Description
This study commissioned by the US Department of Defense assesses the current state of lightweighting (reduction in the weight of structures) in air, sea, and land vehicles and recommends ways to improve the use of lightweight materials. Contributors are experts in engineering, materials science, and technology assessment. After a review of key topics, challenges, and research in lightweighting, chapters are presented on airborne, maritime, and land-based vehicles. Each of these chapters describes the current state of lightweighting implementation and metrics, overviews barriers and keys to success, discusses long-term concerns, and gives examples. A chapter on cross-cutting issues looks at challenges in areas such as manufacturing and maintenance technologies that facilitate lightweighting, and the availability of lightweighting materials. The book concludes by recommending a Department of Defense-wide initiative on affordable manufacturing technology for lightweighting, along with a list of principles for developing effective lightweighting projects. It is illustrated with b&w photos, illustrations, and summary charts. Annotation ©2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
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"Lightweighting is a concept well known to structural designers and engineers in all applications areas, from laptops to bicycles to automobiles to buildings and airplanes. Reducing the weight of structures can provide many advantages, including increased energy efficiency, better design, improved usability, and better coupling with new, multifunctional features. While lightweighting is a challenge in commercial structures, the special demands of military vehicles for survivability, maneuverability and transportability significantly stress the already complex process. Application of lightweighting technology to military aircraft, vessels, and vehicles assesses the current state of lightweighting implementation in land, sea, and air vehicles and recommends ways to improve the use of lightweight materials and solutions. This book considers both lightweight materials and lightweight design; the availability of lightweight materials from domestic manufacturers; and the performance of lightweight materials and their manufacturing technologies. It also considers the 'trade space'--that is, the effect that use of lightweight materials or technologies can have on the performance and function of all vehicle systems and components. This book also discusses manufacturing capabilities and affordable manufacturing technology to facilitate lightweighting ... [and] will be of interest to the military, manufacturers and designers of military equipment, and decision makers"--Publisher's description.
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