Introduction To Lagrangian Dynamics

This volume provides a short summary of the essentials of Lagrangian dynamics for practicing engineers and students of physics and engineering. It examines a range of phenomena and techniques in a style that is compact and succinct, while remaining comprehensive. The book provides a review of classical mechanics and coverage of critical topics including holonomic and non-holonomic systems, virtual work, the principle of d'Alembert for dynamical systems, the mathematics of conservative forces, the extended Hamilton's principle, Lagrange's equations and Lagrangian dynamics, a systematic procedure for generalized forces, quasi-coordinates, and quasi-velocities, Lagrangian dynamics with quasi-coordinates, Professor Ranjan Vepa's approach and the Hamiltonian formulation. Adopting a step-by-step approach with examples throughout the book, this ready reference completely develops all of the relevant equations and is ideal for practicing mechanical, aeronautical, and civil engineers, physicists, and graduate/upper-level undergraduate students.

• Explains in detail the development of the theory behind Lagrangian dynamics in a practical fashion;
• Discusses virtual work, generalized forces, conservative forces, constraints, Extended Hamilton's Principle and the Hamiltonian formulation;
• Presents two different approaches to the quasi-velocity method for non-holonomic constraints;
• Reinforces concepts presented with illustrative examples;

• Includes comprehensive coverage of the important topics of classical mechanics.

  Explains in detail the development of the theory behind Lagrangian dynamics in a practical fashion Discusses virtual work, generalized forces, conservative forces, constraints, Extended Hamilton's Principle and the Hamiltonian formulation Presents two different approaches to the quasi-velocity method for non-holonomic constraints Reinforces concepts presented with illustrative examples Includes comprehensive coverage of the important topics of classical mechanics

  Autorentext
  Aron Wolf Pila is a retired electrical engineer most recently associated with the Israel Military Industries, Central Laboratory Division, Computational Mechanics and Simulation Group with over thirty one years of experience in simulations , modelling and control of mechanical and aerospace systems. A graduate with distinction of Concordia University in Montreal, Aron was awarded a National Research Council of Canada Scholarship for Academic Excellence and completed a Masters of Engineering degree at Concordia, specializing in Control System Design. He has written over twenty conference and journal publications chiefly in the area of H8 control system design. He has also edited three books viz.: "Quantitative Feedback Design of Linear and Nonlinear Control Systems", "Advances in Missile Guidance Theory" and "Optimal Control Theory with Aerospace Applications".

  Zusammenfassung
  "The book is well written and structured, it contains many very well done graphics, thus bringing value in this field." (Liviu Popescu, zbMATH 1475.70001, 2022)

  Inhalt

Introduction.- Lagrangian Dynamics Preliminaries.- Lagrangian Dynamics.- Quasi-Coordinates, and Quasi-Velocities.- Conclusions.