Advanced engineering dynamics

Analytical Mechanics is the investigation of motion with the rigorous tools of mathematics. Rooted in the works of Lagrange, Euler, Poincare (to mention just a few), it is a very classical subject with fascinating developments and still rich of open problems. It addresses such fundamental questions as : Is the solar system stable? Is there a unifying 'economy' principle in mechanics? How can a point mass be described as a 'wave'? And has remarkable applications to many branches of physics (Astronomy, Statistical mechanics, Quantum Mechanics). This book was written to fill a gap between elementary expositions and more advanced (and clearly more stimulating) material. It takes up the challenge to explain the most relevant ideas (generally highly non-trivial) and to show the most important applications using a plain language and 'simple' mathematics, often through an original approach. Basic calculus is enough for the reader to proceed through the book. New mathematical concepts are fully introduced and illustrated in a simple, student-friendly language. More advanced chapters can be omitted while still following the main ideas. Anybody wishing to go deeper in some direction will find at least the flavor of recent developments and many bibliographical references. The theory is always accompanied by examples. Many problems are suggested and some are completely worked out at the end of each chapter. The book may effectively be used (and has been used at several Italian Universities) for undergraduate as well as for PhD courses in Physics and Mathematics at various levels This text offers a clear and refreshing exposition of the dynamics of mechanical systems from an engineering perspective. The author thoroughly covers basic concepts and applies them in a systematic manner to solve problems in mechanical systems with applications to engineering. Numerous illustrative examples accompany all theoretical discussions, and each chapter offers a wealth of homework problems. The treatment of the kinematics of particles and rigid bodies is extensive. In this new edition the author has revised and reorganized sections to enhance understanding of physical principles, and he has modified and added examples, as well as homework problems. The new edition also contains a thorough development of computational methods for solving the differential equations of motion for constrained systems. Seniors and graduate students in engineering will find this book to be extremely useful. Solutions manual available. This text offers a clear and refreshing exposition of the dynamics of mechanical systems from an engineering perspective. Basic concepts are thoroughly covered, then applied in a systematic manner to solve problems in mechanical systems that have recognisable applications to engineering practice. All theoretical discussions are accompanied by numerous illustrative examples, and each chapter offers a wealth of homework problems. The treatment of the kinematics of particles and rigid bodies is extensive. In this new edition, the author has revised and reorganized sections to enhance understanding of physical principles, and he has modified and added examples, as well as homework problems. The new edition also contains a thorough development of computational methods for solving the differential equations of motion for constrained systems Ch. 1. Basic Considerations -- Ch. 2. Particle Kinematics -- Ch. 3. Relative Motion -- Ch. 4. Kinematics Of Rigid Bodies -- Ch. 5. Newtonian Kinetics Of A Rigid Body -- Ch. 6. Introduction To Analytical Mechanics -- Ch. 7. Further Concepts In Analytical Mechanics -- Ch. 8. Gyroscopic Effects -- Appendix Centroidal Inertia Properties. Jerry H. Ginsberg. Includes Index. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. The subject of dynamics is concerned with the relationship between the forces acting on a physical object and the motion that is produced by the force system.