Ferroic materials are important, not only because of the improved understanding of condensed matter, but also because of their present and potential device applications. This book presents a unified description of ferroic materials at an introductory level, with the unifying factor being the occurrence of nondisruptive phase transitions in crystals that alter point-group symmetry. The book also aims to further systemitize the subject of ferroic materials, employing some formal, carefully worded, definitions and classification schemes. The basic physical principles leading to the wide-ranging...

A structure is an assembly that serves an engineering function. A smart structure is one that serves this function smartly i.e. by responding adaptively in a pre-designed useful and efficient manner to changing environmental conditions. Adaptive behavior of one of more materials constituting a smart structure requires nonlinear response. This book describes the three main types of nonlinear-response materials: ferroic materials, sort materials, and nanostructured materials. Information processing by biological and artificial smart structures is also discussed. A smart structure typical has...