Shape and Structure, from Engineering to Nature [Paperback]

Adrian Bejan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 16, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0521793882 | ISBN-13: 978-0521793889 | Edition: 1

Seemingly universal geometric forms unite the flow systems of engineering and nature. In this groundbreaking book, Adrian Bejan considers the design and optimization of engineered systems and discovers a relationship to the generation of geometric form in natural systems. The idea that shape and structure spring from the struggle for better performance in both engineering and nature is the basis of his new constructal theory: the objective and constraints principle in engineering is the same mechanism underlying the geometry in natural flow systems. From heat exchangers to river channels, Bejan draws many parallels between the engineered and natural worlds. Numerous illustrations, examples, and homework problems make this an ideal text for engineering design courses. Its provocative ideas will also appeal to a broad range of readers in engineering, natural sciences, economics, and business.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[A] unique, path-breaking and thought-provoking book of wide readership..." International Journal of Applied Thermodynamics

"Shape and Structure makes for a very interesting reading for anyone with a minimum background in mathematics and physics. The books is well written in a lucid, enthusiastic style and meticulously copy edited and typeset by Cambridge. It contains plenty of illustrations including 15 color plates, all instructive as well as beautiful." Applied Mechanics Reviews

"...unusual and fascinating...Anyone concerned with optimization, including students taking a course on the subject, will derive inspiration and insight from this book, and anyone with an interest in engineering and nature will get a great deal of pleasure from it." Peter Bradshaw, Stanford University, AIAA Journal

"This fascinating book is recommended as a text or reference for innovative, advanced design courses in all branches of modern egineering, including biomedical, transportation, and environmental engineering, architecture and spatail economics. Further, I strongly recommend it as a must read to all engineers who are experimenting with origainal, radically different concepts and ideas and who are poised to make a lasting impact on society." Engineering Dimensions July- Aug 2001

"This book provides some intriguing insights into the workings of both the natural world and that of engineering design....extremely well written, and the discussion is supported by clear graphical illustrations and some delightful photographs....excellent book." Chemical Engineering Progress

"this delightful read conducts the reader through the marvelous world of optimal system...this is an outstanding book, highly recommended not only for physicists and engineers, but also for life scientist, physicians, architects, economists and in general, for any person interested in how natural and man-made systems are composed and perform the way they do. Reading the book is a joyful experience that further stimulates the reader's mind and contributes to the creative observation of our natural and ingenuous world." Pergamon

"...this is a useful book for a general course on efficiency in design, both on the undergraduate and graduate level." - Helmut Kirchner, Pageoph

Book Description

In this groundbreaking book, Adrian Bejan shows that shape and structure spring from the struggle for better performance in both engineering and nature. This idea is the basis of the new constructal theory, that is, the objective and constraints principle used in engineering is the same mechanism from which the geometry in natural flow systems emerges. From heat exchangers to river channels, many parallels are drawn between the engineered and the natural world. This provocative book will be a novel text for engineering design courses and will also appeal to a broad range of readers in engineering, the natural sciences, and economics.

Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press; 1 edition (October 16, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521793882
• ISBN-13: 978-0521793889
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 0.8 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,552,043 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Adrian Bejan received all his degrees from M.I.T.: B.S. (1971, Honors Course), M.S. (1972, Honors Course) and Ph.D. (1975). He is the J.A. Jones Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Duke University. His research is in thermodynamics, applied physics, design in nature and the constructal law.

Adrian Bejan is ranked by ISI among the 100 most-cited authors in all of Engineering (all fields, all countries, living or deceased). He is the author of 25 books and 540 peer-refereed journal articles. He received numerous international awards in thermal sciences, and was awarded 16 honorary doctorates from universities in 11 countries, for example the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and the University of Rome I "La Sapienza".

www.constructal.org

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTbB0Vsynjc

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars very interesting January 22, 2009

By R. Jorgenson

Format:Paperback

i'm just getting started with graduate research and picked up this book from the library. it is going to be very useful, and i really like how it starts with sort of traditional optimization of structures and over the course of the book, shows how optimization leads to familiar natural structures. plenty of equations, understandable diagrams, and extensive references (which i will definitely be investigating). i will probably buy my own copy of this book.

i think it will be very useful for me because i'm specifically interested in periodic fluid flow into a volume, and heat transfer from the volume to the fluid.

i'm surprised there's only one review so far, this is a very interesting book and i consider it to be well-written and easy to read (relative to other engineering journals/books). some good fluid mechanics and heat transfer background will help you get the most out of the equations, but i think even without that background it's possible to understand the concepts presented in the book. it has inspired me to brush up my heat and fluids skill, that's for sure.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic new approach on thermal systems November 4, 2012

By Fabio Fortkamp

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Prof. Bejan takes a novel approach on analysis and principles of design of thermal systems (with a few chapters on other areas). The basic idea is to look at nature - trees, rivers, lungs - and try to undestand the geometry, to discover that the shapes we see optimize the resistance to heat and fluid flow. Then, we can apply this principle to engineering systems. In other words, shape is not random, but can be derived by physical and mathematical principles.

The book examines all major areas of thermal systems: free convection, forced convection, heat conduction, mass diffusion, fluid flow, turbulence, power systems. The author discusses the main idea, define some resistance coefficient, and then minimize it. Analysis of the results are of great value, and it help us see the big picture.

A great book to take a new view on engineering, applying optimization principles, and understanding the connection between nature and engineering.

5.0 out of 5 stars Physical Law of Complexity December 7, 2001

By CBS

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Prof. Bejan brings out the best in the field of engineering, called "CONSTRUCTAL THEORY" and this law will revolutionize the way we view the world. With this constructal approach, one could design much better energy-efficient systems, sustainable infrastructure, and develop a better understanding of our social organization leading to improved quality of life. This engineering principle or law could be extended to the design of transportation systems, traffic networks, spatial economics, understand stock market behavior, human physiology, neuroscience, and human behavior. The applications are numerous and it's only a matter of time that its value to the society will increase beyond the imagination of any scientist or an engineer. Dr. Bejan is a man of renaissance, who is trying to restore the lost science of creativity back into the field of engineering, in the lines of Leonardo DaVinci. The book uniquely synthesize physics and biology with the help of intelligently derived, easily understandable, simple models. It could become a valuable source for researchers and scientists, who are now immersed in the field of bioinformatics, trying to understand the shape and structures of genes and proteins. Also, people in the field of Operations Research and Economics might find the ideas in chapter 11 to be of great value. Finally, it is possible that Constructal Principle could become the Physical Law of Complexity in near future.