Table of Contents

1. Natural form, questioning, and theory; 2. Mechanical structure; 3. Thermal structure; 4. Heat trees; 5. Fluid trees; 6. Ducts and rivers; 7. Turbulent structure; 8. Convective trees; 9. Structure in power systems; 10. Structure in time: rhythm; 11. Transportation and economics structure; 12. Shapes with constant resistance; About the author; Author index; Subject index.

Promotional Information

This 2000 book explores the similarities between shape and structure in engineered and natural systems.

Reviews

'Shape and Structure is at once fascinating, provocative, mesmerizing, and hazardous to your pedagogical schemes. The book is fascinating because it covers an unusual number of diverse topics; provocative because it advances a new theory whose author unabashedly hints that his law is in the same league as Clausius' second law of thermodynamics, because a simple law is purported to predict the geometric form of anything 'alive' in the universe, or at least on Earth; and hazardous because it is suggested as a text or supplement for design courses in all branches of engineering, architecture, spatial economics, and business.' Applied Mechanical Review '... this is an outstanding book, highly recommended not only for physicists and engineers, but also for life scientists, 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.' J. Cervantes-de Gortari, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 'Written in a refined style, with lucidity in every aspect that it covers, this delightful read conducts the reader through the marvelous world of optimal systems ... In summary, this is an outstanding book, highly recommended not only for physicists and engineers, but also for life scientists, 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.' J. Cervantes-de Gortari, International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 'I wish to attract attention to this unique, path-breaking and thought-provoking book of wide readership ...'. International Journal of Applied Thermodynamics 'This is a most unusual and fascinating book ... 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, AIAA Journal