T. Yoshida – författare

Accidents involving reactive chemicals can often be prevented, or their effects alleviated, if those handling them have a sound knowledge both of their hazardous properties and of appropriate handling methods. This book addresses this need.It opens with a definition of the key technical terms and evaluation methods for hazardous materials are outlined. Chapter 2 covers accidents involving self-reactive substances, accidents occurring during chemical reactions, and accidents involving hazardous products in the event of an earthquake. In the next three chapters, methods for evaluating fire and explosion hazards of reactive substances are covered. The test methods described include DSC test using a sealed cell, impact sensitivity tests, the ignitability test, burning tests, the pyrolytic severity test, and shock sensitivity tests. Recently, the Japanese Fire Services Law was amended, requiring hazardous materials to be evaluated and classified by appropriate tests. These test methods, described in chapter 4, are related to oxidising solids, combustible solids, spontaneous ignition substances, and water-reactive substances. The final chapter gives examples of the safety assessment of various pyrotechnics.There are few books available on this subject and none so comprehensive. Each of the methods described is practical, effective and of low cost; and many of the application results are from the author''s own laboratory. The book will be invaluable to those in public and industrial safety laboratories, R & D chemical laboratories, Fire Departments, explosives manufacturers, and those responsible for the transportation of hazardous materials.

After two decades, data processing has finally, and probably forever, found its niche among civil engineering and construction (CEC) professionnals, through word processors, digitizing tables, management software, and increasingly via drawing software and computer-aided design (CAD), recently, robots have even started invading work sites. What are the main trends of CAD and robotics in the field of architecture and civil enginee­ ring? What type of R&D effort do university and industrial laboratories undertake to devise the professional software that will be on the market in the next three to five years? These are the issues which will be addressed during this symposium. To this effect, we have planned concurrently an equipment and software show, as well as a twofold conference. Robotic is just starting in the field of civil engineering and construction. A pioneer, the Civil Engineering Departement of Carnegie-Mellon University, in the United States, organized the first two international symposia, in 1984 and 1985 in Pittsburgh. This is the third meeting on the subject (this year, however, we have also included CAD). It constitutes the first large international symposium where CAD experts, specialists in architecture and CEC robotics will meet. From this standpoint, it should be an ideal forum for exchanging views and expe­ riences on a wide range of topics, and we hope it will give rise to novel applications and new syntheses. This symposium is intented for scientists, teachers, students and also for manufacturers and all CEC professionals.