Next Generation Materials for Sustainable Engineering


Book Description

As the global community confronts challenges in energy, environment, health, agriculture, industry, and construction, the significance of sustainable materials becomes paramount. The looming specter of resource depletion necessitates a paradigm shift, urging researchers and engineers to anticipate future needs and forge materials that align with evolving requirements. Next Generation Materials for Sustainable Engineering underscores the urgency of conserving resources and provides a blueprint for achieving this through judicious and sustainable use. From polymers to alloys, nanocomposites to biomaterials, this book traverses the expansive landscape of materials, deciphering their structures and properties with an eye toward sustainability. The relentless pursuit of innovation in synthesis protocols takes center stage, unveiling pathways to creating novel materials. The chapters dedicated to specific material applications, such as spintronics, nanowires, phase change materials, and nanocomposites, offer a detailed panorama of the latest advancements. This book bridges the gap between theoretical understanding and practical applications by exploring materials for renewable energy, electronic devices, artificial photosynthesis, lithium-sulfur batteries, supercapacitors, and biomedical applications. The book serves as a beacon for academicians, researchers, and material scientists, guiding them through state-of-the-art developments, emerging trends, and challenges in material science and engineering.




Sustainable Materials and Green Processing for Energy Conversion


Book Description

Sustainable Materials and Green Processing for Energy Conversion provides a concise reference on green processing and synthesis of materials required for the next generation of devices used in renewable energy conversion and storage. The book covers the processing of bio-organic materials, environmentally-friendly organic and inorganic sources of materials, synthetic green chemistry, bioresorbable and transient properties of functional materials, and the concept of sustainable material design. The book features chapters by worldwide experts and is an important reference for students, researchers, and engineers interested in gaining extensive knowledge concerning green processing of sustainable, green functional materials for next generation energy devices. Additionally, functional materials used in energy devices must also be able to degrade and decompose with minimum energy after being disposed of at their end-of-life. Environmental pollution is one of the global crises that endangers the life cycles of living things. There are multiple root causes of this pollution, including industrialization that demands a huge supply of raw materials for the production of products related to meeting the demands of the Internet-of-Things. As a result, improvement of material and product life cycles by incorporation of green, sustainable principles is essential to address this challenging issue. Offers a resourceful reference for readers interested in green processing of environmentally-friendly and sustainable materials for energy conversion and storage devices Focuses on designing of materials through green-processing concepts Highlights challenges and opportunities in green processing of renewable materials for energy devices




Harnessing High-Performance Computing and AI for Environmental Sustainability


Book Description

The world is addressing the insistent challenge of climate change, and the need for innovative solutions has become paramount. In this period of technical developments, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful instrument with enormous prospects to combat climate change and other environmental subjects. AI's ability to process vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and make intelligent predictions offers unprecedented opportunities to tackle this global crisis. High-Performance Computing (HPC) or super-computing environments address these large and complex challenges with individual nodes (computers) working together in a cluster (connected group) to perform massive amounts of computing in a short period. Creating and removing these clusters is often automated in the cloud to reduce costs. Computer networks, communication systems, and other IT infrastructures have a growing environmental footprint due to significant energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this seemingly self-defeating conundrum, and create a truly sustainable environment, new energy models, algorithms, methodologies, platforms, tools, and systems are required to support next-generation computing and communication infrastructures. Harnessing High-Performance Computing and AI for Environmental Sustainability navigates through AI-driven solutions from sustainable agriculture and land management to energy optimization and smart grids. It unveils how AI algorithms can analyze colossal datasets, offering unprecedented insights into climate modeling, weather prediction, and long-term climate trends. Integrating AI-powered optimization algorithms revolutionizes energy systems, propelling the transition towards a low-carbon future by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing efficiency. This book is ideal for educators, environmentalists, industry professionals, and researchers alike, and it explores the ethical dimensions and policies surrounding AI's contribution to environmental development.




Materials and Sustainable Development


Book Description

This book, from noted materials selection authority Mike Ashby, provides a structure and framework for analyzing sustainable development and the role of materials in it. The aim is to introduce ways of exploring sustainable development to readers in a way that avoids simplistic interpretations and approaches complexity in a systematic way. There is no completely "right" answer to questions of sustainable development – instead, there is a thoughtful, well-researched response that recognizes concerns of stakeholders, the conflicting priorities and the economic, legal and social aspects of a technology as well as its environmental legacy. The intent is not to offer solutions to sustainability challenges but rather to improve the quality of discussion and enable informed, balanced debate. - Winner of a 2016 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook and Academic Authors Association - Describes sustainable development in increasingly detailed progression, from a broad overview to specific tools and methods - Six chapter length case studies on such topics as biopolymers, electric cars, bamboo, and lighting vividly illustrate the sustainable development process from a materials perspective - Business and economic aspects are covered in chapters on corporate sustainability and the "circular materials economy" - Support for course use includes online solutions manual and image bank




New Materials in Civil Engineering


Book Description

New Materials in Civil Engineering provides engineers and scientists with the tools and methods needed to meet the challenge of designing and constructing more resilient and sustainable infrastructures. This book is a valuable guide to the properties, selection criteria, products, applications, lifecycle and recyclability of advanced materials. It presents an A-to-Z approach to all types of materials, highlighting their key performance properties, principal characteristics and applications. Traditional materials covered include concrete, soil, steel, timber, fly ash, geosynthetic, fiber-reinforced concrete, smart materials, carbon fiber and reinforced polymers. In addition, the book covers nanotechnology and biotechnology in the development of new materials. - Covers a variety of materials, including fly ash, geosynthetic, fiber-reinforced concrete, smart materials, carbon fiber reinforced polymer and waste materials - Provides a "one-stop resource of information for the latest materials and practical applications - Includes a variety of different use case studies




Reintroducing Materials for Sustainable Design


Book Description

Reintroducing Materials for Sustainable Design provides instrumental theory and practical guidance to bring materials back into a central role in the design process and education. To create designs that are sustainable and respond to current environmental, economic and cultural concerns, practitioners and educators require a clear framework for materials use in design and product manufacturing. While much has been written about sustainable design over the last two decades, outlining systems of sustainability and product criteria, to design for material circularity requires a detailed understanding of the physical matter that constitutes products. Designers must not just know of materials but know how to manipulate them and work with them creatively. This book responds to the gap by offering a way to acquire the material knowledge necessary to design physical objects for sustainability. It reinforces the key role and responsibility of designers and encourages designers to take back control over the ideation and manufacturing process. Finally, it discusses the educational practice involved and the potential implications for design education following implementation, addressing didactics, facilities and expertise. This guide is a must-read for designers, educators and researchers engaged in sustainable product design and materials.




Environmental Applications of Carbon-Based Materials


Book Description

Environmental degradation is a critical global challenge, with pollution, deforestation, and climate change threatening the planet's health. Traditional materials and technologies contribute significantly to these issues, highlighting the urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Carbon-based materials offer a promising solution. However, despite their potential, comprehensive literature needs to explore their diverse applications and impact. This gap hinders the broader adoption of carbon-based materials in environmental conservation efforts. Environmental Applications of Carbon-Based Materials addresses this gap by thoroughly examining carbon-based materials and their environmental applications. It offers a thorough overview of the latest advancements, from production techniques to real-world applications. By highlighting these materials' remarkable properties and versatile nature, the book is a source of inspiration to researchers, industry professionals, and policymakers to embrace these materials as viable solutions to pressing environmental challenges.




Engineering Education for the Next Generation: A Nature-Inspired Approach


Book Description

Guide your students through the fascinating world of engineering, and how to draw inspiration from Nature’s genius to create, make, and innovate a better human-built world. Studded with more than 150 illustrations of natural phenomena and engineering concepts, this fascinating and practical book clearly demonstrates how engineering design is broadly relevant for all students, not just those who may become scientists or engineers. Mr. Stier describes clever, engaging activities for students at every grade level to grasp engineering concepts by exploring the everyday design genius of the natural world around us. Students will love learning about structural engineering while standing on eggs; investigating concepts in sustainable design by manufacturing cement out of car exhaust; and coming to understand how ant behavior has revolutionized the way computer programs, robots, movies, and video games are designed today. You will come away with an understanding of engineering and Nature unlike any you’ve had before, while taking your ability to engage students to a whole new level. Engineering Education for the Next Generation is a wonderful introduction to the topic for any teacher who wants to understand more about engineering design in particular, its relation to the larger subjects of STEM/STEAM, and how to engage students from all backgrounds in a way that meaningfully transforms their outlook on the world and their own creativity in a lifelong way. · Fun to read, comprehensive exploration of cutting-edge approaches to K-12 engineering education · Detailed descriptions and explanations to help teachers create activities and lessons · An emphasis on engaging students with broad and diverse interests and backgrounds · Insights from a leading, award-winning K-12 engineering curriculum that has reached thousands of teachers and students in the U.S. and beyond · Additional support website (www.LearningWithNature.org) providing more background, videos, curricula, slide decks, and other supplemental materials




Sustainable Material, Design, and Process


Book Description

This text emphasizes the importance of sustainable material, design, and manufacturing processes, and how the needs are changing day by day. It comprehensively covers important topics including material recycling, optimal utilization of resources, green materials, biocomposites, clean and green synthesis, stable material properties, utilization of renewable energy sources, ergonomic design, and sustainable design. The text examines the design process, manufacturing, and upscaling of next-generation materials and their application in diverse industries. The text is primarily written for graduate students and academic researchers in the fields of manufacturing engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, and environmental engineering. Presents an in-depth understanding of the progress of the need for new innovative and next-generation materials. Discusses biocomposites and green materials for eco-friendly products in a comprehensive manner. Explores recycling techniques of materials for sustainable manufacturing. Presents conceptual framework of sustainable product development. Covers important topics such as process optimization, renewable energy, and 3D printing in detail. The text discusses the designing process of these new materials, manufacturing, and upscaling of these materials along with their selection for industrial applications. It further focuses on improving surface homogeneity in nanoparticle scattering during dip coating for stable and efficient wettability during oil/water separation. It will serve as an ideal reference text for graduate students and academic researchers in the fields of manufacturing engineering, materials science, mechanical engineering, and environmental engineering.




Engineering for Sustainable Communities


Book Description

Engineering for Sustainable Communities: Principles and Practices defines and outlines sustainable engineering methods for real-world engineering projects.