Applied Calculus Of Variations For Engineers

The purpose of the calculus of variations is to find optimal solutions to engineering problems whose optimum may be a certain quantity, shape, or function. Applied Calculus of Variations for Engineers addresses this important mathematical area applicable to many engineering disciplines. Its unique, application-oriented approach sets it apart from the theoretical treatises of most texts, as it is aimed at enhancing the engineer’s understanding of the topic. This Second Edition text: Contains new chapters discussing analytic solutions of variational problems and Lagrange-Hamilton equations of motion in depth Provides new sections detailing the boundary integral and finite element methods and their calculation techniques Includes enlightening new examples, such as the compression of a beam, the optimal cross section of beam under bending force, the solution of Laplace’s equation, and Poisson’s equation with various methods Applied Calculus of Variations for Engineers, Second Edition extends the collection of techniques aiding the engineer in the application of the concepts of the calculus of variations.

Calculus of variations has a long history. Its fundamentals were laid down by icons of mathematics like Euler and Lagrange. It was once heralded as the panacea for all engineering optimization problems by suggesting that all one needed to do was to state a variational problem, apply the appropriate Euler-Lagrange equation and solve the resulting differential equation. This, as most all encompassing solutions, turned out to be not always true and the resulting differential equations are not necessarily easy to solve. On the other hand, many of the differential equations commonly used in various fields of engineering are derived from a variational problem. Hence it is an extremely important topic justifying the new edition of this book. This third edition extends the focus of the book to academia and supports both variational calculus and mathematical modeling classes. The newly added sections, extended explanations, numerous examples and exercises aid the students in learning, the professors in teaching, and the engineers in applying variational concepts.

This text is basically divided into two parts. Chapters 1–4 include background material, basic theorems and isoperimetric problems. Chapters 5–12 are devoted to applications, geometrical optics, particle dynamics, the theory of elasticity, electrostatics, quantum mechanics, and other topics. Exercises in each chapter. 1952 edition.

The subject of calculus of variations is to find optimal solutions to engineering problems where the optimum may be a certain quantity, a shape, or a function. Applied Calculus of Variations for Engineers addresses this very important mathematical area applicable to many engineering disciplines. Its unique, application-oriented approach sets it apa

The purpose of the calculus of variations is to find optimal solutions to engineering problems whose optimum may be a certain quantity, shape, or function. Applied Calculus of Variations for Engineers addresses this important mathematical area applicable to many engineering disciplines. Its unique, application-oriented approach sets it apart from the theoretical treatises of most texts, as it is aimed at enhancing the engineer’s understanding of the topic. This Second Edition text: Contains new chapters discussing analytic solutions of variational problems and Lagrange-Hamilton equations of motion in depth Provides new sections detailing the boundary integral and finite element methods and their calculation techniques Includes enlightening new examples, such as the compression of a beam, the optimal cross section of beam under bending force, the solution of Laplace’s equation, and Poisson’s equation with various methods Applied Calculus of Variations for Engineers, Second Edition extends the collection of techniques aiding the engineer in the application of the concepts of the calculus of variations.

Calculus of variations has a long history. Its fundamentals were laid down by icons of mathematics like Euler and Lagrange. It was once heralded as the panacea for all engineering optimization problems by suggesting that all one needed to do was to state a variational problem, apply the appropriate Euler-Lagrange equation and solve the resulting differential equation. This, as most all encompassing solutions, turned out to be not always true and the resulting differential equations are not necessarily easy to solve. On the other hand, many of the differential equations commonly used in various fields of engineering are derived from a variational problem. Hence it is an extremely important topic justifying the new edition of this book. This third edition extends the focus of the book to academia and supports both variational calculus and mathematical modeling classes. The newly added sections, extended explanations, numerous examples and exercises aid the students in learning, the professors in teaching, and the engineers in applying variational concepts.

International Series in Pure and Applied Mathematics WILLIAM TED MARTIN. CALCULUS OF VARIATIONS. PREFACE: There seems to have been published, up to the present time, no English language volume in which an elementary introduction to the calculus of variations is followed by extensive application of the subject to problems of physics and theoretical engineering. The present volume is offered as partial fulfillment of the need for such a book. Thus its chief purpose is twofold: ( i) To provide for the senior or first-year graduate student in mathe matics, science, or engineering an introduction to the ideas and techniques of the calculus of variations. ( The material of the first seven chapters with selected topics from the later chapters has been used several times as the subject matter of a 10-week course in the Mathematics Department at Stanford University.) ( ii) To illustrate the application of the calculus of variations in several fields outside the realm of pure mathematics. ( By far the greater emphasis is placed upon this second aspect of the book's purpose.) The range of topics considered may be determined at a glance in the table of contents. Mention here of some of the more significant omis sions may be pertinent: The vague, mechanical d method is avoided throughout. Thus, while no advantage is taken of a sometimes convenient shorthand tactic, there is eliminated a source of confusion which often grips the careful student when confronted with its use. No attempt is made to treat problems of sufficiency or existence: no consideration is taken of the second variation or of the conditions of Legendrc, Jacobi, and Weicrstrass. Besides being outside the scope of the chief aim of this book, these matters are excellently treated in the volumes of Bolza and Bliss listed in the Bibliography. Expansion theorems for the eigenfunctions associated with certain boundary-value problems are stated without proof. The proofs, beyond the scope of this volume, can be constructed, in most instances, on the basis of the theory of integral equations. Space limitations prevent inclusion of such topics as perturbation theory, heat flow, hydrodynamics, torsion and buckling of bars, Schwingcr's treatment of atomic scattering, and others. However, the reader who has mastered the essence of the material included should have little difficulty in applying the calculus of variations to most of the subjects which have been squeezed out.

Calculus of Variations aims to provide an understanding of the basic notions and standard methods of the calculus of variations, including the direct methods of solution of the variational problems. The wide variety of applications of variational methods to different fields of mechanics and technology has made it essential for engineers to learn the fundamentals of the calculus of variations. The book begins with a discussion of the method of variation in problems with fixed boundaries. Subsequent chapters cover variational problems with movable boundaries and some other problems; sufficiency conditions for an extremum; variational problems of constrained extrema; and direct methods of solving variational problems. Each chapter is illustrated by a large number of problems some of which are taken from existing textbooks. The solutions to the problems in each chapter are provided at the end of the book.