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A process of making physical objects directly from digital models, usually layer by layer; also known as additive manufacturing (AM). 3D printing has been hailed by many as the technology that will revolutionize how we live. As information…

Mechanized systems of food and fiber production used in agriculture. The mechanized systems comprising agricultural machinery are utilized in numerous aspects of agriculture, including the initial tillage of the soil (Fig. 1), planting, cultural…

The process of designing an aircraft. All new aircraft designs (Fig. 1) are aimed at a specification that is meant to satisfy potential customers and be better than designs from competitors. In the case of civil aircraft, the manufacturer undertakes…

Substances formed by the addition of one or more elements, usually metals, to aluminum. The principal alloying elements in aluminum-base alloys are magnesium (Mg), silicon (Si), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn) [Fig. 1]. In wrought…

Any of the substances containing esters of higher fatty acids and long-chain monohydric alcohols. From a practical standpoint, this definition is inadequate because it allows liquids such as sperm whale oil and jojoba oil to be called waxes, and it…

A self-propelled land vehicle, usually having four wheels and an internal combustion engine, used primarily for personal transportation; also known as a car. Other types of motor vehicles include buses, which carry large numbers of commercial…

A structural member that is fabricated from metal, reinforced or prestressed concrete, wood, fiber-reinforced plastic, or other construction materials and that resists loads perpendicular to its longitudinal axis. A beam's length is usually much…

The application of chemical engineering principles to the solution of medical problems due to physiological impairment. Knowledge of organic chemistry is required of all chemical engineers, and many study biochemistry and molecular biology. This…

A fixed permanent structure, more or less enclosed and designed to be used as housing or shelter or to serve the needs of commerce and industry. The history of buildings is almost as old as human history. Most contemporary building techniques are…

A coarse, erect, annual herb plant, Ricinus communis, belonging to the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). The castor plant (Ricinus communis) is a member of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae) in the order Malpighiales. The plant varies greatly in height…

A branch of civil engineering concerned with the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of works in the coastal zone. The purposes of these works include control of shoreline erosion; development of navigation channels and harbors; defense…

Any use of computer software to solve engineering problems. With the improvement of graphics displays and graphics standards, computer-aided engineering (CAE) has come to mean the computer solution of engineering problems with the assistance of…

Interconnections of components forming system configurations which will provide a desired system response as time progresses. The steering of an automobile is a familiar example. The driver observes the position of the car relative to the desired…

Programmable computers integrated with electrically powered machines that perform household chores. Domestic robots, also known as home or service robots, are essentially programmable computers integrated with electrically powered machines that…

A source from which energy can be obtained to provide heat, light, or power. The term energy is used to describe an amount of work performed. There are two kinds of energy, kinetic energy, meaning work performed by the movement of matter, and…

The general method and specific techniques for storing energy derived from some primary source in a form convenient for use at a later time when a specific energy demand is to be met, often in a different location.In the past, energy storage on a…

A flexible, collaborative, and iterative process to provide the ability to manufacture quickly, effectively, and at minimal cost a component, assembly, product, or machine that meets particular operating specifications reliably and sustainably.…

The evaluation of a physical system (engineering product) in conditions which simulate one or more of the environments that may harm the system or adversely affect its performance. Such testing is typically undertaken during the development of new…

A method of separating the constituents of a mixture using preferential solubility of one or more components in a second phase. Commonly, this added phase is a liquid, while the mixture to be separated may be either solid or liquid. For example, the…

Many new-model electric vehicles (EVs) now have a driving range greater than 320 kilometers (200 miles). Consequently, range anxiety—the fear of running out of battery power before completing a trip or reaching a charging station—is becoming less…

The detection and diagnosis of malfunctions in technical systems. Such systems include production equipment (chemical plants, steel mills, paper mills, and power stations), transportation vehicles (ships, airplanes, automobiles), and household…

A plant grown for its fibrous material, which is used for many commercial purposes and for home industry. Many plants are grown as fiber crops because of their content or yield of fibrous material (see illustration), which is used in the manufacture…

The separation of solid particles from a fluid-solids suspension using a porous material to separate the suspended particulate matter from fluid. The filter material (medium) and the equipment assembly that holds it and provides space for the…

Pasta comes in various sizes and shapes, ranging from long and flat (such as linguine and spaghetti) to short types in the shape of shells (conchiglie), corkscrews (fusilli), and many others. Shaped pastas contain a larger volume of air, resulting…