Energy Principles and Variational Methods in Applied Mechanics

J. N. Reddy

John Wiley & Sons, Aug 9, 2002 - Science - 592 pages

A systematic presentation of energy principles and variational methods

The increasing use of numerical and computational methods in engineering and applied sciences has shed new light on the importance of energy principles and variational methods. Energy Principles and Variational Methods in Applied Mechanics provides a systematic and practical introduction to the use of energy principles, traditional variational methods, and the finite element method to the solution of engineering problems involving bars, beams, torsion, plane elasticity, and plates.

Beginning with a review of the basic equations of mechanics and the concepts of work, energy, and topics from variational calculus, this book presents the virtual work and energy principles, energy methods of solid and structural mechanics, Hamilton’s principle for dynamical systems, and classical variational methods of approximation. A unified approach, more general than that found in most solid mechanics books, is used to introduce the finite element method. Also discussed are applications to beams and plates.

Complete with more than 200 illustrations and tables, Energy Principles and Variational Methods in Applied Mechanics, Second Edition is a valuable book for students of aerospace, civil, mechanical, and applied mechanics; and engineers in design and analysis groups in the aircraft, automobile, and civil engineering structures, as well as shipbuilding industries.

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One of the very useful and well-organised books with mathematical concepts for those who wish to specialize in the field of mechanics

Contents

• MATHEMATICAL PRELIMINARIES: 8
• ViM CONTENTS: 36
• REVIEW OF EQUATIONS OF SOLID MECHANICS: 48
• WORK ENERGY AND VARIATIONAL CALCULUS: 79
• ENERGY PRINCIPLES OF STRUCTURAL MECHANICS: 133
• HAMILTONS PRINCIPLE: 177
• DIRECT VARIATIONAL METHODS: 204
• References: 297
• References: 430
• References: 499
• Stationary Variational Principles: 506
• l The EulerBernoulli Beam Theory: 517
• Closure: 539
• ANSWERSSOLUTIONS TO SELECTED PROBLEMS: 544
• INDEX: 583

About the author

J. N. REDDY, PhD, is University Distinguished Professor and inaugural holder of the Oscar S. Wyatt Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University in College Station. He has authored and coauthored several books, including Energy and Variational Methods in Applied Mechanics, Advanced Engineering Analysis (with M. L. Rasmussen), and A Mathematical Theory of Finite Elements (with J. T. Oden), all published by Wiley.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Energy Principles and Variational Methods in Applied Mechanics
• Author: J. N. Reddy
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 2002
• ISBN: 047117985X, 9780471179856
• Length: 592 pages
• Subjects: Science / Mechanics / General; Technology & Engineering / Drafting & Mechanical Drawing; Technology & Engineering / Environmental / General; Technology & Engineering / Mechanical