Rules of Thumb in Engineering Practice

Praise for the First Edition: «For a beginner [this book] is a treasure trove; for an experienced person it can provide new ideas on how better to pursue the subject of applied statistics.» —Journal of Quality Technology Sensibly organized for quick reference, Statistical Rules of Thumb, Second Edition compiles simple rules that are widely applicable, robust, and elegant, and each captures key statistical concepts. This unique guide to the use of statistics for designing, conducting, and analyzing research studies illustrates real-world statistical applications through examples from fields such as public health and environmental studies. Along with an insightful discussion of the reasoning behind every technique, this easy-to-use handbook also conveys the various possibilities statisticians must think of when designing and conducting a study or analyzing its data. Each chapter presents clearly defined rules related to inference, covariation, experimental design, consultation, and data representation, and each rule is organized and discussed under five succinct headings: introduction; statement and illustration of the rule; the derivation of the rule; a concluding discussion; and exploration of the concept's extensions. The author also introduces new rules of thumb for topics such as sample size for ratio analysis, absolute and relative risk, ANCOVA cautions, and dichotomization of continuous variables. Additional features of the Second Edition include: Additional rules on Bayesian topics New chapters on observational studies and Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) Additional emphasis on variation and causation Updated material with new references, examples, and sources A related Web site provides a rich learning environment and contains additional rules, presentations by the author, and a message board where readers can share their own strategies and discoveries. Statistical Rules of Thumb, Second Edition is an ideal supplementary book for courses in experimental design and survey research methods at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It also serves as an indispensable reference for statisticians, researchers, consultants, and scientists who would like to develop an understanding of the statistical foundations of their research efforts. A related website www.vanbelle.org provides additional rules, author presentations and more.

Microchemical Engineering in Practice provides the information chemists and engineers need to evaluate the use of microreactors, covering the technical, operational, and economic considerations for various applications. It explains the systems needed to use microreactors in production and presents examples of microreactor use in different chemistries, including larger scale production processes. There are guidelines on calculating the costs and the risks of production using continuous flow microreactors. Complete with case studies, this is an essential guide for chemists and engineers interested in investigating the advantages of chemical microreactors.

Enables chemical engineering students to bridge theory and practice Integrating scientific principles with practical engineering experience, this text enables readers to master the fundamentals of chemical processing and apply their knowledge of such topics as material and energy balances, transport phenomena, reactor design, and separations across a broad range of chemical industries. The author skillfully guides readers step by step through the execution of both chemical process analysis and equipment design. Principles of Chemical Engineering Practice is divided into two sections: the Macroscopic View and the Microscopic View. The Macroscopic View examines equipment design and behavior from the vantage point of inlet and outlet conditions. The Microscopic View is focused on the equipment interior resulting from conditions prevailing at the equipment boundaries. As readers progress through the text, they'll learn to master such chemical engineering operations and equipment as: Separators to divide a mixture into parts with desirable concentrations Reactors to produce chemicals with needed properties Pressure changers to create favorable equilibrium and rate conditions Temperature changers and heat exchangers to regulate and change the temperature of process streams Throughout the book, the author sets forth examples that refer to a detailed simulation of a process for the manufacture of acrylic acid that provides a unifying thread for equipment sizing in context. The manufacture of hexyl glucoside provides a thread for process design and synthesis. Presenting basic thermodynamics, Principles of Chemical Engineering Practice enables students in chemical engineering and related disciplines to master and apply the fundamentals and to proceed to more advanced studies in chemical engineering.

The Practice of Engineering Dynamics is a textbook that takes a systematic approach to understanding dynamic analysis of mechanical systems. It comprehensively covers dynamic analysis of systems from equilibrium states to non-linear simulations and presents frequency analysis of experimental data. It divides the practice of engineering dynamics into three parts: Part 1 – Modelling: Deriving Equations of Motion; Part 2 – Simulation: Using the Equations of Motion; and Part 3- Experimental Frequency Domain Analysis. This approach fulfils the need to be able to derive the equations governing the motion of a system, to then use the equations to provide useful design information, and finally to be able to analyze experimental data measured on dynamic systems. The Practice of Engineering Dynamics includes end of chapter exercises and is accompanied by a website hosting a solutions manual.

The definitive guide to unsaturated soil— from the world's experts on the subject This book builds upon and substantially updates Fredlund and Rahardjo's publication, Soil Mechanics for Unsaturated Soils, the current standard in the field of unsaturated soils. It provides readers with more thorough coverage of the state of the art of unsaturated soil behavior and better reflects the manner in which practical unsaturated soil engineering problems are solved. Retaining the fundamental physics of unsaturated soil behavior presented in the earlier book, this new publication places greater emphasis on the importance of the «soil-water characteristic curve» in solving practical engineering problems, as well as the quantification of thermal and moisture boundary conditions based on the use of weather data. Topics covered include: Theory to Practice of Unsaturated Soil Mechanics Nature and Phase Properties of Unsaturated Soil State Variables for Unsaturated Soils Measurement and Estimation of State Variables Soil-Water Characteristic Curves for Unsaturated Soils Ground Surface Moisture Flux Boundary Conditions Theory of Water Flow through Unsaturated Soils Solving Saturated/Unsaturated Water Flow Problems Air Flow through Unsaturated Soils Heat Flow Analysis for Unsaturated Soils Shear Strength of Unsaturated Soils Shear Strength Applications in Plastic and Limit Equilibrium Stress-Deformation Analysis for Unsaturated Soils Solving Stress-Deformation Problems with Unsaturated Soils Compressibility and Pore Pressure Parameters Consolidation and Swelling Processes in Unsaturated Soils Unsaturated Soil Mechanics in Engineering Practice is essential reading for geotechnical engineers, civil engineers, and undergraduate- and graduate-level civil engineering students with a focus on soil mechanics.

The pharmaceutical industry is one of the most important industries in the world, offering new medicines, vaccines, and cures to a global population. It is a massive industry, worthy of a deep and thorough examination of its processes and chemistry, with a view toward sustainability. The authors describe what is and isn't truly sustainable, offering a new approach and a new definition of the sustainability of pharmaceutical and chemical engineering and the science behind it. This is a cutting-edge work, aimed at engineers, scientists, researchers, chemists, and students.

Environmental Engineering: Principles and Practice is written for advanced undergraduate and first-semester graduate courses in the subject. The text provides a clear and concise understanding of the major topic areas facing environmental professionals. For each topic, the theoretical principles are introduced, followed by numerous examples illustrating the process design approach. Practical, methodical and functional, this exciting new text provides knowledge and background, as well as opportunities for application, through problems and examples that facilitate understanding. Students pursuing the civil and environmental engineering curriculum will fi nd this book accessible and will benefit from the emphasis on practical application. The text will also be of interest to students of chemical and mechanical engineering, where several environmental concepts are of interest, especially those on water and wastewater treatment, air pollution, and sustainability. Practicing engineers will find this book a valuable resource, since it covers the major environmental topics and provides numerous step-by-step examples to facilitate learning and problem-solving. Environmental Engineering: Principles and Practice offers all the major topics, with a focus upon: • a robust problem-solving scheme introducing statistical analysis; • example problems with both US and SI units; • water and wastewater design; • sustainability; • public health. There is also a companion website with illustrations, problems and solutions.

Environmental Engineering: Principles and Practice is written for advanced undergraduate and first-semester graduate courses in the subject. The text provides a clear and concise understanding of the major topic areas facing environmental professionals. For each topic, the theoretical principles are introduced, followed by numerous examples illustrating the process design approach. Practical, methodical and functional, this exciting new text provides knowledge and background, as well as opportunities for application, through problems and examples that facilitate understanding. Students pursuing the civil and environmental engineering curriculum will fi nd this book accessible and will benefit from the emphasis on practical application. The text will also be of interest to students of chemical and mechanical engineering, where several environmental concepts are of interest, especially those on water and wastewater treatment, air pollution, and sustainability. Practicing engineers will find this book a valuable resource, since it covers the major environmental topics and provides numerous step-by-step examples to facilitate learning and problem-solving. Environmental Engineering: Principles and Practice offers all the major topics, with a focus upon: • a robust problem-solving scheme introducing statistical analysis; • example problems with both US and SI units; • water and wastewater design; • sustainability; • public health. There is also a companion website with illustrations, problems and solutions.

Crystal engineers aim to control the way molecules aggregate in the crystalline phase and are therefore concerned with crystal structure prediction, polymorphism, and discovering the relative importance of different types of intermolecular forces and their influence on molecular structure. In order to design crystal structures, knowledge of the types, strengths, and nature of possible intermolecular interactions is essential. Non-covalent interactions involving p-systems is a theme that is under extensive investigation as these interactions can be inductors for the assembly of a vast array of supramolecular architectures. The Importance of Pi-Interactions in Crystal Engineeringcovers topics ranging from the identification of interactions involving p-systems, their impact on molecular and crystal structure in both organic and metallorganic systems, and how these interactions might be exploited in the design of new materials. Specialist reviews are written by internationally recognized researchers drawn from both academia and industry. The Importance of Pi-Interactions in Crystal Engineeringprovides an essential overview of this important aspect of crystal engineering for both entrants to the field as well as established practitioners, and for those working in crystallography, medicinal and pharmaceutical sciences, solid-state chemistry, physical chemistry, materials and nanotechnology