The Society for Experimental Mechanics, Inc. regularly publishes multiple series of articles in addition to the technical articles that appear in Experimental Techniques. These series may be part of ongoing departments such as Back-To-Basics or they may be a Feature series based upon a unifying technique, application, or theme. Many of these articles have found great use in teaching and as basic reference tools. The Society is pleased to make these articles available for non-commercial use. Please browse the information about the various series shown below, and follow the directions for a detailed article listing within each topic.

Modal Space-Back to Basics
This currently running series written by Peter Avitabile features a variety of topics relating to modal analysis and its use for both analytical and experimental work. Some of the material presented here is excerpted from the multimedia format Modal Handbook on CD. This is the longest running series of articles to appear in Experimental Techniques.

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Optical Methods-Back to Basics
This current series provides a platform to convey an educationally focused coupling of textual learning with visual/illustrative learning of innovative optical measurement methods that range from the nature and description of light to phase shifting interferometries. The optical methods described within this series, in many cases, occur in nature but through creative adaptation they can be applied to offer physical solutions to the measurement of stress and strain in various materials and systems. The author of Optical Methods is Professor Gary Cloud of Michigan State University.

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Strain Gages-Back to Basics
This completed series, thanks to veteran SEM member, Peter K. Stein, is intended for both the novice, and as a refresher for all others. Each article in the series addresses a specific topic. The series covers: "... resistance strain gages, the transducers based on them, and the signal conditioning required and desired for them."

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Dynamic Strain Measurement
This series is dedicated to Prof. Peter K. Stein for his tireless devotion to the application and education of the strain gage user community over the past 40 years. The seven articles in this series describe the use of foil and wire strain gages for the measurement of dynamic strains and form a logical continuation of the "Back To Basics" columns of Prof. Stein. Topics covered in the series include: dynamic strain measurement system transfer functions and linearity, design rules for spectral and waveshape reproduction, gage and installation method choice selection criteria, and general transducer model and noise.

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Innovative Measurement Techniques
This is a current "Special Feature Series." This allows ET to set aside a niche for very unique articles that specifically outline the innovative approach or technique used to solve an enigmatic engineering mechanics problem.

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Automotive Applications
The Automotive Applications Series offers a forum for the automotive industry to demonstrate solutions to real-world automotive engineering problems using innovative experimental mechanics techniques.

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Technology Applications
This ongoing Series represents a partnership between SEM and its vendors with the intention to "Demonstrate the Balance Between Technology Applications and Teaching." The Series gives SEM vendors a platform to exploit a balanced blend of their technical expertise (application focus) with a feature presentation/demonstration (teaching focus).

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Education Note
This ongoing series consists of short education/teaching related articles demonstrating experimental techniques (i.e. My Favorite Experiment) and apparatus that can be applied directly to the classroom and laboratory to enhance both the teaching process and conveyance of various measurement methods directly to the students.

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Biomechanics Series
This ongoing series provides a forum for novel experimental techniques in the areas of biological and biologically inspired materials. The series showcases developments in advanced materials and systems with an emphasis on biological, biomedical and biomimicry applications.

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Testing of Acoustic Stringed Musical Instruments
This 4-article series presents an overview of dynamic testing methods applied to stringed musical instruments. The articles present test methods applied to violins and guitars, analysis methods and examples of how experimental results have been used to improve the design and construction of stringed instruments.

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Computational Validation
This series of three articles describes a significant computational validation effort within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories. The first article, "The Need for Computational Model Validation" describes a unique problem that faces the DOE with respect to the moratorium on underground nuclear testing in this country. Subsequent articles will discuss key characteristics of validation experiments and describe a framework for assessing confidence in computational predictions. A final article will highlight the application of validation methods for the practicing engineer.

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Experimental Techniques Addressing Product Quality
The Series offers a forum for industry to highlight techniques in assessing quality in the areas of engineering and design with an attempt to offer an instructive approach that is easy to apply to real world industry issues. The series begins by defining the problem to be solved, and introducing the method of analysis. Part two focuses on the basic premises of factorial ANOVA (ANnalysis of VAriance) which sets the stage for parts 3 and 4 which discuss the power of two 2k factorial experiments, and paring-by-pairing aliasing and 2k-p fractional factorial ANOVA, respectively.

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Wireless Technology
The Series: "Wireless Technology: An Overview of the Technology and Its Applications," will provide a foundation for the understanding of wireless technology. The 10-article series begins with a brief history and will conclude with a glimpse of the future directions. The series is based on an overview of wireless technology that was presented at IMAC-XXI by Mr. Mark Schiefer.

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Structural Integrity
The Structural Integrity Series offers a forum to focus on ‘‘Product Quality and Testing'' solutions to real-world engineering mechanics problems using innovative experimental techniques. The series demonstrates the effort of SEM, and Experimental Techniques, to support its strong relationship with the industrial sector.

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