HEADLINES ARCHIVE
Hydrofracturing Without the Hydro
Hydrofracturing needs water – lots of water. The typical North Dakota well requires 3–5 million gallons of water, and it must be reasonably clean. Recycling fracturing fluids is big business, but ridding water of dissolved solids is expensive and generates a waste stream of its own.
“Pop-up” Fabrication Technique a Challenge to 3D Printing?
Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign say they have developed a fabrication technique to create 3D micro- and nanostructures. The researchers claim the process offers advantages over 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing.
Argonne Partners with Industry on Nuclear Reactor Work
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Argonne National Laboratory will work with three leading nuclear products and services companies on projects that could unlock the potential of advanced nuclear reactor designs.
Industry 4.0: Will It Really Happen?
The term Industry 4.0 implies more than the next step in industrial automation—it is shorthand for the fourth stage of the industrial revolution and is a prediction, not a description of an actual state of affairs.
Lunar Lander: How One Engineer's Persistence Led to Apollo Success
Time and distance have a way of blurring the hard edges, sharp points and intense disputes that accompany innovation. Years later, what once seemed a ridiculous or foolish idea is thought of as an obvious, "of course, we knew it all along" approach.
The “Right Stuff” for Innovative Engineering Teams
No matter what the industry, getting there first with an idea that captivates the customer is the Holy Grail of engineering.
Innovation, Risk Mitigation, Sustainability Are Key Themes in 2015
Innovation, risk mitigation and sustainability are three key themes that IHS Engineering360 editors will return to throughout 2015.
Preparing for the Era of Smart Manufacturing
The global manufacturing industry is on the verge of what many are calling its fourth Industrial Revolution. In Germany, the wave of manufacturing change is called Industry 4.0. Elsewhere, it has been dubbed “smart factory” or “advanced manufacturing.”
Getting to 80: Engineering Challenges in Achieving Extended Lives for Nuclear Power Plants
The nuclear power industry is at a crossroads with new and aging plants. As of early 2015, the United States will have 99 active nuclear power plants generating nearly 20% of the country’s electricity.
Research Finds a Strong Pulse of Engineering
The inaugural IHS Engineering360 “Pulse of Engineering” research survey reveals three key challenges facing engineers and allied professionals almost everywhere in the world: appropriate skill levels and expertise, adequate time to complete projects, and effective communication.
Heavy Thickness Tolerances Added to ASTM Metallic-Coated Steel Sheet Standard
Recently approved revisions to ASTM International standard A924/A924M, Specification for General Requirements for Steel Sheet, Metallic-Coated by the Hot-Dip Process, will increase the flexibility of the standard.
Pratt & Whitney Canada Plans Aircraft Engine Investment
Pratt & Whitney Canada says it will invest more than C$1 billion ($870 million) in research and development over the next 4.5 years to develop the next generation of high-performance aircraft engines.
Solving Engineering Problems by Turning to the Crowd
With pressures mounting to deliver products and services to market in less time, engineering departments that already are stretched thin have to find new methods to solve problems. One such strategy is crowdsourcing, more frequently called open innovation.
In Praise of Small Data
“Big Data” has taken the business world by storm. The digital age and the spread of social networks have enticed companies into making huge investments in computer power, servers and networking technology to acquire enormously complex data sets.
New Standard for Amusement Railway Ride Tracks
Many people love riding on a train, even if it’s a miniature scale ride at an amusement park. A new ASTM International standard will ensure that the tracks for such rides are built soundly. The new standard is ASTM F2960.
Graphical Programming Stretches Engineering Design Frontiers
No matter what the technical specialty, the education of most engineers includes at least a taste of a popular textual programming language, such as Java, C, C++ or Visual Basic, just to name a few.
IHS BOM Manager Offers World’s Largest Database of Electronic Components
IHS Technology announces that its IHS BOM Manager tool now offers the world’s largest component database, containing more than 442 million parts. IHS BOM Manager is the centerpiece of the IHS suite of parts management tools, which includes CAPS Universe and XML Web Services.
Nanoelectronics for 2020 and Beyond
The semiconductor industry is on the verge of transitioning to new realities of fabrication.
ISA Instrumentation Symposium Issues Call for Abstracts
The Program Committee of the 61st International Instrumentation Symposium has issued a Call for Papers inviting authors, innovators, thought leaders and other professionals in the instrumentation field to submit abstracts for presentation at the conference.
PC-based Controls Take on the Reigning Champ
The programmable logic controller (PLC) and its direct descendant, the programmable automation controller (PAC), have ruled the roost for decades in industrial control applications.