Book
Materials: Engineering, Science, Processing and Design
by Michael Ashby, Hugh Shercliff, and David Cebon
📖 Overview
Materials: Engineering, Science, Processing and Design provides a comprehensive introduction to materials science and engineering fundamentals. The text covers material properties, processing methods, and design considerations across major material classes including metals, ceramics, polymers, and composites.
The authors present core principles through practical engineering examples and case studies drawn from real-world applications. Technical concepts are supported by extensive data, charts, and visual materials that help translate theory into practice.
The book integrates materials selection methodology with sustainable design approaches and manufacturing constraints. Process-property relationships are examined alongside economic and environmental factors that influence engineering decisions.
This text serves as both an educational foundation and practical reference, emphasizing the interconnected nature of materials science, engineering design, and industrial manufacturing processes. The systematic approach helps readers develop skills in materials selection and process optimization for engineering applications.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe this as a comprehensive materials science textbook for engineering students and professionals. Most reviews come from engineering students who used it in university courses.
Liked:
- Clear explanations of complex concepts
- Integration of computer-based materials selection tools
- Quality diagrams and visuals
- Balanced coverage of theory and practical applications
- End-of-chapter exercises with solutions
- Online companion resources
Disliked:
- High price point ($89-120)
- Some topics need more depth according to graduate students
- Dense technical writing can be challenging for beginners
- Limited coverage of manufacturing processes
- Software access issues reported by some users
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (42 ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (28 ratings)
Notable review: "The CES EduPack software integration makes this uniquely practical compared to other materials texts. Worth the investment if you'll use the selection tools regularly." - Amazon reviewer
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Mechanical Behavior of Materials by Norman E. Dowling The book connects material science fundamentals to real-world engineering applications through mathematical models and experimental data analysis.
Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction by William D. Callister, David G. Rethwisch The text presents material structures, properties, and processing methods with emphasis on structure-property relationships.
Materials Selection in Mechanical Design by Michael F. Ashby This work provides systematic methods for choosing materials based on their properties, cost, and performance requirements in engineering design.
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Mechanical Behavior of Materials by Norman E. Dowling The book connects material science fundamentals to real-world engineering applications through mathematical models and experimental data analysis.
Materials Science and Engineering: An Introduction by William D. Callister, David G. Rethwisch The text presents material structures, properties, and processing methods with emphasis on structure-property relationships.
Materials Selection in Mechanical Design by Michael F. Ashby This work provides systematic methods for choosing materials based on their properties, cost, and performance requirements in engineering design.
Manufacturing Engineering and Technology by Serope Kalpakjian and Steven Schmid The book integrates materials science with manufacturing processes, covering production methods, tooling, and industrial applications.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔍 Michael Ashby pioneered the development of material selection charts, now known as "Ashby plots," which revolutionized how engineers choose materials for specific applications.
🏆 The book is used as a core text in materials science courses at over 200 universities worldwide and has been translated into multiple languages.
⚡ The materials science principles covered in this book directly influenced the development of technologies we use daily, from smartphones (advanced ceramics) to golf clubs (composite materials).
🌍 The authors incorporated sustainability concepts and environmental impact considerations into materials selection long before it became an industry standard.
🎨 The book's distinctive bubble charts and visual selection tools were inspired by Ashby's belief that engineers think and learn better through visual representations than through equations alone.