Why isn't wood weaker that it is? Why isn't steel stronger? Why does glass sometimes shatter and sometimes bend like spring? Why do ships break in half? What is a liquid and is treacle one? All these are questions about the nature of materials. All of them are vital to engineers but also fascinating as scientific problems. During the 250 years up to the 1920s and 1930s they had been answered largely by seeing how materials behaved in practice. But materials continued to do things that they "ought" not to have done. Only in the last 40 years have these questions begun to be answered by a new approach. Material scientists have started to look more deeply into the make-up of materials. They have found many surprises; above all, perhaps, that how a material behaves depends on how perfectly - or imperfectly - its atoms are arranged. Using both SI and imperial units, Professor Gordon's account of material science is a demonstration of the sometimes curious and entertaining ways in which scientists isolate and solve problems.
The New Science of Strong Materials
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I was thoroughly charmed and won over by this book which I now recommend to all my colleagues. (Daniel C. Mattis American Journal of Physics)
Praise for Princeton's original edition: "Princeton has brought to the public a highly readable treatise on the science of materials that emphasizes the strength of chemical and physical bonds, crystal structure, and cracks. . . . The author admits the necessity of being highly selective in the materials he can discuss so broadly, but he ably presents chemical and physical problems and how they have been solved in an orderly fashion, and he shows that the strength of materials is influenced as much by their environment and loading systems as by their own structures and shapes. (S. W. Dobyns Science Books and Films) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Praise for Princeton's original edition: "Princeton has brought to the public a highly readable treatise on the science of materials that emphasizes the strength of chemical and physical bonds, crystal structure, and cracks. . . . The author admits the necessity of being highly selective in the materials he can discuss so broadly, but he ably presents chemical and physical problems and how they have been solved in an orderly fashion, and he shows that the strength of materials is influenced as much by their environment and loading systems as by their own structures and shapes. (S. W. Dobyns Science Books and Films) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Back Cover
Praise for Princeton's original edition: "I found Gordon's writing style fascinating; his book reads like a novel, and the technical content is superb."--Enoch J. Durbin, Princeton University
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
If you have, or are presently studying science A-levels, then this book should not prove a problem. However if the mere sight of an equation, large numbers, or graphs, makes you feel weak at the knees then you can stop reading now.
To begin, the book deals with the general properties of all materials. It explains how materials are used to their best in either compression or tension, and explains the reasons behind it using facts and figures, whilst diagrams help you to understand it on the microscopic level. The influence of cracks on different substances is also discussed and the theories for why some objects are left brittle whilst others are not.
The second half of the book concerns itself with specific material groups such as timber and metals.
If you have an interested in Building, Architecture or design, you will probably find this book will enlighten you to a few things in a "non-textbook" way.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Elise
Format:Mass Market Paperback
If you have ever sat through a materials science lecture or tutorial and felt it was all beyond you this book is for you. Even if you haven't struggled, this book explains its subject in such a simple concise and above all interesting way that I can recommend it without hesitation. It is especially good to read as an introduction to the subject before you start a course in materials science/mechanical engineering. Even if you don't fall into one of the above categories but have an interest in the subject - do read it, it is not written for students or engineers especially, just for anyone with an interest. I can also recommend wholeheartedly the sister volume "Structures".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By D. Sweetman
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Materials science is hardly a popular subject, but after you read Prof Gordon's book you won't understand why. He was one of the last WW2 boffins, and his easy style conceals the skill with which it gets over fundamental concepts. An essential part of my scientific education. It's now over thirty years out of date, and it hardly matters at all...
Another group who should read it: if you are writing to explain complex matters to laypeople, he's one of your best role models.
Another group who should read it: if you are writing to explain complex matters to laypeople, he's one of your best role models.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Ash
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
An interesting book which I would recommend to anyone who has an interest in engineering and other matters covered in this book, however it can be hard to read at times due to the language used and after reading another structures book, also by J E Gordon, I would tell anyone thinking of buying this as a simple foray into an engineer's mind to read 'Structures - or why things don't fall down' for a much easier read and a, at times, witty book which has great charm.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Simon
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Firstly, I would recommend this book for anybody interested in general science. The title poses a question not many of us think to ask and, in any case, instinctively feel that we already know the answer to. However, if you think about it for a minute, why don't we fall through the floor? Can you explain why some materials (like wood and steel) support our weight whilst others (like rubber) deflect and others still (such as water) flow out of the way at the slightest force? Why do things break? What makes some materials stronger than others? What is strength in any case? How come sheet glass shatters but engineers use glass fibre to strengthen plastics? Why does cast iron bear massive weights but shatter like glass when you drop it? This is a fascinating set of questions and J. E. Gordon supplies the answers in a comprehensive AND entertaining way.
The book is accessible to anybody. There is no complicated maths (although, unavoidably, there are some elementary equations to be understood) and the author mixes and matches his units in the same way that ordinary people do (he talks in miles and millimetres where necessary, pounds per square inch rather than megapascals etc etc).
Secondly, I also recommend this book to anybody who is about to study engineering - particularly materials science or structural engineering. Your lecturers will teach you all about elasticity, Poisson's ratio, yield stresses and strains, about how to predict and measure them and interpret the results but this book links them all together and explains what they really mean in practice. In a nutshell, it is the perfect introduction to materials science and is miles more accessible than those shelves of dry old text books in the college library.... Read more ›
The book is accessible to anybody. There is no complicated maths (although, unavoidably, there are some elementary equations to be understood) and the author mixes and matches his units in the same way that ordinary people do (he talks in miles and millimetres where necessary, pounds per square inch rather than megapascals etc etc).
Secondly, I also recommend this book to anybody who is about to study engineering - particularly materials science or structural engineering. Your lecturers will teach you all about elasticity, Poisson's ratio, yield stresses and strains, about how to predict and measure them and interpret the results but this book links them all together and explains what they really mean in practice. In a nutshell, it is the perfect introduction to materials science and is miles more accessible than those shelves of dry old text books in the college library.... Read more ›
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
To understand the history of materials science is essential for modern day researchers in this field, especially the increasing usage of computing modelling requires the most basic root of every single theory. This book can provide a good introduction for this purpose, and I think that all materials students and scientists should read this book.
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I like it - some interesting thoughts, a bit of engineering and science for the uninitiated. - - - -
By Ken Raus
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This book made a strong,unintentional pun,impression on me when I first read it but what interested me most were the descriptions of ancient Scyth firearms like the composite bow and siege warfare engines as I was reading Herodotus, Xenophon and Plato,et al,at the time.
Gordon mentions architectural skiamorphia,I believe and illustrates this edition well with photos and diagrams which do not overcome the beginner or lay reader,even despite the equations,and thus I heartily commend this book because the writer transcends,with an affable and rational style the jargon of his own speciality-It should interest some young or older someone in the hard science of the Engineer,yet is still a great read for the curious non-specialist,too-highly informative and excellent.
Gordon mentions architectural skiamorphia,I believe and illustrates this edition well with photos and diagrams which do not overcome the beginner or lay reader,even despite the equations,and thus I heartily commend this book because the writer transcends,with an affable and rational style the jargon of his own speciality-It should interest some young or older someone in the hard science of the Engineer,yet is still a great read for the curious non-specialist,too-highly informative and excellent.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
New Science of Strong Materials
This book is perhaps a bit "talky". Mostly it is interesting, though not very. It tries to cover too many bases in my opinion- you get some equations, some mechanics, some history,... Read more
Published 10 months ago by Alex
5.0 out of 5 stars
a classic eng book
If you like science and engineering but aren't keen of smart arse nerd types spouting maths that they don't understand at you, this book is for you. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2011 by philamo
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Strength of Materials Bible for the Non-scientist.
An excellent book. Explains in simple terms the concepts and jargon of strength of materials science. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2010 by alan123
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good for budding engineers and materials scientists.
My physics teacher recommended this book to my class. I didn't enjoy it much, but nevertheless it is well written, and contains tons of information that will be helpful to a... Read more
Published on 25 Oct 2010 by HeecheeRendezvous
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book...great condiiton
This book is written for the layman. It wasn't exactly relevant to my first year syllabus but it does a good job of getting you intrested in the mechanical properties of materials... Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2010
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book for "normal" look at materials
This book is great for learning about material properties, many massive textbooks give the same information but they are often very hard to understand if you have little or no... Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2010 by Gov160
4.0 out of 5 stars
solid grounding
a good introduction to the subject for anyone with an interest. Well written and clear.
Published on 15 Sep 2009 by novoman
5.0 out of 5 stars
Science made easy
An excellent introduction to materials science suitable for all students who want to find out why things stick together or fall apart. What makes some things hard and others soft? Read more
Published on 9 Mar 2009 by Peter Halliday
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