heat exchangers and power plant welds.With its distinguished editor and international team of contributors, Power plant life management and performance improvement is an essential reference for power plant operators, industrial engineers and metallurgists, and researchers interested in this important field. - Provides an overview of the improvements to plant efficiency in coal- and gas-based power plants - Critically reviews the fundamental degradation mechanisms that affect conventional power plant systems and components, noting mitigation routes alongside monitoring and assessment methods - Addresses plant operation issues including fuel flexibility, condition monitoring and performance assessment

Light water reactors (LWRs) are the predominant class of nuclear power reactors in operation today; however, ageing and degradation can influence both their performance and lifetime. Knowledge of these factors is therefore critical to safe, continuous operation. Materials ageing and degradation in light water reactors provides a comprehensive guide to prevalent deterioration mechanisms, and the approaches used to handle their effects.Part one introduces fundamental ageing issues and degradation mechanisms. Beginning with an overview of ageing and degradation issues in LWRs, the book goes on to discuss corrosion in pressurized water reactors and creep deformation of materials in LWRs. Part two then considers materials' ageing and degradation in specific LWR components. Applications of zirconium alloys in LWRs are discussed, along with the ageing of electric cables. Materials management strategies for LWRs are then the focus of part three. Materials management strategies for pressurized water reactors and VVER reactors are considered before the book concludes with a discussion of materials-related problems faced by LWR operators and corresponding research needs.With its distinguished editor and international team of expert contributors, Materials ageing and degradation in light water reactors is an authoritative review for anyone requiring an understanding of the performance and durability of this type of nuclear power plant, including plant operators and managers, nuclear metallurgists, governmental and regulatory safety bodies, and researchers, scientists and academics working in this area. - Introduces the fundamental ageing issues and degradation mechanisms associated with this class of nuclear power reactors - Considers materials ageing and degradation in specific light water reactor components, including properties, performance and inspection - Chapters also focus on material management strategies