Abstract
We provide a comparison of two classes of fluid conveying materials systems: hard, structural materials for infrastructure systems, and soft, and functional materials in the human body. They are part of two vital systems indispensable for human life: water pipelines (WP) and blood vessels (BV). A comparative assessment of their physical and chemical characteristics, their structures and functions, their deterioration mechanisms, repair procedures and protection methods is presented. Both water and blood are conveyed in tubular systems: water in steel, plastics and cement pipelines, which should be maintained free from corrosion, scaling, erosion and fouling; and blood vessels, which need to be maintained without the formation of plaques and clots, to keep blood circulating freely. This comparative analysis promotes the interaction of teachers and students from different fields of endeavor to explain and understand fundamental structures, technologies and processes, addressing regular materials in industry in parallel to the biological world of the human body.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 59-68 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Journal of Materials Education |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 3-4 |
| State | Published - 1 Aug 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Aging
- Blood vessels
- Corrosion
- Materials
- Water pipelines
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Education
- General Materials Science
- General Engineering
