Knovel
Answers for Science & Engineering
Paul Walker
KASE Associates
Representing Knovel
For IFEG - 12 May, 2005
Knovel
• Knovel is an online collection of eBooks and
databases with a unique ability to provide interactive
answers to your questions about science and
engineering.
•Knovel stores textual and numeric data and both types
of data can be searched with one simple interface.
•I will start by going straight in with a couple of search
examples to illustrate the power and interactive nature
of Knovel.
•I will then revert to basics with a more descriptive
analysis
SEARCH to find information on the vapour pressure of benzene
From the search results select the first Text (1) result from Perry’s Chemical
Engineer’s Handbook
We are presented with a PDF page from the book which is part of a large
table of vapour pressure of organic and inorganic compounds. The table is
bordered in blue - which means it is interactive. Click anywhere in the table:-
The table is converted into an interactive or “live” data table which you can
manipulate like a spreadsheet.
Use the Filter function to find the material or substance name benzene.
We are left with one row filtered from the table for benzene. Click on the
“sigma” symbol in the Equation Plotter column.
A small program (Flash or Java applet) initiates a plot of vapour pressure for
benzene against temperature. This is an interactive plot which can be customized.
Change units, log/linear, gridlines, zoom, etc. Find x for a value of y. Click on the curve to
capture x/y points.
Export the x/y values in a variety of formats, including Excel
Excel opens and the data and source is displayed. Produce your own graph
from the data using Excel’s functionality.
An alternative (and quicker) way of retrieving the data would be to select the
Table (1) result from Perry’s...
… and this will take you directly to the data (row) from the table for benzene.
In a second example we look for information on the energy efficiency effects
of antifreeze.
Look at the Table (2) result from the Energy Efficiency Manual
The table refers to the adverse energy efficiency effects of antifreeze showing capacity and
pressure drop. The column on the right refers to digitized graphs - click on one of these
symbols.
The graph in the book has been digitized. Can be customized as with the
previous example, and x/y points exported.
Going back to the table we can click on the “view text” link...
…and this takes us to the page in the book where “antifreeze” and “efficiency”
scored a hit (text highlighted). The digitized graph can also be initiated from
the hyperlink above the graph in the PDF.
With these two examples I have attempted to
illustrate some of the interactive features of Knovel.
•Search and find text and/or data
•Select interactive features from the search results
•Choose to initiate interactive features from the PDF (or
HTML) when browsing text.
Now to start at the beginning...
Knovel
• Knovel is a Web-based reference provider of scientific
and engineering resources.
• Knovel offers a combination of aggregated
information, analysis tools and technology empowering scientists, engineers, researchers, and
librarians to obtain information across multiple sources
and information formats.
• Knovel continuously updates its reference content currently over 700 references. The current collection
includes 25,000,000 data records, growing at
1,000,000 per month, and over 1,000,000 pages,
growing at 15,000 pages per month.
Knovel Content
Aggregated from over 30 different publishers and integrated
into a consistent interface across all references.
Subject areas covered include:
Adhesives, Coatings, Sealants & Inks
Food Science
Aerospace & Radar Technology
General Engineering References
Biochemistry, Biology & Biotechnology
Mechanics & Mechanical Engineering
Ceramics & Ceramic Engineering
Metals & Metallurgy
Chemistry & Chemical Engineering
Pharmaceuticals, Cosmetics & Toiletries
Construction Materials & Engineering
Plastics & Rubbers
Electrical & Power Engineering
Safety, Health & Hygiene
Environment & Environmental Engineering
Semiconductors & Electronics
Textiles
Knovel Content
Handbooks
Reference Works
Databases
Encyclopedias
Monographs
Conference Proceedings
Knovel Content - some examples
Perry's Chemical Engineers' Handbook (7th
Edition)
Marks' Standard Handbook for Mechanical
Engineers (10th Edition)
Energy Efficiency Manual
Reservoir Engineering Handbook (2nd Edition)
Corrosion Survey Database (COR·SUR)
Handbook of Corrosion Engineering
Seawater Corrosion Handbook
Corrosion (3rd Edition) Volumes 1-2
Environmental Impact of Power Generation
Handbook of Electrical Engineering - For
Practitioners in the Oil, Gas and Petrochemical
Industry
Heat Transfer Handbook
NALCO Water Handbook (2nd Edition)
Handbook of Hazardous Materials Spills
Technology
Environmental Contaminant Reference
Databook, Volumes 1-3
Waste Treatment and Disposal
Water Quality and Treatment - A Handbook of
Community Water Supplies (5th Edition)
Petroleum Products Handbook (Mid May 05)
Loss Prevention in the Process Industries (2nd
Edition)
Pump Handbook (3rd Edtion)
Juran's Quality Handbook (5th Edition)
Peterson's Stress Concentration Factors (2nd
Edition)
Piping Handbook (7th Edition)
Roark's Formulas for Stress and Strain (7th
Edition)
Welding Materials Handbook
Aluminum Alloy Database
Machinery's Handbook (26th Edition)
Materials Selection Deskbook
Handbook of Materials Selection
Classifying Explosion-Prone Areas for the
Petroleum, Chemical and Related Industries
Dust Explosions in the Process Industries
Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas
Electrical Safety Engineering (3rd Edition)
Electrical Safety in Flammable Gas/Vapor Laden
Atmospheres
Handbook of Fire and Explosion Protection
Engineering Principles for Oil, Gas, Chemical, and
Related Facilities
Knovel Technology
• References available on Knovel have been "Knovelized" - a process through
which Knovel technology (U.S. patent pending) is applied. Knovel technology
creates a unique product—an efficiency tool—by marrying information and
technology.
• Search for any term(s) on any page across all titles at the same time. An
integrated thesaurus allows for variations in spelling and different designations
and identifiers of materials and substances. Advanced “fielded” searches make
it possible to locate specific properties and numeric ranges of values.
• In addition to full text, Knovel offers interactive “hands on” tools. Knovel
converts content from hard copy books into interactive tools like live tables that
allow you to select and sort rows, hide columns, and export the information into
your favourite application, and interactive graphs and equations which allow
you to add your own data, plot points on a graph, and perform calculations.
With Knovel, you have the equivalent of a scientific calculator added to the
Web browser.
Knovel Overview
Home Page
• Top Menu Bar
• User Welcome
• Side Menu
• Search
• Subject Areas
• Featured Titles
www.knovel.com
Simple Search 1
First keyword
polypropylene
Second
keyword
molasses
Check food ingredient compatibility with container materials
Simple Search 1
Results
12 matches in 5
books
Click on
“Corrosion
Resistant
Materials
Handbook”
Text(1)
Simple Search 1
Adobe Acrobat
open up a PDF
file.
Page shows a
table with
keywords
highlighted.
First rule: a single word in each of the 2 search fields finds both words on the same page.
Simple Search 2
Enter keywords
acetone phenol
in the same
search box
Simple Search 2
Search Results
look at the book
“Chemical
Process and
Design
Handbook”
Text(2) for the
Acetone section
Simple Search 2
The PDF is
displayed
highlighting
keywords.
Second rule: two words in the same search field will find words on the same page within a
five word proximity.
Search Spelling
Allows for
variations in
spelling.
First keyword
field color flavor
Search Spelling
From the search
results look at
“Food Processing
Technology”
Highlighted words
are “colour” and
“flavour”
Knovel translates from a database containing thousands of synonyms and
alternative spellings.
Search - Numerical Designations
Search for CAS #
50-00-0
(Formaldehyde)
Synonym tables
and other cross
reference tables
help to find
answers while
keeping searches
simple.
Search - Numerical Designations
From search
results look at
“Corrosion
Survey Database”
section on
Austenitic Cr-Ni
Stainless Steel
Table(6)
Search - Numerical Designations
LIVE
TABLES
The table is
displayed. 6 rows
retrieved out of
1200+
• Find
• Sort
• Filter
• Show/Hide
• Move Columns
• Unit Converter
• Export
Tables converted to “live tables” that can be manipulated like spreadsheets.
Search Example
An electronics manufacturing company had an unknown problem with an
electronic organizer. Reports are coming in that the product is experiencing
failures in the field. The LED display is failing and retailers are receiving
complaints and an unusual number of returns.
It’s imperative that the development team quickly identifies the reason for the
failure and provide a fix before any new units are manufactured. The lead
manufacturing engineer suspects that a new resin used in one of the critical
components is causing the problem. To test the resin, the lead chemist on the
team needs to find a solvent that it will dissolve in…and he needs the information
right away.
One of the productivity features in the Knovel product is the ability to perform
searches using both keyword and analytical data to search across multiple
reference books. Based on the information that the new vendor has provided, the
chemist needs an alcohol that will have a boiling point between 100-200
degrees C and a density between 0.8 and 1.0 g/cm3 to be able to test the resin.
Search Example
Advanced
Search
alcohol
boiling point >
100 < 200 C
density > 0.8 <
1 g/cm3
Drop down menus for properties with choice of units and min / max values displayed
Search Example
Search
Results
Look at the
first book “Knovel
Critical
Tables”
Table(91)
Search Example
The table has
been
“knovelized”,
meaning it is
interactive.
The chemist
is able to use
the filter
function to
display only
those
materials with
a molecular
weight of 100.
Search Example
3 rows, or
candidate
materials, are
displayed.
Search Example
View
synonyms for
Cyclohexanol
Search Example
Data exported
to Excel
Search Example
While cyclohexanol
meets the original
criteria, the chemist also
needs to obtain vapor
pressure information to
successfully conduct the
testing. Vapor pressure
varies by temperature
and the resin will need to
be tested at the various
temperatures that it is
subjected to when it’s in
place in the product.
By highlighting the name
of the material, the
chemist can then copy
and paste the name into
a new search and look
for vapor pressure
information.
Search cyclohexanol (box 1) and vapour pressure (box 2)
Search Example
Search Results
Select the
Table(1) link from
“Perry’s
Chemical
Engineers
Handbook”
Shows “live
Equations”
Search Example
In the “live table”
one row (for
Cyclohexanol)
has been
retrieved from
over 230 rows
from the table in
the book.
Click on the 
symbol
Search Example
Flash (or Java
applet) enables
the interactive
equation plotter
• change units
• log / linear
• x/y values
• zoom
• grid lines
• enter value
• export
Search Example
On this screen:
• units changed
from K to C
• series of x/y
values found by
clicking the
mouse on the
curve
• exporting x/y
values to Excel
By using the equation plotter feature, the chemist can quickly and accurately calculate the needed vapour
pressure data-without having to try and figure out the complex calculation that was in Perry’s.
Search Example
Once the solvent is
found, the chemist
can even obtain
toxicity data so that
the bench chemists
can be properly
trained in regards
to safety. For this
search, the chemist
selects only the
Safety, Health and
Hygiene subject
area.
Search for
cyclohexanol
Search Example
The second book is
“Dictionary of
Substances and
their Effects” (RSC)
Search Example
This provides
critical information
on handling
precautions that
need to be followed
in the lab.
Uses the Knovel
Reader for HTML
files.
Because Knovel provided access to information so quickly, the lab was able to test the resin
with the new solvent and determine the cause of failure.
Search Example- Excel
Simple Search for “gas discharge” and “piping”
Search Example- Excel
Select the bottom Text (1) result from the first book “Guidelines for Chemical Quantitative
Risk Analysis”
Search Example- Excel
The PDF of the book is displayed at a page where the search terms (highlighted) are
matched. The page shows the calculations for gas discharge from a piping system and is
hyperlinked to an Excel spreadsheet. Click anywhere in the page...
Search Example- Excel
… and an Excel spreadsheet is initiated with the calculations programmed in. Input your
own variables and Excel will recalculate the outputs for you.
Interactive Graphs Example
Keyword Search Interactive Graphs
and Material
Comparison
First keyword
flame retardant
Second keyword
fatigue
Interactive Graphs Example
Look at the book
“Fatigue and
Tribological
Properties of
Plastics and
Elastomers”
Graph Table(32) link
Interactive Graphs Example
Here we are
presented with an
Interactive Table
with Graph Plotter.
Table shows
Maximum Stress vs
Cycles to Failure for
32 materials which
are flame retardant.
Select 3 materials by
clicking in the “select
rows” box.
Interactive Graphs Example
Click on the Select
Rows command and
the table is reduced
to the 3 chosen rows.
Then click on the
“Show Graphs”
menu option.
Interactive Graphs Example
Flash (or Java
applet) loads the
interactive graph
plotter with 3
curves for the
chosen materials
displayed on the
same axes.
Enables material
comparison.
Change units
Curve navigation
Hide curves
Plot X/Y coordinates
Export/Print
Zoom
Linear/Log
Grid lines
Imagine trying to produce the same graph manually!
New Features
CHEMICAL STRUCTURE SEARCH
This feature allows you to draw a structure of organic or inorganic
compound and search hundreds of thousands of chemicals and
associated data on Knovel. Polymers, coordination compounds and
stereochemistry are not supported yet. You can perform exact or
substructure search of fully defined or Markush structures. To help your
drawing, we have Substituent Groups, Templates, and Periodic Table of
Elements pop-ups. A wide selection of rings and bonds is also available.
The Marquee function allows resizing, repositioning, and rotating of the
structures. Finally, you can upload, modify, and search your own MOL
files.
SPECTRA VIEWER
Spectra Viewer is an interactive tool for displaying NMR, MS, and FTIR
spectra data along with the Chemical Structure of an element or a
compound. It will initially be accessed via hyperlinks of matches of your
chemical structure search and will allow for browsing through your search
results set. It will display the Spectra Graph, Chemical Structure, Molecular
Formula, and Molecular Weight. It will allow you to open our chemical
structure query tool to refine, modify and re-submit your search. You can
also zoom in and out of a particular region of graph for better peak viewing
resolution, move the graph, select peaks, choose integration limits and
calculate integrals, save your collected data in a table, and export your
data and structure in a variety of formats.
New Features
PHASE DIAGRAM VIEWER
This tool allows you to determine phase composition in atomic or weight
percent on the phase boundaries for binary systems, e.g., alloys. Lever
Rule calculator is available for determining phase fractions anywhere on
the diagram. In addition, you can label phases and use different point
symbols and labels. The coordinates of any plotted point can be
displayed, captured and saved for export in a variety of formats. You can
access this tool by clicking on a Diagram Viewer icon in an Interactive
Table, or by clicking on the corresponding hyperlinks in a PDF text.