Classical Mechanics: A Computational Approach, Fall 2002

Abstract:: Classical mechanics in a computational framework. Lagrangian formulation. Action, variational principles. Hamilton's principle. Conserved quantities. Hamiltonian formulation. Surfaces of section. Chaos. Liouville's theorem and Poincar, integral invariants. Poincar,-Birkhoff and KAM theorems. Invariant curves. Cantori. Nonlinear resonances. Resonance overlap and transition to chaos. Properties of chaotic motion. Transport, diffusion, mixing. Symplectic integration. Adiabatic invariants. Many-dimensional systems, Arnold diffusion. Extensive use of computation to capture methods, for simulation, and for symbolic analysis.

Dynamics, Fall 2004

Abstract:: Momentum principles and energy principles. Lagrange's equations, Hamilton's principle. Applications to mechanical systems including gyroscopic effects. Study of steady motions and nature of small deviations therefrom. Natural modes and natural frequencies for continuous and lumped parameter systems. Forced vibrations. Dynamic stability theory. Causes of instability. This course reviews momentum and energy principles, and then covers the following topics: Hamilton's principle and Lagrange's equations; three-dimensional kinematics and dynamics of rigid bodies; steady motions and small deviations therefrom, gyroscopic effects, and causes of instability; free and forced vibrations of lumped-parameter and continuous systems; nonlinear oscillations and the phase plane; nonholonomic systems; and an introduction to wave propagation in continuous systems. This course was originally developed by Professor T. Akylas.

Abstract:: This course will the student provide a background in advanced methods of dynamics and their application to relevant problems in aerospace engineering. The course is given in lecture form, and includes various elaborated example problems relevant for aerospace engineering. course content: Principles of dynamics: Newton's laws, motion with respect to non-inertial reference frames, fictitious forces, conservative systems, phase portraits, virtual work. Lagrangian dynamics: Generalised coordinates, constraints, generalised momenta, generalised forces, Lagrange equations of motion, Lagrangian function, conservative and dissipative systems, constraint forces, Lagrange multipliers, integrals of motion, Jacobi energy function, ignorable coordinates, steady motion. Stability: Definitions, stability of linearised systems, application to general problems and steady motion. Variational analysis: Extrema of integral functionals, Euler-Lagrange equation, essential and natural boundary conditions, Hamilton's principle. Dynamics of rotating bodies: Kinematics, inertia tensor, Euler's equations of motion, moment-free motion, Euler angles, gyrodynamics, steady precession.