ABSTRACT
One way to appreciate the field of materials science and engineering is to look at commercial aviation. A Boeing 747 jumbo jet can transport 350 passengers and crew and their belongings from Chicago to Hong Kong (Figure 1.1) in less than 15 hours, consuming about 150 tons of fuel.* Aeronautical engineers design the Boeing 747 to be aerodynamically efficient. Electrical engineers design and build sophisticated avionics so that the 747 can fly from takeoff to touchdown. Who are the people designing and developing materials for the powerful engines, streamlined and pressurized fuselage, and flexible yet strong wings and control surfaces? You guessed right: materials scientists and engineers. In fact, about 150,000 lb of lightweight, high-strength aluminum alloys are used in the 747. If major structures of the 747 were made of steel instead of aluminum, the aircraft would have to eliminate all passengers and freight and still be over the maximum takeoff weight — clearly not a commercially viable proposition.
