Weapons and Systems Engineering Research Guide

This guide is a starting point for midshipmen and faculty at USNA working in the area of Weapons and Systems Engineering. In particular the Library can provide assistance on 1st class papers and projects.

SECTIONS TO THIS GUIDE:

CONTACT:

Andy Wheeler [More Info]
Subject Specialist for Weapons and Systems Engineering
Nimitz Library
Email: awheeler@usna.edu
Tel.: 3.6944

REFERENCE

  • Access Science (Encyclopedia of Science & Technology)
  • Comprehensive Composite Materials
  • CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
  • Janes Online
  • Nimitz Library Basics
  • Other print reference items -- including handbooks, encyclopedias, and other specialized materials on engineering topics -- are located in the "TS" section of the Nimitz Library Reference Collection.
  • Norman Friedman 
    Norman Friedman is a prominent and respected author on topics such as weapons, ship design, submarines, etc. Many of his books are available for check out, and others are in our Reference area. Some copies are also in Special Collections. Books in Nimitz Library by Norman Friedman. Visit the reference desk for more assistance.
  • Military Technologies of the World (2009) by T.W. Lee New
    Online 2 volume electronic book from Praeger Publishers.  Available via the USNA Nimitz Library subscription to Praeger Security International Online (PSI Online).  [USNA Only, Click Here To Read]
  • Airpower and Technology: Smart and Unmanned Weapons (2009) by David R. Mets New
    Online 2 volume electronic book from Praeger Publishers.  Available via the USNA Nimitz Library subscription to Praeger Security International Online (PSI Online).  [USNA Only, Click Here To Read]

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SEARCH FOR ARTICLES

  • The Nimitz Library subscribes to the following databases (indexes), which provide access to the most recent Weapons and Systems Engineering literature.
  • Aerospace & High Technology Database -- The single best file to locate information on aeronautics and astronautics. Produced by the AIAA since 1986, the database references materials written worldwide in the aforementioned subject areas. A short note of warning. Most items identified in this file are not available full-text, online. To obtain the actual articles either use the Electronic Journals web page or bring the results to the Nimitz Library.
  • AIAA American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics -- Mostly Full-Text Journals, the AIAA search is also an index to Meeting Papers, Standards and other information.
  • Engineering Village -- This is the single best source for most engineering topics. The system is linked to some of the articles full-text. The database indexes articles, journals, and conferences from several professional societies including the American Society for Mechanical Engineers, American Society for Civil Engineers, and the Society for Automotive Engineering as well as commercial publishers.
  • INSPEC -- This is another useful engineering index, more international in scope. It provides references to journal articles and conference papers in the subjects of physics, electrical engineering, electronics, computer science, robotics, control engineering and information technology. The database does not directly link to full-text resources, but is a critical link to finding the best information on the subject. Materials found in this file can sometimes be found on the electronics journal page or by checking the online catalog.
  • Scitopia -- Search engine created by fifteen science and technology societies to index the scholarly content in their websites and that of some U.S. Government sites.  Full-text is only available if the Nimitz Library has a subscription to the content.
  • Web of Science (Science Citation Index) -- Provides Web access via the Naval Research Lab to the Science Citation Index Expanded database, a collection of high quality research information from leading professional science journals from 1997 to present. The database offers access to articles' cited references, including articles, government reports, and patents.
  • Applied Science and Technology Full Text -- Provides access to almost 500 trade and industrial publications, journals issued by professional and technical societies, and specialized subject periodicals, as well as special issues such as buyers' guides, directories, and conference proceedings. Indexing begins in 1983, abstracting in 1993, and full text for selected titles in 1997.
  • General Science Full Text -- Provides access to almost 200 popular science magazines, professional journals, and The New York Times Science Section. Indexing begins in 1984, abstracting in March 1993, and full text for selected titles in 1995.

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E-JOURNALS

  • AIAA E-Library -- (2001 to present) Full-text access to all nine journals of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics.  Earlier volumes of these titles are available in print on the second floor of Nimitz Library.  This interface also allows for searching of AIAA conference papers and standards, but full-text access is not provided at this time.  All of this content, as well as much more material, is indexed in the Aerospace & High Technology Database
  • IEEE Xplore -- (1988 to present with selected older content) This product provides full-text access to all Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) journals, conference proceedings, and current standards as well as all Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE), now the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), journals and conference proceedings. Selected content goes back to 1950.
  • Torpedo Ultra -- This system, provided by the Naval Research Laboratory, allows users to browse or search journals from the Institute of Physics (coverage from 1991) and Elsevier Science (coverage from 1995), as well as NRL Formal and Memorandum Reports, NRL-authored journal articles and conference papers, and NRL Press Releases.
  • For access to other full-text journals use our E-Journals page or use the “Periodical Titles” search option in the Library Catalog.
  • It is always possible that the Nimitz Library owns a journal you are looking for, but the title is not available in electronic form. For this reason you should always search the Library Catalog to check on availability of materials.

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LIBRARY CATALOG

  • The Library Catalog is the primary tool for determining what is available in the Nimitz Library’s collections. It can be used to search for books, audiovisual materials, journal titles and WWW-based resources. To recommend new titles, please contact Andy Wheeler, 410.293.6944, awheeler@usna.edu.
  • Norman Friedman New
    Norman Friedman is a prominent and respected author on topics such as weapons, ship design, submarines, etc. Many of his books are available for check out, and others are in our Reference area. Some copies are also in Special Collections. Books in Nimitz Library by Norman Friedman. Visit the reference desk for more assistance.

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TECHNICAL REPORTS, PATENTS, AND GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS

  • DTIC STINET -- An index to technical reports written for all branches of the U. S. military. This database also covers important NASA materials and has key literature that relates to new military aircraft. More recent reports, since 1999 are available full-text at this link.
  • Government Documents Index (MarciveWeb DOCS) -- Catalog of U. S. Government Publications July 1976-Present.
  • NTIS (National Technical Information Service Database) -- Index to technical reports from government, corporate and university research agencies (1964-Present, weekly updates. Should the above link not work for any reason try the mirror server).
  • NASA Technical Reports Server -- This is an index to items published at NASA and to other aeronautics and astronautics literature. To actually get the item, search the Nimitz library catalog for the report listed in the database. If the item is in our catalog, you can obtain it from the Nimitz library. If the item is not in the Nimitz catalog, Midshipmen and faculty can request it using Interlibrary Loan (please login to Interlibrary Loan and choose the "Request a Technical Report" option).
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office -- The USPTO database offers full-text access to patents since 1976 and full-page images of patents since 1790.  AlternaTIFF image viewing software is necessary to view full-page images.
  • European Patent Organization -- This site offers free full-text access to patents from several European countries, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and the United States.  Abstracts and bibliographic data are available for patents from several other countries around the world, including China and Japan.
  • Military Specifications and Standards Index -- The Department of Defense often contracts for hardware and software. As such DOD procurement staff and engineers developed documents that state the specifications or standards that materials must meet to be used in DOD systems. These full-text items often provide useful insights into how items are made. Some of these items have been adopted to become industry standards; wide adoption means commercial acceptance of DOD engineering practices and principles.

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WRITING IT UP

Comments or suggestions?
URL: http://www.usna.edu/Library/Engineer/Weaponsmain.html
Last updated: 22 December 2008