Composites and Heat Exchangers in Construction

Composites in Construction, Termite Mound Architecture

• Composites are materials made of two or more constituent materials with similar chemical and physical properties.
• A disadvantage of composites is their heavy weight.
• Composites are used in many fields, including construction, but not exclusively in construction.
• Composites are used in construction because they are better than traditional building materials.
• Fiberglass-reinforced polymers (FRPs) are created using plastic polymer resins and fibers.
• Biocomposites are created by combining a matrix material with natural fibers (e.g., wood, natural fibers, rubber, cotton, jute).

Counter Current Heat Exchangers

• Heat exchangers transfer heat between two or more fluids.
• Heat exchangers prevent fluids from mixing.
• Counter current heat exchange is a type of heat transfer in heat exchangers.
• Heat exchangers prevent vehicle engines from overheating.

Design of Aeroplane, Helicopter, and Submarine

• Leonardo da Vinci designed early aircraft.
• The Wright brothers designed the world's first successful airplane.
• The Flyer 1 was the name of the Wright's first successful airplane.

Bird Wing Design and Flying Mechanics

• Bird wings use wing warping, folding, and stretching methods.
• Aspect ratio of bird wings varies but typically falls between 1.5 and 18.
• Aspect ratio increases flight adaptability.
• Air pressure above the wing decreases, while pressure below the wing increases.
• Airplane wings are designed using gliding and landing principles to allow flexibility.
• Bird wings use feathers to alter their shape.

Helicopter Design and Function

• Tail rotor stabilizes the helicopter during flight.
• Helicopters change course by altering the angle of attack.
• In a helicopter, the top of the wing experiences faster air, resulting in lift.
• Helicopter wings function similarly to bird wings.
• Helicopters with two propellers are propelled by moving their wings in alternating directions, and use a tail rotor to stabilize.
• The main parts of a helicopter that enable flight are blades, rotor mast, tail boom, tail rotor, and cockpit/frame.

Information Theory and Biology, Sonar - Echolocation

• Shannon proposed information theory in communications.
• DNA's backbone is composed of phosphate and sugar.
• Complementary DNA strands are parallel.
• The purine nitrogenous base in DNA is guanine.
• Pyrimidine nitrogenous base is uracil.

Other Topics

• Dr. Adleman's work involved using DNA computing to solve problems.
• The limitations of DNA computing include time consuming laboratory procedures, dense information storage requirements, and extraordinary energy demands/consumption.
• Computational biology utilizes computational techniques in biology.
• Sonar is a sound navigation and ranging system.
• Bats use echolocation to detect objects.
• Animals like eagles, butterflies, dragonflies, and bats use different methods and senses to locate objects.

Medical Devices - Artificial Pacemaker

• Artificial pacemakers use leads to deliver electrical impulses to heart muscles.
• Artificial pacemakers help regulate heart rhythm.
• The heart block is a condition where electrical impulses are blocked along the pathway through the heart.

Explore the fascinating world of composites in construction and the role of heat exchangers. This quiz covers the properties of composite materials, their advantages and disadvantages, as well as the principles of counter current heat exchangers. Test your knowledge on these crucial engineering concepts!