Book excerpt: The 3rd edition of this popular textbook covers current topics in all areas of casting solidification. Partial differential equations and numerical analysis are used extensively throughout the text, with numerous calculation examples, to help the reader in achieving a working knowledge of computational solidification modeling. The features of this new edition include: • new chapters on semi-solid and metal matrix composites solidification • a significantly extended treatment of multiscale modeling of solidification and its applications to commercial alloys • a survey of new topics such as solidification of multicomponent alloys and molecular dynamic modeling • new theories, including a theory on oxide bi-films in the treatment of shrinkage problems • an in-depth treatment of the theoretical aspects of the solidification of the most important commercial alloys including steel, cast iron, aluminum-silicon eutectics, and superalloys • updated tables of material constants.