Innovative Computing Methods and Their Applications to Engineering Problems

In the past few decades we have come to understand that even motions in simple systems can have complex and surprising properties. Chaotic Dynamics provides a clear introduction to these chaotic phenomena, based on geometrical interpretations and simple arguments, without the need for prior in-depth scientific and mathematical knowledge. Richly illustrated throughout, examples are taken from classical mechanics whose elementary laws are familiar to the reader. In order to emphasize the general features of chaos, the most important relations are also given in simple mathematical forms, independent of any mechanical interpretation. A broad range of potential applications are presented, ranging from everyday phenomena through engineering and environmental problems to astronomical aspects. Chaos occurs in a variety of scientific disciplines, and proves to be the rule, not the exception. This book is primarily intended for undergraduate students in science, engineering, and mathematics.

The interaction of waves with obstacles is an everyday phenomenon in science and engineering, arising for example in acoustics, electromagnetism, seismology and hydrodynamics. The mathematical theory and technology needed to understand the phenomenon is known as multiple scattering, and this book is the first devoted to the subject. The author covers a variety of techniques, describing first the single-obstacle methods and then extending them to the multiple-obstacle case. A key ingredient in many of these extensions is an appropriate addition theorem: a coherent, thorough exposition of these theorems is given, and computational and numerical issues around them are explored. The application of these methods to different types of problems is also explained; in particular, sound waves, electromagnetic radiation, waves in solids and water waves. A comprehensive bibliography of some 1400 items rounds off the book, which will be an essential reference on the topic for applied mathematicians

Path integrals provide a powerful method for describing quantum phenomena. This book introduces the quantum mechanics of particles that move in curved space by employing path integrals and then using them to compute anomalies in quantum field theories. The authors start by deriving path integrals for particles moving in curved space and their supersymmetric generalizations. They then discuss the regularization schemes essential to constructing and computing these path integrals. This topic is used to introduce regularization and renormalization in quantum field theories in a wider context. These methods are then applied to discuss and calculate anomalies in quantum field theory. Such anomalies provide enormous constraints in the search for physical theories of elementary particles, quantum gravity and string theories. An advanced text for researchers and graduate students of quantum field theory and string theory, the first part is also a stand-alone introduction to path integrals in q

An introduction to terminology, approaches, and goals in modelling, this well-organized text deals with applications and their mathematical methods. Appropriate for advanced undergraduates and graduat

Why is feminist research carried out in international relations (IR)? What are the methodologies and methods that have been developed in order to carry out this research? Feminist Methodologies for International Relations offers students and scholars of IR, feminism, and global politics practical insight into the innovative methodologies and methods that have been developed - or adapted from other disciplinary contexts - in order to do feminist research for IR. Both timely and timeless, this volume makes a diverse range of feminist methodological reflections wholly accessible. Each of the twelve contributors discusses aspects of the relationships between ontology, epistemology, methodology, and method, and how they inform and shape their research. This important and original contribution to the field will both guide and stimulate new thinking.

Why is feminist research carried out in international relations (IR)? What are the methodologies and methods that have been developed in order to carry out this research? Feminist Methodologies for International Relations offers students and scholars of IR, feminism, and global politics practical insight into the innovative methodologies and methods that have been developed - or adapted from other disciplinary contexts - in order to do feminist research for IR. Both timely and timeless, this volume makes a diverse range of feminist methodological reflections wholly accessible. Each of the twelve contributors discusses aspects of the relationships between ontology, epistemology, methodology, and method, and how they inform and shape their research. This important and original contribution to the field will both guide and stimulate new thinking.

This 2006 book presents a systematic introduction to the theory of parametric stability of structures under both deterministic and stochastic loadings. A comprehensive range of theories are presented and various application problems are formulated and solved, often using more than one approach. Investigation of an elastic system's dynamic stability frequently leads to the study of dynamic behaviour of the solutions of parametrically excited systems. Parametric instability or resonance is more dangerous than ordinary resonance as it is characterised by exponential growth of the response amplitudes even in the presence of damping. The emphasis in this book is on the applications and various analytical and numerical methods for solving engineering problems. The materials presented are as self-contained as possible, with all of the important steps of analysis provided in order to make the book suitable as a graduate-level textbook and especially for self-study.

This book was first published in 2006. Palaeontology has developed from a descriptive science to an analytical science used to interpret relationships between earth and life history. Applied Palaeontology adopts a holistic, integrated approach to palaeontology, highlighting its key role in the study of the evolving earth, life history and environmental processes. After an introduction to fossils and their classification, each of the principal fossil groups are studied in detail, covering their biology, morphology, classification, palaeobiology and biostratigraphy. The latter sections focus on the applications of fossils in the interpretation of earth and life processes and environments. It concludes with case histories of how our knowledge of fossils is applied, in industry and elsewhere. This is a valuable reference for anyone involved in the applications of palaeontology, including earth, life and environmental scientists, and petroleum, minerals, mining and engineering professionals

Longitudinal data analysis for biomedical and behavioral sciences This innovative book sets forth and describes methods for the analysis of longitudinaldata, emphasizing applications to problems in t

Essential Bioinformatics is a concise yet comprehensive textbook of bioinformatics, which provides a broad introduction to the entire field. Written specifically for a life science audience, the basics of bioinformatics are explained, followed by discussions of the state-of-the-art computational tools available to solve biological research problems. All key areas of bioinformatics are covered including biological databases, sequence alignment, genes and promoter prediction, molecular phylogenetics, structural bioinformatics, genomics and proteomics. The book emphasizes how computational methods work and compares the strengths and weaknesses of different methods. This balanced yet easily accessible text will be invaluable to students who do not have sophisticated computational backgrounds. Technical details of computational algorithms are explained with a minimum use of mathematical formulae; graphical illustrations are used in their place to aid understanding. The effective synthesis o

How do three celestial bodies move under their mutual gravitational attraction? This problem has been studied by Isaac Newton and leading mathematicians over the last two centuries. Poincaré's conclusion, that the problem represents an example of chaos in nature, opens the new possibility of using a statistical approach. For the first time this book presents these methods in a systematic way, surveying statistical as well as more traditional methods. The book begins by providing an introduction to celestial mechanics, including Lagrangian and Hamiltonian methods, and both the two and restricted three body problems. It then surveys statistical and perturbation methods for the solution of the general three body problem, providing solutions based on combining orbit calculations with semi-analytic methods for the first time. This book should be essential reading for students in this rapidly expanding field and is suitable for students of celestial mechanics at advanced undergraduate and gr

This work is a compilation of fundamental solutions (or Green's functions) for classical or canonical problems in elastodynamics presented with a common format and notation. These formulas describe the displacements and stresses elicited by dynamic sources in solid elastic media like full spaces, half-spaces, strata and plates in both two and three dimensions, using the three major coordinate systems (Cartesian, cylindrical and spherical), and also for transient and harmonic motions. Such formulas are useful for numerical methods and practical application to problems of wave propagation in elasticity, soil dynamics, earthquake engineering, mechanical vibration, or geophysics. These formulas were heretofore only found scattered throughout the literature. The solutions are tabulated without proof, but giving reference to appropriate modern papers and books containing full derivations. Most formulas in the book have been programmed and tested within the MATLAB environment. The program lis

Fossil fuels are a finite resource, and their continued use as the world's dominant energy supply is damaging the environment. Future use of alternative methods of energy supply is inescapable, and this book explores the historical origins, technical features, marketability, and environmental impacts of the complete range of sustainable energy technologies: solar, biomass, wind, hydropower, geothermal power, ocean-energy sources, solar-derived hydrogen fuel, and energy storage. The aim is to inform policy analysts and decision makers of the options available for sustainable energy production. The book is therefore written so as to be accessible to an audience from a broad range of backgrounds and scientific training. It will also be a valuable supplementary text for advanced courses in environmental studies, energy economics and policy, and engineering.

From engineering fundamentals to cutting-edge clinical applications This book examines the biological effects of RF/microwaves and their medical applications. Readers will discover new developments i

This book describes a revolutionary methodology for enhancing technological innovation called TRIZ. The TRIZ methodology is increasingly being adopted by leading corporations around the world to enhance their competitive position. The authors explain how the TRIZ methodology harnesses creative principles extracted from thousands of successful patented inventions to help you find better, more innovative, solutions to your own design problems. You'll learn how to use TRIZ tools for conceptual development of novel technologies, products and manufacturing processes. In particular, you'll find out how to develop breakthrough, compromise-free design solutions and how to reliably identify next generation products and technologies. Whether you're trying to make a better beer can, find a new way to package microchips or reduce the number of parts in a lawnmower engine, this book can help. Written for practicing engineers, product managers, technology managers and engineering students.

This 2006 textbook discusses the fundamentals and applications of statistical thermodynamics for beginning graduate students in the physical and engineering sciences. Building on the prototypical Maxwell–Boltzmann method and maintaining a step-by-step development of the subject, this book assumes the reader has no previous exposure to statistics, quantum mechanics or spectroscopy. The book begins with the essentials of statistical thermodynamics, pauses to recover needed knowledge from quantum mechanics and spectroscopy, and then moves on to applications involving ideal gases, the solid state and radiation. A full introduction to kinetic theory is provided, including its applications to transport phenomena and chemical kinetics. A highlight of the textbook is its discussion of modern applications, such as laser-based diagnostics. The book concludes with a thorough presentation of the ensemble method, featuring its use for real gases. Numerous examples and prompted homework problems enr

Complex fluid flows are encountered widely in nature, in living beings and in engineering practice. These flows often involve both geometric and dynamic complexity and present problems that are difficult to analyse because of their wide range of length and time scales, as well as their geometric configuration. This book describes some computational techniques and modelling strategies for analysing and predicting complex transport phenomena. It summarizes advances in the context of a pressure-based algorithm. Among methods discussed are discretization schemes for treating convection and pressure, parallel computing, multigrid methods, and composite, multiblock techniques. With respect to physical modelling, the book addresses issues of turbulence closure and multiscale, multiphase transport from an engineering viewpoint. Both fundamental and practical issues are considered, along with the relative merits of competing approaches. Numerous examples are given throughout the text. Mechanica

Studies of dental and skeletal growth and development have often been treated as independent disciplines within the literature. Human Growth in the Past, first published in 1999, brings together these two related fields of enquiry in a single volume whose purpose is to place methodological issues of growth and development in past populations within a strong theoretical framework. Contributions examine a variety of aspects of human growth in the past, drawing from both palaeoanthropological and bioarchaeological data. The book covers a wide spectrum of topics, from patterns of growth in humans and their close relatives, innovative methods and applications of techniques and models for the study of growth, to estimation of age-at-death in subadults and infant mortality in archaeological samples. Human Growth in the Past will be of interest to biological anthropologists, and those in the related fields of dental anatomy, evolutionary biology and developmental biology.

The ionized material that constitutes plasma permeates almost all of the universe beyond the planets and their atmospheres and satellites. This book describes the linear theory of many different waves and instabilities that may propagate in a collisionless plasma. Electrostatic and electromagnetic fluctuations, and a variety of instability sources are considered. Applications of the theory are discussed with respect to spacecraft observations in the solar wind, terrestrial magnetosheath, magnetosphere and magnetotail and at the bow shock and magnetopause. Tables at the end of most chapters summarize wave and instability nomenclature and properties, and problems for the reader to solve are interspersed throughout the text. Together these make this book of great value to both the student and research worker in space physics.

This 1997 book is an introduction to the application of computer simulation and theory in the study of the interaction of energetic particles (

Risk, Reliability, Uncertainty, and Robustness of Water Resource Systems is based on the Third George Kovacs Colloquium organized by the International Hydrological Programme (UNESCO) and the International Association of Hydrological Sciences. Thirty-five leading scientists with international reputations provide reviews of topical areas of research on water resource systems, including aspects of extreme hydrological events: floods and droughts; water quantity and quality dams; reservoirs and hydraulic structures; evaluating sustainability and climate change impacts. As well as discussing essential challenges and research directions, the book will assist in applying theoretical methods to the solution of practical problems in water resources. The authors are multi-disciplinary, stemming from such areas as: hydrology, geography, civil, environmental and agricultural engineering, forestry, systems sciences, operations research, mathematics, physics and geophysics, ecology and atmospheric s

The introduction of numerical methods, particularly finite element (FE) analysis, represents a significant advance in metal forming operations. Numerical methods are used increasingly to optimize product design and deal with problems in metal forging, rolling, and extrusion processes. Metal Forming Analysis, first published in 2001, describes the most important numerical techniques for simulating metal forming operations. The first part of the book describes principles and procedures and includes numerous examples and worked problems. The remaining chapters focus on applications of numerical analysis to specific forming operations. Most of these results are drawn from the authors' research in the areas of metal testing, sheet metal forming, forging, extrusion, and similar operations. Sufficient information is presented so that readers can understand the nonlinear finite element method as applied to forming problems without a prior background in structural finite element analysis. Gradu

Automatic control systems have become essential features in virtually every area of technology, from machine tools to aerospace vehicles. This book is a comprehensive, clearly written introduction to automatic control engineering. The author begins with the fundamentals of modelling mechanical, electrical, and electromechanical systems in the state variable format. The emphasis is on classical feedback control theory and design, and their application to practical electromechanical and aerospace problems. Following a careful grounding in classical control theory, the author introduces modern control theory, including digital control and nonlinear system analysis. Over 230 problems help the reader apply principles discussed in the text to practical engineering situations. Engineering students and practising engineers will find all they need to know about control system analysis and design in this valuable text.

Elastic structures, conceived as slender bodies able to transmit loads, have been studied by scientists and engineers for centuries. By the seventeenth century several useful theories of elastic structures had emerged, with applications to civil and mechanical engineering problems. In recent years improved mathematical tools have extended applications into new areas such as geomechanics and biomechanics. This book, first published in 1998, offers a critically filtered collection of the most significant theories dealing with elastic slender bodies. It includes mathematical models involving elastic structures, which are used to solve practical problems with particular emphasis on nonlinear problems. This collection of interesting and important problems in elastic structures will appeal to a broad range of scientists, engineers and graduate students working in the area of structural mechanics.

The prediction of turbulent flows is of paramount importance in the development of complex engineering systems involving flow, heat and mass transfer, and chemical reactions. Arising from a programme held at the Isaac Newton Institute in Cambridge, this volume reviews the current situation regarding the prediction of such flows through the use of modern computational fluid dynamics techniques, and attempts to address the inherent problem of modelling turbulence. In particular, the current physical understanding of such flows is summarised and the resulting implications for simulation discussed. The volume continues by surveying current approximation methods whilst discussing their applicability to industrial problems. This major work concludes by providing a specific set of guidelines for selecting the most appropriate model for a given problem. Unique in its breadth and critical approach, this book will be of immense value to experienced practitioners and researchers, continuing the U

The study of structural analysis and design is a central subject in civil, aeronautical and mechanical engineering. This book presents a modern and unified introduction to structural analysis, with a strong emphasis on how structures actually behave. The unifying theme is the application of energy methods, developed without the formal mathematics of the calculus of variations. The energy approach makes it possible to articulate the logical relationship between equilibrium and compatibility; emphasise the unity of structural analysis, particularly for indeterminate structures; and identify the roles of idealization and discretization in structural modelling. Thus, energy methods also serve as a prelude to the main ideas behind modern computational approaches to structural analysis and design. As an aid to upper-level undergraduate students in mastering this material, the text includes numerous worked examples, as well as homework problems.

This unique publication summarises fifty years of Russian research on shock compression of condensed matter using chemical and nuclear explosions. This information, and the equations of state derived from it, have important applications in physics, materials science and engineering. An introductory chapter describes the importance of Russian experiments in a global context. The second chapter describes the experimental devices used. Following chapters summarise the results of experiments on pure metals, metal alloys and compounds, minerals, rocks, organic solids and liquids. The book covers experiments with pressures ranging from 2.5 GPa to 1 TPa using chemical explosives in laboratory conditions and to 10 TPa in underground nuclear tests. Attention is given to theoretical aspects, experimental problems, and data analysis. The data in this book are quite unique as, with the cessation of large scale underground nuclear tests, it will be some time before similar pressures can be generate

Plasticity theory is widely used to describe the behaviour of soil and rock in many engineering situations. Plasticity and Geomechanics presents a concise introduction to the general subject of plasticity with a particular emphasis on applications in geomechanics. Derived from the authors' own lecture notes, this book is written with students firmly in mind. Excessive use of mathematical methods is avoided in the main body of the text and, where possible, physical interpretations are given for important concepts. In this way the authors present a clear introduction to the complex ideas and concepts of plasticity as well as demonstrating how this developing subject is of critical importance to geomechanics and geotechnical engineering. This book therefore complements Elasticity and Geomechanics by the same authors and will appeal to graduate students and researchers in the fields of soil mechanics, foundation engineering, and geomechanics.

The aim of this book is to develop the concepts and relations pertinent to the solution of many thermodynamic problems encountered in multi-phase, multi-component systems. In doing so, it emphasizes a comprehension and development of general expressions for solving such problems, rather than ready-made equations for particular applications. Throughout the book, the methods of Gibbs are used with emphasis on the chemical potential. Many topics omitted in more elementary texts are amply discussed defining the state of a thermodynamic system, particularly the indifferent systems; the use of the Gibbs-Duhem equation in single-phase and multi-phase component systems; the conditions of stability for single-phase and multi-phase component systems; and the graphical representation of the thermodynamic functions. Special attention is given to reference and standard states. The material is presented in a rigorous and mathematical manner, and SI units are used throughout. A detailed bibliography

The book provides an extensive theoretical treatment of whistler-mode propagation, instabilities and damping in a collisionless plasma. This book fills a gap between oversimplified analytical studies of these waves, based on the cold plasma approximation, and studies based on numerical methods. Although the book is primarily addressed to space plasma physicists and radio physicists, it will also prove useful to laboratory plasma physicists. Mathematical methods described in the book can be applied in a straightforward way to the analysis of other types of plasma waves. Problems included in this book, along with their solutions, allow it to be used as a textbook for postgraduate students.

This book presents a functional approach to the construction, use and approximation of Green's functions and their associated ordered exponentials. After a brief historical introduction, the author discusses new solutions to problems involving particle production in crossed laser fields and non-constant electric fields. Applications to problems in potential theory and quantum field theory are covered, along with approximations for the treatment of color fluctuations in high-energy QCD scattering, and a model for summing classes of eikonal graphs in high-energy scattering problems. The book also presents a variant of the Fradkin representation which suggests a new non-perturbative approximation scheme, and provides a qualitative measure of the error involved in each such approximation. Covering the basics as well as more advanced applications, this book is suitable for graduate students and researchers in a wide range of fields, including quantum field theory, fluid dynamics and applied

The quantitative analysis of biological sequence data is based on methods from statistics coupled with efficient algorithms from computer science. Algebra provides a framework for unifying many of the seemingly disparate techniques used by computational biologists. This book, first published in 2005, offers an introduction to this mathematical framework and describes tools from computational algebra for designing new algorithms for exact, accurate results. These algorithms can be applied to biological problems such as aligning genomes, finding genes and constructing phylogenies. The first part of this book consists of four chapters on the themes of Statistics, Computation, Algebra and Biology, offering speedy, self-contained introductions to the emerging field of algebraic statistics and its applications to genomics. In the second part, the four themes are combined and developed to tackle real problems in computational genomics. As the first book in the exciting and dynamic area, it wi

Composites are used extensively in engineering applications. A constant concern is the effect of foreign object impacts on composite structures because significant damage can occur and yet be undetectable by visual inspection. Such impacts can range from the most ordinary at low velocity - a tool dropped on a product - to the hypervelocity impact of space debris on a spacecraft. This book explains how damage develops during impact, the effect of impact-induced damage on the mechanical behavior of structures, and methods of damage prediction and detection. Numerous examples are included to illustrate these topics. Written for graduate students, as well as researchers and practising engineers working with composite materials, this book presents state-of-the-art knowledge on impact dynamics while requiring only basic understanding of the mechanics of composite materials.

Quantum mechanics has evolved from a subject of study in pure physics to one with a wide range of applications in many diverse fields. The basic concepts of quantum mechanics are explained in this book in a concise and easy-to-read manner, leading toward applications in solid-state electronics and optics. Following a logical sequence, the book focuses on key ideas and is conceptually and mathematically self-contained. The fundamental principles of quantum mechanics are illustrated by showing their application to systems such as the hydrogen atom, multi-electron ions and atoms, the formation of simple organic molecules and crystalline solids of practical importance. It leads on from these basic concepts to discuss some of the most significant applications in semiconductor electronics and optics. Containing many homework problems, the book is suitable for senior-level undergraduate and graduate-level students in electrical engineering, material sciences, applied physics and chemistry.

This graduate level text presents the first comprehensive overview of modern chemical valency and bonding theory, written by internationally recognised experts in the field. The authors build on the foundation of Lewis- and Pauling-like localized structural and hybridization concepts to present a book that is directly based on current ab-initio computational technology. The presentation is highly visual and intuitive throughout, based on the recognizable and transferable graphical forms of natural bond orbitals (NBOs) and their spatial overlaps in the molecular environment. The book shows applications to a broad range of molecular and supramolecular species of organic, inorganic and bioorganic interest. Hundreds of orbital illustrations help to convey the essence of modern NBO concepts for those with no extensive background in the mathematical machinery of the Schrödinger equation. This book will appeal to those studying chemical bonding in relation to chemistry, chemical engineering,

This book provides a self-contained introduction to cellular automata and lattice Boltzmann techniques. Beginning with a chapter introducing the basic concepts of this developing field, a second chapter describes methods used in cellular automata modeling. Following chapters discuss the statistical mechanics of lattice gases, diffusion phenomena, reaction-diffusion processes and non-equilibrium phase transitions. A final chapter looks at other models and applications, such as wave propagation and multiparticle fluids. With a pedagogic approach, the volume focuses on the use of cellular automata in the framework of equilibrium and non-equilibrium statistical physics. It also emphasises application-oriented problems such as fluid dynamics and pattern formation. The book contains many examples and problems. A glossary and a detailed bibliography are also included. This will be a valuable book for graduate students and researchers working in statistical physics, solid state physics, chemic

Mathability gives students the experience and ability to analyze and solve real-life mathematical problems, and explain their methods of arriving at the solution. Mathability is an excellent resource

The second volume of this comprehensive treatise focusses on Buchberger theory and its application to the algorithmic view of commutative algebra. In distinction to other works, the presentation here is based on the intrinsic linear algebra structure of Groebner bases, and thus elementary considerations lead easily to the state-of-the-art in issues of implementation. The same language describes the applications of Groebner technology to the central problems of commutative algebra. The book can be also used as a reference on elementary ideal theory and a source for the state-of-the-art in its algorithmization. Aiming to provide a complete survey on Groebner bases and their applications, the author also includes advanced aspects of Buchberger theory, such as the complexity of the algorithm, Galligo's theorem, the optimality of degrevlex, the Gianni-Kalkbrener theorem, the FGLM algorithm, and so on. Thus it will be essential for all workers in commutative algebra, computational algebra an

Recent advances in computational power are now enabling scientists to consider problems of population dynamics at an advanced level. The small bodies of our solar system, the planets around other stars, dust belts, space debris, etc., need to be understood as a a whole, with their collective dynamical evolution, stability and instability, order and chaos, aggregations and impacts. Important results on specific populations of celestial bodies, in addition to new methods of computation and analysis, have been obtained in the last few years. Scientists from 21 countries convened for the Colloquium "Dynamics of Populations of Planetary Systems", sponsored by the International Astronomical Union, in Belgrade (Serbia and Monte Negro). This proceedings volume reviews current understanding of the field, and is a valuable resource for professional astronomers and planetary scientists.

What is the relationship between fear, danger, and the law? Cass Sunstein attacks the increasingly influential Precautionary Principle - the idea that regulators should take steps to protect against potential harms, even if causal chains are uncertain and even if we do not know that harms are likely to come to fruition. Focusing on such problems as global warming, terrorism, DDT, and genetic engineering, Professor Sunstein argues that the Precautionary Principle is incoherent. Risks exist on all sides of social situations, and precautionary steps create dangers of their own. Diverse cultures focus on very different risks, often because social influences and peer pressures accentuate some fears and reduce others. Instead of adopting the Precautionary Principle, Professor Sunstein argues for three steps: a narrow Anti-Catastrophe Principle, designed for the most serious risks; close attention to costs and benefits; and an approach called 'libertarian paternalism', designed to respect fre