Pipeline Pumping and Compression Systems: A Practical Approach
Mo Mohitpour, Kamal K. Botros, and Thomas Van Hardeveld. ASME Press, Three Park Ave., New York, NY 10016-5990. 2008. 544 pages. ASME members, $112; list, $140. ISBN 978-0-7918-0278-6.

This book is a comprehensive professional reference, training tool, and text covering all aspects of pipeline pumping and compression system design, configuration optimization, performance, and operation, in addition to the dynamic behavior of all the piping and various elements comprising each system. The authors provide practical solutions for achieving reliable design and operation of these facilities. This volume is a useful guide for the design of pumping and compression in liquid and gas pipeline transmissions, as well as a guide to various installation options. It is aimed at practicing engineers in the pipeline and the oil and gas industry, specifically those involved with the design and operation of pumping and compression systems.

INDUSTRIAL ROBOTICS
Andrew Glaser. Industrial Press Inc., 989 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10018. 2008. 252 pages. $39.95. ISBN 978-08311-3358-0.

Subtitled “How to implement the right system for your plant,” this book tells what steps to take when the solution is to automate. Identifying a manufacturing process that can be automated is often a daunting task. It requires a team approach to qualifying, validating, and then finally, implementing a program. In this book, author Andrew Glaser takes the reader through the best practices for each step, regardless of the application type or the industry segment. It seeks to show how to achieve the system expectations that were planned for and benchmarked, and it will also identify the most common pitfalls—all without having to eliminate employees, the book claims.

THE SAFETY PROFESSIONALS HANDBOOK: MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS (VOL. 1) AND TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS (VOL. 2) 
Joel M. Haight, Editor. American Society of Safety Professionals, 1800 E. Oakton St., Des Plaines, IL 60018. 2008. Vol. 1, 854 pages. Vol. 2, 1,064 pages. Per volume: ASSE members, $105; list, $149. Two-volume set: ASSE members, $189; list, $259. ISBN 978-1-885581-52-5.

This mammoth undertaking, nearly eight years in the making, represents the combined efforts of 300 authors and reviewers, along with 1,000 members of the American Society of Safety Professionals who contributed their expertise as well. In the two volumes combined, there are 79 chapters that cover 12 topic areas. They are: Management of safety engineering work; hazard communication and worker right-to-know; environmental management; safety and health training; workers’ compensation; fleet safety; risk assessment and hazard control; emergency preparedness; fire prevention and protection; industrial hygiene; personal protective equipment; ergonomics and human factors engineering. All told, the handbook is a resource for standards and regulations, applied science and engineering, cost analysis and budgeting, benchmarking and performance criteria, and best practices.

ULTRASONIC NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION SYSTEMS
Lester W. Schmerr Jr. and Sung-Jin Song. Springer Science+Business Media LLC, 233 Spring St., New York, NY 10013. 2007. 602 pages. $149. ISBN 978-0-387-49061-8.

According to the publisher, this title provides the latest information and techniques available for ultrasonic nondestructive evaluation inspections. With a systems level approach, the book uses aspects of Fourier analysis, linear system theory, and wave propagation and scattering theory to develop a comprehensive model of an entire ultrasonic measurement system. The authors describe in detail the measurements needed to obtain all the system model parameters. This integrated approach leads to a new model-based engineering technology for designing, using, and optimizing ultrasonic NDE inspections.

MAINTENANCE SYSTEMS AND DOCUMENTATION
Anthony Kelly. Butterworth-Heinemann, an imprint of Elsevier, 30 Corporate Dr., Suite 400, Burlington, MA 01803. 2006. Softcover. 238 pages. $54.95. ISBN 978-0-7506-6994-8.

Author Anthony Kelly is a maintenance consultant of many years’ experience, having held visiting professorships in Australia, South Africa, and Norway. His book is aimed at maintenance, plant, production, and operations engineers. It shows how to identify and model key maintenance systems in order to understand their function and operating principles, and identify the main problems encountered in their operation .Detailed coverage is included for budgeting and costing systems, performance indices and control, maintenance information systems, spare parts and inventory, shutdown and outage management, and maintenance documentation systems.

MODELING AND SIMULATION OF TURBULENT FLOWS
Roland Schiestel. John Wiley & Sons Inc., 111 River St., Hoboken, NJ 07030. 2008. 754 pages. $255. ISBN 978-1-84821-001-1.

This book provides fundamental bases for developing turbulence models on rational grounds. Different methods of approach are considered, from statistical modeling at various degrees of complexity to numerical situations of turbulence. Each method has specific performances and limitations, which appear to be complementary rather than competitive. After discussing the basic concepts, mathematical tools, and methods for closure, the author considers second order closure models. He places emphasis upon this approach because it has potential to clarify numerous problems in turbulent shear flows. General older models and the influence of extra physical parameters are also considered. The book concludes by examining large eddy numerical simulation methods.

COMPUTATIONAL BALLISTICS III
Editors: C.A. Brebbia and A.A. Motta. WIT Press, 25 Bridge St., Billerica, MA 01821. 2007. 256 pages. $165. ISBN 978-1-84564-077-4.

Papers presented at the Third International Conference on Computational Ballistics, held in 2007 in The New Forest, UK, form the foundation of this book. Ballistics, as a science, has a wide meaning and is present in many aspects of everyday life. Terminal ballistics, perhaps its most important branch, focuses on the study of the interaction between the munitions and target and has many civilian applications, such as in car crashes and bird strikes on aircraft, and the consequent effects. This involves the study of impact, overall and microscopic structural resistance and behavior, and integrity.