Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods

Book Description

Now in its Fourth Edition, Fundamentals of Building Construction is an essential textbook that has been used by thou-sands of students annually in schools of architecture, engineering, and construction technology. The best-selling reference focuses on the basic materials and methods used in building construction. Emphasizing common construction systems such as light wood frames, masonry bearing walls, steel frames, and reinforced concrete, the new edition includes new coverage of green design and energy-efficient construction energies, and is based on the International Building Code(r).

Customer Reviews:

my leisure reading.......2007-08-30

this book is an excellent overview of construction materials and practices. i really recommend this book to beginning structural/civil engineers who want to know more about construction. I would absolutely recommend this to architects because it's very practical.

it helps.......2007-04-08

We used this book in my building construction class i took as a second year architecture student. The book is good for people who are learning the basics of how things work, are put together, what types of materials are used for different situations, etc. However if you are looking for detailed drawings, I would go elsewhere. The book is good for generalized explanations, so I did learn a lot from it.

Beautiful.......2007-03-09

The item was brand new. No scratches, no nothing..
Thanks a lot..

Guide for construction.......2006-03-24

Every engineer must have one copy of this book.This is an updated edition of the previous ones.Very detailed description and pictures about construction.

Good book.......2005-09-18

It's relatively well written and good for starter who are new to building construction.

Average customer rating:

EXCELLENCE
good, but overrated
Grad student's review
Zero Practical Value
Outstanding, updated and excellent

Design and Analysis of Experiments
Douglas C. Montgomery
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Accessories:

ASIN: 047148735X

Book Description

Now in its 6th edition, this bestselling professional reference has helped over 100,000 engineers and scientists with the success of their experiments.

Douglas Montgomery arms readers with the most effective approach for learning how to design, conduct, and analyze experiments that optimize performance in products and processes. He shows how to use statistically designed experiments to obtain information for characterization and optimization of systems, improve manufacturing processes, and design and develop new processes and products. You will also learn how to evaluate material alternatives in product design, improve the field performance, reliability, and manufacturing aspects of products, and conduct experiments effectively and efficiently.

Discover how to improve the quality and efficiency of working systems with this highly-acclaimed book. This 6th Edition:

Places a strong focus on the use of the computer, providing output from two software products: Minitab and DesignExpert.
Presents timely, new examples as well as expanded coverage on adding runs to a fractional factorial to de-alias effects.
Includes detailed discussions on how computers are currently used in the analysis and design of experiments.
Offers new material on a number of important topics, including follow-up experimentation and split-plot design.
Focuses even more sharply on factorial and fractional factorial design.

Customer Reviews:

EXCELLENCE.......2007-09-24

Design and Analysis of Experiments
Dr. Montgomery has done his usual excellent job in presenting difficult material in an understandable manner. In addition to its valuable walk through theory, the text is filled with well-executed and informative examples. The homework exercises are the best in his series of books!

good, but overrated.......2007-04-29

+ well-written
+ good examples
- this is the 6th edition, and it is far from being that perfect !
(the author should extend / clarify some sections)
- the errata on the author's web site are no longer updated
- the price

Grad student's review.......2007-02-05

I am a graduate student at ASU. This book is part of the required course materials, since Montgomery is affiliated with ASU. The quality of this textbook is what you may find in a mediocre $40 statistics book. I have not seen statistics dealt with in a more confusing manner. Explanations are incomplete, graphs meant to illustrate concepts are not labeled, symbols and functions are used without defining them, and there are errors in the examples. My understanding was that D. Montgomery has been in this field for a long time. However, basic principles, like including units with the data, are ignored. I expected by the 6th attempt these problems would have been worked out. The other reviews do not make sense to me, since my classmates feel a similar frustration with the book.

Zero Practical Value.......2007-01-31

This book is long on formula derivation, and short on DOE theory. It does not introduce readers to DOE software packages like it claims either.

Also, very poor on real life examples. They exist....but not enough details in order to understand them. I am looking to teach a corporate class on this....too bad the book doesn't come with the professor.

Outstanding, updated and excellent.......2006-09-08

I have used this book in my class on Experimental Design since 1997. Among all the texts I have tried to use to make the teaching of this subject more precise and understandable, this book from Dr. Montgomery have proven to be the more appropriated. The book has new exercises, more teacher resources, and is now more software oriented, something that I found very useful for my students in Dominican Republic.

Mechanics of Materials (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)

Average customer rating:

Comprehensive and Enlightening
Excellent coverage of Mechanics of Materials
The Most Confusing Mechanics Book Around!
Easy to Understand
Great introductory text for strength of materials

Mechanics of Materials (with CD-ROM and InfoTrac)
James M. Gere
Manufacturer: Thomson-Engineering
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Perfect Paperback

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ASIN: 0534417930

Book Description

Now featuring the problem-solving CD-ROM, StressAlyzer, the Sixth Edition of this book continues its tradition as the leading text in Mechanics of Materials. With its hallmark clarity and accuracy, this text develops student understanding along with analytical and problem-solving skills. The main topics are the analysis and design of structural members subjected to tension, compression, torsion, bending, and more. The book includes more material than can be taught in a single course so instructors have the opportunity to select the topics they wish to cover.

Customer Reviews:

Comprehensive and Enlightening.......2007-04-09

This is a comprehensive, enlightening and reader-friendly textbook on mechanics of materials. This excellent book is full of worked examples, illustrations and equations to help students relate to the fundamental concepts in mechanics of materials. The book provides a great foundation in this subject for undergraduate engineers. The book is well organized and well written with clear and easy to follow explanations.

The book is especially useful for reference, as it explains the derivations and many forms of complex equations in a step-by-step and simple to understand format.
Overall, one of the best books on mechanics of materials particularly for those that need a gentle introduction to stress and strain analysis.

Excellent coverage of Mechanics of Materials.......2007-01-11

The coverage of the material is excellent. The discussions of the various techniques are rational and insightful. The author is a seasoned engineer/academician who really understands mechanics, and knows how to convey its flavor to the reader.
Timoshenko's classic "Strength of Materials" covers most topics that are relevant to an engineer; however it comes with a "bag of tricks" and is difficult to follow. Gere's book takes a step back by eliminating certain advanced topics, and methodically explains the principles and techniques of mechanics.

The Most Confusing Mechanics Book Around!.......2006-04-15

This book is awful. The writing style is terrible. I think the author needs to learn how to speak english. Here's a quote from the book:

"Having found the principal stresses and their directions for an element in plane stress, we now consider the determination of the maximum shear stresses and the planes on which they act."

Instead he SHOULD have written:
"We will now find the maximum shear stresses."

The whole book is like this. It is far too wordy. This book could be a lot smaller if the author didn't try to make everything so complicated.

Easy to Understand.......2005-09-16

This book is very well written, it is easy to follow and each of the examples are explained in good detail. I would say that overall this is one of the better text books that I have used in my academic career.

Great introductory text for strength of materials.......2004-05-12

I was surprised at how clear and thorough this book was. I read almost the entire book (left out just a number of sections), and if you're like me and need to know the proofs for the engineering models, then this is great. It explained derivations, equation limitations, and problem-solving methods in a very satisfying way - I can honestly say that, because of this book, I have a better appreciation for how engineering methods are developed. Assuming you've studied differential equations and statics, then this book will be just right for you.

Book Description

Solutions-based approach to quick calculations in structural element design and analysis

Now updated with 30% new material, Roark Formulas for Stress and Strain, Seventh Edition, is the ultimate resource for designers, engineers, and analysts who need to calculate loads and stress. This landmark reference from Warren Young and Richard Budynas provides you with equations and diagrams of structural properties in an easy-to-use, thumb-through format. Updated, with a user-friendly page layout, this new edition includes expanded coverage of joints, bearing and shear stress, experimental stress analysis, and stress concentrations, as well as material behavior coverage and stress and strain measurement. You’ll also find expanded tables and cases; improved notations and figures in the tables; consistent table and equation numbering; and verification of correction factors.

Customer Reviews:

Five Stars With no Doubt........2007-03-15

During my years as Structural Calculyst this book was always on my right side on my desk, and when I needed it, it was ready to help me find my way. One really very good Engineer has never found all formulas in his head, instead he should be able of finding them out on good references and really know how to use
them all. This is the best reference book you are going to find when formulas is your subject, just buy it!
The only book I know better than this one is written in German and few people are able to read in German, so!

very useful handbook.......2007-01-04

Very helpful book in engineering job, but unfortunately I've found some mistake (the reason for 4 stars).

In general you can find lot of formulas in this book. This book is also very well known and that's the reason for recommending it. You can just refer to Roark's formulas and everybody knows what's that.

Great Reference Tool.......2006-10-29

This Book contains every fromula that i would ever need during my Mechanical Engineering Course.
It is quite easy to use, and the print is clear the index is user friendly

Well Thought Out Upgrade from Previous Editions.......2006-04-18

I have three editions of this book: the classic 4th edition, the useless 5th edition and this, the 7th edition.

The 4th edition has simple format, is easy to use, but lacks methods for more sophisticated hand analyses and is sparse on explanations. The 5th is best used for a doorstop.

This edition is an excellent combination of the usefullness of the 4th edition with modern and more advanced methods.
The layout of each section has excellent explanatory material and provides the simple 4th edition type equations backed with more involved/advanced formulas which are very useful.

My hat is off to the authors. This is probably the best reference for those nasty stress and deflection hand calculations we all have to do from time to time.

Excellent resource.......2005-10-01

Roark's has been and remains an excellent resource for the structural engineer and designer regardless of the edition. This is a referance I use on a daily basis. Typically the first book I reach for.

Peterson's Stress Concentration Factors, 2nd Edition

Average customer rating:

New & Improved? NOT
Guide to Stress Risers and Other Structural Phenomena
AN EXCELLENT BOOK
Peterson's Stress Concentration Factors, 2nd Edition

Peterson's Stress Concentration Factors, 2nd Edition
Walter D. Pilkey
Manufacturer: Wiley-Interscience
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0471538493

Book Description

A complete revision of the definitive work on the subject of stress concentration. This new edition updates all of the graphics with computer-generated art which incorporates both a visual representation of the product/structure under consideration along with the graph of the stress concentration factors. Contains extensive material on how to perform computer analyses for stress concentrations and how to design to reduce them. A "quick-finder" feature has been provided for locating frequently used charts.

Customer Reviews:

New & Improved? NOT.......2005-09-16

I have access to Peterson's original book (older than me?) and to the first edition of this one, published in 1974. I recommend buying used copies of the old ones. They contain the same info and are easier to use since the charts are bigger.

Guide to Stress Risers and Other Structural Phenomena.......2003-12-22

Absolutely essential book for anybody interested in stresses in notched bodies; structural analysts who like to use the 'back of the envelope', finite element analysts, fracture mechanicists; designers in aerospace, rail, heavy machinery, light machinery, medical devices, almost anything you can name. Book has been updated from the original; even if you have the original edition, this 2nd edition is well worth having for your engineering reference library.

AN EXCELLENT BOOK.......2000-06-29

This is an excellent book. I found the book to be extremely informative and thoghtfully written. I recommend this book for anyone that is interested in applications of stress and strain analysis.

Peterson's Stress Concentration Factors, 2nd Edition.......2000-06-29

The definitive book of stress concentration factors...updated from Peterson's original edition. This is the ultimate source for aerospace engineers dealing with design and analysis. Other engineering disciplines should find it equally useful. The book is more compact, yet thicker than the original but the the figures are very clear and readable. Explanations appear much the same.

Average customer rating:

Awesome book, very easy to follow
Libro muy útil
The book is so good you can teach yourself
Heat Textbook
Excellent book (Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer), price, and quick shipment

Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer
Frank P. Incropera , David P. DeWitt , Theodore L. Bergman , and Adrienne S. Lavine
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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A Guide to Writing as an Engineer

ASIN: 0471457280

Book Description

The standard for mastering heat and mass transfer

Respected for its readability, comprehensiveness, and relevance, Incropera and DeWitt's text is the recognized standard for learning heat and mass transfer. This text combines detailed coverage with the resources students need to learn the concepts and apply them to solving realistic and relevant problems. Using a rigorous and systematic problem-solving methodology, the text is filled with examples and problems that reveal the richness and beauty of the discipline.

The 6th Edition introduces coauthors Ted Bergman and Adrienne Lavine, who bring their record of success in teaching and research in heat and mass transfer to the text.

New Features
* Expanded coverage of areas of recent interest in heat transfer, including fuel cells and alternative energy devices, electronics cooling, micro-scale heat transfer, and biological as well as bioheat transfer. New examples and homework problems are included for each area.
* Introduction to the concepts of nano-scale transport and unified treatment of transient conduction.
* New material on two-phase heat transfer and enhanced internal forced convection.
* New and revised presentation of mass transfer including applications in materials science and biological engineering.
* New, revised, and updated problems and examples.

Model, solve, and explore heat transfer problems:

Interactive Heat Transfer and Finite Element Heat Transfer software with User's Guide
CD and print booklet, ISBN: 0-471-76115-X

Completely updated with a modern graphical user interface and better graphing tools, Interactive Heat Transfer (IHT) software will help you learn how to build thermal models, solve specific conditions, and explore the effects of multiple parameter variations. IHT is now capable of solving 300+ equations. The Finite Element Heat Transfer software enhances capabilities for treating steady-state and transient one- and two-dimensional conduction problems.

Customer Reviews:

Awesome book, very easy to follow.......2006-01-21

This book is very easy to use. all the chapters are well written and very easy to follow. If you want a book that covers heat transfer that is great for a class or great for reference then this is it.

Libro muy útil.......2005-12-10

Este libro lo conocí al cursar la licenciatura en FIMEE, ahora que lo compré opté por la 5a Ed que esta mejorado. Es muy util para asimilar los conceptos y entender los fenómenos. Me gusta mucho por que creo que está muy completo y se explica muy bien. Es un libro que todos los Ing. Mecánicos deben tener. Los ejercicios son muy variados y de amplias aplicaciones, ello permite ver la amplitud de estudio de esta área de la ing. Vale la pena comprarlo (les sugiero la versión en ingles).
GUZZZ

The book is so good you can teach yourself.......2005-11-06

This textbook is one of the best I've ever used. Incropera and DeWitt do a great job of explaining convection, conduction, and radiation. I have heard that the mass transfer portion of the book is lacking however, I am an ME major so its not an issue. The covering of conduction is especially good, it goes into great detail math wise although its well presented so you don't have to be a mathematical wizard to follow along. The book goes into a little bit of heat exchanger design, not very much but its a good introduction. If your instructor requires this book for your heat transfer class consider yourself very fortunate.

Heat Textbook.......2005-09-26

A good overall review of heat transfer. Helpfull in dusting off the cobwebs when looking at heat transfer after many years.

Excellent book (Fundamentals of Heat and Mass Transfer), price, and quick shipment .......2005-07-19

Book came quickly, exactly as described, better than expected. Look forward to the next purchases.

Average customer rating:

Design of Wood Structures ASD/LRFD
The Most Connon typ of Construction

Design of Wood Structures-ASD/LRFD
Donald E. Breyer , Kenneth J. Fridley , Jr., David G Pollock , and Kelly Cobeen
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Professional
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0071455396

Book Description

The leading text and reference on wood design, updated to include the latest codes and data

Continued the sterling standard set by earlier editions, this indispensable reference leads you through the complete design of a wood structure (except for the foundation), following the same sequence used in the actual design/construction process.

Customer Reviews:

Design of Wood Structures ASD/LRFD.......2007-03-12

Excellent. Very well organized and numerous examples. I have followed this author from 3 of his previous editions of this book.

The Most Connon typ of Construction.......2007-03-03

Now in it's sixth edition, this book has become the standard text on the design and construction of buildings made of wood. While most wooden structures are residences, the book also covers multi story wooden structures such as apartment houses, commercial buildings with wooden roofs, and to a limited extent newer techniques such as glue-laminate beams.

The book is suitable for use either as a text for a course or as a reference for self study. The sixth edition of this book was promoted by five major developments:

1. Publication of new dual-format (ASD/LRFD) wood design criteria in the 2005 National Design Specification for Wood Construction.

2. Publication of the new Special Design Provisions for Wind and Seismic (SDPWS) Supplement to the NDS.

3. Publication of the comprehensive ASD/LRFD Manual for Engineered Wood Construction.

4. Publication and increased adoption nationally of the 2006 International Building Code. ==5. Publication of updated load standards in the 2005 edition of Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures.

Physical Metallurgy Principles (The Pws-Kent Series in Engineering)

Average customer rating:

May be great reference, but not good for learning
Very good foundation

Physical Metallurgy Principles (The Pws-Kent Series in Engineering)
Reza Abbaschian , and Robert E. Reed-Hill
Manufacturer: Cengage-Engineering
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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INTRODUCTION TO THE THERMODYNAMICS OF MATERIALS, FOURTH EDITION
Mechanical Metallurgy (Materials Science and Engineering)
$Elements of X-Ray Diffraction (3rd Edition)$ Elements of X-Ray Diffraction (3rd Edition)
Principles and Prevention of Corrosion (2nd Edition)
Phase Transformations in Metals and Alloys, Second Edition

ASIN: 0534921736

Book Description

Physical Metallurgy Principles is intended for use in an introductory course in physical metallurgy and is designed for all engineering students at the junior or senior level. The approach is largely theoretical, but covers all aspects of physical metallurgy and behavior of metals and alloys. The treatment used in this textbook is in harmony with a more fundamental approach to engineering education.

Customer Reviews:

May be great reference, but not good for learning.......2007-05-04

It has been three years since I had taken a material science-like course. So, I had hoped, that by opening this book, I would relearn the concepts I had forgotten.

Focus:
An intense look at the physcial metallurgy of metals, beginning with methods, going to crystallography, phase diagrams, and focusing on specific metals (iron-carbon, steels, etc.).

Good:
This book goes into great details. Metallography, crystallography are explained, many concepts are in great depth.

Bad:
This is absolutely not a good book if you don't know much on the subject or are rusty (like me). A lot of time is spent on the intricacies on microscopy. Many of the concepts are presented in too much detail. I feel that instead of learning about the properties of materials and material selection that I spend most of the time learning about every detail involved in the creation of dislocations. While this is very informative, as an engineer, I need to be able to select apropos materials, not spout how an electron microscope works or the fine details in edge dislocation. Homework problems are odd. And would it hurt if the pictures could have been colored?

Overall:
Again, good reference. Bad at teaching or reteaching you material science.

Very good foundation.......2000-06-24

I believe that this book is an excellent text for understanding physical metallurgy for the beginner . This is also an excellent reference manual for later information.

Prestressed Concrete: A Fundamental Approach (5th Edition)

Average customer rating:

Terrible
A great book for design
Very Badly Written
A Useful Tool for Students or Professionals
It's dishonest to sell this book.

Prestressed Concrete: A Fundamental Approach (5th Edition)
Edward G Nawy
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0131497596

Book Description

Completely revised to reflect the new ACI 318-05 Building Code and International Building Code, IBC 2000 and its 2002 modifications, this popular book offers a unique approach to examining the design of prestressed concrete members in a logical, step-by-step trial and adjustment procedure. Integrates handy flow charts to help readers better understand the steps needed for design and analysis. Includes a revised chapter containing the latest ACI and AASHTO Provisions on the design of post-tensioned beam end anchorage blocks using the strut-and-tie approach in conformity with ACI 318-05 Code. Offers a new complete section with two extensive design examples using the strut-and-tie approach for the design of corbels and deep beams. Features an addition to the elastic method of design, with comprehensive design examples on LRFD and Standard AASHTO designs of bridge deck members for flexure, shear and torsion, conforming to the latest AASHTO 2003 specifications. Includes a revised chapter on slender columns, including a simplified load-contour biaxial bending method which is easier to apply in desiign, using moments rather than loads in the reciprocal approach. A useful construction reference for engineers.

Customer Reviews:

Terrible.......2005-01-06

This book is full of errors. The publisher will do great service to the engineering profession (to humanity by extension) by immediately withdrawing this book from the market. Unorganized, incoherent, almost schizophrenic.

A great book for design.......2002-12-19

There are seven of us (structural engineer / bridge designer) have been using this book successfully for our daily bridge design.
Our experience ranges from 20 + years to 3 + years. The clear detailed definition of each subject (theory), the recommended specifications from different organizations such as PCI, ACI, AASHTO, the step by step procedures, great example solutions and the flow charts gave us the opportunity not only to understand it well but also to be able to write it in several simple computer programs.
We have been enjoying using Dr. Nawy's book for years.

Very Badly Written.......2002-10-20

Like all of Professor Nawy's books, this one is extremely badly written. There are numerous typos and mistakes, although some are kind of entertaining. The Reinforced Concrete Book for example discusses the "modulus of rapture" of concrete. The chapter on Unbonded Post-tensioning in the Concrete Construction book discusses "prostrating tendons".

This is probably not a bad book for an experienced engineer, and might even be considered a useful exercise, since nothing in the book should be relied on without checking at least one other reference. It is not a book that should be used to learn prestressed concrete design however.

A Useful Tool for Students or Professionals.......2002-09-23

Sure there may be some typographical errors, but the subject of prestressed concrete design is itself complex and detailed. To address the complexity, the author lays down systematic methods that, in the end, is only limited to the abilities of professionals and students who use them. Furthermore, the structure of the subject matter and example problems offers practicing engineers a valuable reference for prestressed design.

It's dishonest to sell this book........2001-10-28

I used this book for a senior/graduate prestressed concrete class. The chapter headings looked appropriate. But the book is loaded with errors. As near as I can tell, no example in the book is correct. Early on I contacted the author about a few errors and got no meaningful response. Finally, I sent a partial list of errors and the names of my unfortunate students who bought the book to the publisher. They allowed my students to exchange the book.

Recovering from selecting this book and switching to other resources cost me many hours. Although, going through the books by Collins and Menn was very useful.

Book Description

This text provides an understanding of the relationship between structure, processing, and properties of materials. By selecting the appropriate topics from this wealth of material, instructors can emphasize metals, provide a general overview of materials, concentrate on mechanical behavior, or focus on physical properties. Since the book has more material than is needed for a one-semester course, students will also have a useful reference for subsequent courses in manufacturing, materials, design, or materials selection.

Customer Reviews:

Indications of Poor Quality.......2007-05-18

Inside Front Cover: The characteristic exponent of ten for the speed of light, c, should be +8 or 8 and not -8. For the Fe-C phase diagram the labels of 'steel'and 'cast iron' on the %carbon-x-axis are reversed in position from what they should be. Polymer Chapter: 'PET' usually stands for poly-ethylene-terephthalate and not poly-ester although the first is maybe a type of the second. This might be a matter of different diciplines but 'PAN' here is said to mean poly-acrylic-nitrile while in the environmental field it means peroxy-acetyl-nitrate.

When Spellcheck Fails.......2005-11-11

Enjoy the speling errors and, gramatical misstakes on allmost evry, pages. One would suppose after four editions all such errors would have been annihilated. Maybe the mistakes are meant to maintain the reader's vigilance. Perhaps the typos exist so that one day edition 6 might also.
It is worth noting, for the reader's insight, that in this edition the author(s) employ the use--or perhaps we should say the "overuse"--of the English language to generate many sentences for the purpose of yielding simple concepts to the reader, though certainly a few words would suffice. The book is, in a word, wordy.
Perhaps this is enough to warrant a grade of one star. In the book's defense, however, the pictures are quite nice... when they happen to be accurate. After noticing glaring truth deficiencies in a few graphs and formulas it becomes difficult to simply accept all of the quite nice pictures as definitive law, though they are certainly enjoyable for aesthetic purposes.
To summarize, the book is not recommended for purchasing purposes unless unavoidable. Though the text possesses some merit in its ability to sharpen one's editing skills, that is no reason to spend what textbooks cost.

only a reference.......2005-10-05

Do NOT pay more than 75 CENTS for this book. No one wants it because it is outdated and its in one of those book lines that gets completely updated each year. Thus, all previous editions are barely worth the paper and binding.

An incomplete volume.......2004-07-31

This book offers just enough information to cripple a student. Descriptions of lattice structures contained scant information on any structure other than Face-Centered Cubic structures or Base-Centered Cubic structures. The book did not provide adequate reasoning behind the formation of Diamond centered cubic structures, of importance when dealing with ceramic materials. Ambiguous explanation of the Hexagonal close packed structure lead to difficulty understanding what effects stucture causes.

I viewed a previous edition of this textbook, under a different author, and found diagrams showing full crystal structures instead of single unit cells. I should find the diagrams I need for this in my materials book, I do not understand why they were not included.

The examples used seem silly, such as asking the reader what materials should be used on the space shuttle. At the point in the book the questions are asked, one can only assume the reader has no idea unless they watched a space shuttle documentary or read about the subject themselves. They will be able to provide requirements of the materials, but spitting out names at the reader without delving into the why of the materials selection does the reader great harm. The book does not connect neccessary pieces, nor provide a "big picture" view of some important subjects in the text. Emphasis is on memorization, not on true understanding.

The best intro materials book.......2003-08-21

Compared to Callister and Ashby, and here's why.

I agree with arthem, that this book doesn't go into enough detail for the person that wants to know "why". But it's not supposed to. It is by no means a chemistry book, so you have to have a SOLID chemistry background/understanding/feeling or you might have a hard time. It takes more of the "cookbook", need-to-know, macroscopic approach, whereas Callister is more of the theory. My first materials course used the Askeland book, and the third used Callister, and I found it effective to get the overview, then go into the "why" details later. My TA's and Prof's hated Askeland's style, but I don't think they appreciated what it brought to the table....understanding. Understand the concept (i.e. more carbon makes steel stronger), then learn why.

Either of them are better than Ashby. I'd write a review on Ashby's books, but that means to be fair I'd have to dig them out, and I'm hoping rats ate them. Too bad too, my profs were rather fond of Ashby.

I have to reserve a star for this book, because with a little more info it would be that much better. That, and I remember as a student, the problems were tough, tougher than the text prepared you for.

Which reminds me, my exam questions frequently came out of this text in subsequent classes. Ironic since the prof's hated this book. hmm.

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