About the Book
Supersonic Effects on Rivets introduces aerospace components, such as rivets, used in subsonic and supersonic/hypersonic aircraft. It investigates the various alloys used to manufacture rivets/fasteners and the heat treatment of those alloys.
Providing background on commercial (subsonic and supersonic) and military (subsonic and supersonic/hypersonic) aircraft, the book discusses selecting materials, rivet arrangement, skin friction/drag effects, estimating temperature, thermal properties, and fatigue testing of aerospace rivets. It includes real-world case studies on aircraft failures due to incorrect design and failure mechanisms of aerospace rivets. Lessons learnt from the failures of the iconic Concorde, Space Shuttle Columbia, and American Airbus A300-600 Flight 587 are also deliberated upon. Laboratory research including future recommendations are presented.
The book will be useful for military applications, commercial aircraft, practicing aerospace/ aeronautical engineers, materials scientists, metallurgical engineers, universities, colleges, higher education, schools and students.
Table of Contents:
1. Subsonic Aircraft: Forces and Suitable Materials for Rivets. 2. Supersonic Aircraft: Thermal Effects on Materials Used as Rivets. 3. Active and Future Research. 4. Conclusion.
About the Author :
Professor George Nadim Melhem is currently an Adjunct Professor at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, which is ranked 1st in Australia and 19th in the world (2024 QS World University Rankings). Holding a Bachelor of Metallurgical Engineering (Honours), Master of Materials Science and Engineering by research and PhD from UNSW, he additionally conducts research there. Professor Melhem has been a board member for the past decade contributing to the UNSW strategic direction for teaching and research. He lectured in Materials in Architecture, metallurgical courses, laboratory research and development as well as postgraduate electives for final year students at the university 3 decades ago. As the lead author and expert on aerospace materials (and on behalf of UNSW), Professor Melhem has published several papers in international journals and chapters in Encyclopaedias. He specialises in the use of aluminium alloys, most steel alloys, metal matrix composites/graphite epoxy composites in aerospace applications - including solving and designing for complex civil and structural applications in major infrastructures. He has been a key contributor to commercial aircraft in aerospace materials science, structural engineering, tooling, and ground support equipment - and continues to service government sectors, providing design and consulting in major infrastructure projects involving civil and structural engineering.
Professor Paul Richard Munroe is currently a Professor in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). Professor Munroe received his Bachelor of Science (Honours) and PhD in Metallurgy and Materials from the University of Birmingham, England. He taught (and continues to teach) a wide range of courses at UNSW, with his most significant contributions being in the field of microstructure-property relationships in advanced engineering materials. Areas of research conducted include functional thin films, intermetallic alloys, advanced metal-matrix composites, thermal spray materials, surface modification of materials and biochars. He was one of the founders, as well as the Inaugural Technical Director, of the Australian Microscopy and Microanalysis Research Facility. He has sat on a number of journal editorial boards and currently sits on the editorial board for the journal “Metals” - and served as a member of the Australian Research Council’s College of Experts. Professor Munroe has authored over 600 papers and provides advice to industry through his expertise in microstructure-property relationships.
Mr. Akshay Vithal is an Aerospace Engineer, currently working as the Aerial Design Lead for Geodrones Australia. He was a former student under the guidance and mentorship of Professor Melhem in his company in the field of Aerospace Engineering, researching several aspects of material and structural effects in aircraft in supersonic flight. Having graduated from the University of Sydney (USYD), Mr Vithal specialises in the aerodynamic design, flight performance, and structural analysis of various Uncrewed Aerial Systems - consisting of multi-rotors, fixed wing, and rotary-wing aircraft. Mr Vithal has experience with designing and building wing structures, wind tunnel testing, Computation Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling and testing, and Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
Review :
"This seminal book represents an excellent resource on the selection of materials for rivets in aerospace applications. Through rigorous modelling, insightful materials science, and compelling case studies, the authors masterfully dissect the pivotal role of rivets in aerospace engineering and offer profound insights into both the triumphs and tragedies of the industry, including the iconic Concorde. This highly readable text is suitable for students, educators, and aerospace engineers." - Michael Ferry, Professor & Head, School of Materials Science & Engineering, University of New South Wales
“This book fills a big void. It is focused on a technical subject that is easily overlooked in typical education curricula. The book goes into a level of detail, found nowhere else, covering fundamental and applied aspects. An important aspect is that much of the technical content remains relevant to hypersonic flight, which is relevant in a host of military applications. . . . Engineers would find this book an invaluable resource for designing rivets that can withstand the extreme conditions of supersonic flight.” – Amine Benzerga, Professor, Aerospace Engineering and Materials Science & Engineering | General Dynamics Professor in Aerospace Engineering, Texas A&M University
