F. dell'Isola, L. Placidi: Variational principles are a powerful tool also for formulating field theories. - F. dell'Isola, P. Seppecher, A. Madeo: Beyond Euler-Cauchy Continua. The structure of contact actions in N-th gradient generalized continua: a generalization of the Cauchy tetrahedron argument. - B. Bourdin, G.A. Francfort: Fracture. - S. Gavrilyuk: Multiphase flow modeling via Hamilton's principle. - V. L. Berdichevsky: Introduction to stochastic variational problems. - A. Carcaterra: New concepts in damping generation and control: theoretical formulation and industrial applications. - F. dell'Isola, P. Seppecher, A. Madeo: Fluid shock wave generation at solid-material discontinuity surfaces in porous media. Variational methods give an efficient and elegant way to formulate and solve mathematical problems that are of interest to scientists and engineers. In this book three fundamental aspects of the variational formulation of mechanics will be presented: physical, mathematical and applicative ones. The first aspect concerns the investigation of the nature of real physical problems with the aim of finding the best variational formulation suitable to those problems. The second aspect is the study of the well-posedeness of those mathematical problems which need to be solved in order to draw previsions from the formulated models. And the third aspect is related to the direct application of variational analysis to solve real engineering problems.

Fluid-Solid Interaction Dynamics: Theory, Variational Principles, Numerical Methods and Applications gives a comprehensive accounting of fluid-solid interaction dynamics, including theory, numerical methods and their solutions for various FSI problems in engineering. The title provides the fundamental theories, methodologies and results developed in the application of FSI dynamics. Four numerical approaches that can be used with almost all integrated FSI systems in engineering are presented. Methods are linked with examples to illustrate results. In addition, numerical results are compared with available experiments or numerical data in order to demonstrate the accuracy of the approaches and their value to engineering applications. The title gives readers the state-of-the-art in theory, variational principles, numerical modeling and applications for fluid-solid interaction dynamics. Readers will be able to independently formulate models to solve their engineering FSI problems using information from this book. Presents the state-of-the-art in fluid-solid interaction dynamics, providing theory, method and results Takes an integrated approach to formulate, model and simulate FSI problems in engineering Illustrates results with concrete examples Gives four numerical approaches and related theories that are suitable for almost all integrated FSI systems Provides the necessary information for bench scientists to independently formulate, model, and solve physical FSI problems in engineering

We consider the application of least-squares variational principles and the finite element method to the numerical solution of boundary value problems arising in the fields of solid and fluid mechanics. For manyof these problems least-squares principles offer many theoretical and computational advantages in the implementation of the corresponding finite element model that are not present in the traditional weak form Galerkin finite element model. Most notably, the use of least-squares principles leads to a variational unconstrained minimization problem where stability conditions such as inf-sup conditions (typically arising in mixed methods using weak form Galerkin finite element formulations) never arise. In addition, the least-squares based finite element model always yields a discrete system of equations with a symmetric positive definite coefficient matrix. These attributes, amongst many others highlighted and detailed in this work, allow the development of robust and efficient finite element models for problems of practical importance. The research documented herein encompasses least-squares based formulations for incompressible and compressible viscous fluid flow, the bending of thin and thick plates, and for the analysis of shear-deformable shell structures.

Introduces readers to the fundamentals and applications of variational formulations in mechanics Nearly 40 years in the making, this book provides students with the foundation material of mechanics using a variational tapestry. It is centered around the variational structure underlying the Method of Virtual Power (MVP). The variational approach to the modeling of physical systems is the preferred approach to address complex mathematical modeling of both continuum and discrete media. This book provides a unified theoretical framework for the construction of a wide range of multiscale models. Introduction to the Variational Formulation in Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications enables readers to develop, on top of solid mathematical (variational) bases, and following clear and precise systematic steps, several models of physical systems, including problems involving multiple scales. It covers: Vector and Tensor Algebra; Vector and Tensor Analysis; Mechanics of Continua; Hyperelastic Materials; Materials Exhibiting Creep; Materials Exhibiting Plasticity; Bending of Beams; Torsion of Bars; Plates and Shells; Heat Transfer; Incompressible Fluid Flow; Multiscale Modeling; and more. A self-contained reader-friendly approach to the variational formulation in the mechanics Examines development of advanced variational formulations in different areas within the field of mechanics using rather simple arguments and explanations Illustrates application of the variational modeling to address hot topics such as the multiscale modeling of complex material behavior Presentation of the Method of Virtual Power as a systematic tool to construct mathematical models of physical systems gives readers a fundamental asset towards the architecture of even more complex (or open) problems Introduction to the Variational Formulation in Mechanics: Fundamentals and Applications is a ideal book for advanced courses in engineering and mathematics, and an excellent resource for researchers in engineering, computational modeling, and scientific computing.

There is a resurgence of applications in which the calculus of variations has direct relevance. In addition to application to solid mechanics and dynamics, it is now being applied in a variety of numerical methods, numerical grid generation, modern physics, various optimization settings and fluid dynamics. Many applications, such as nonlinear optimal control theory applied to continuous systems, have only recently become tractable computationally, with the advent of advanced algorithms and large computer systems. This book reflects the strong connection between calculus of variations and the applications for which variational methods form the fundamental foundation. The mathematical fundamentals of calculus of variations (at least those necessary to pursue applications) is rather compact and is contained in a single chapter of the book. The majority of the text consists of applications of variational calculus for a variety of fields.

The book examines innovative numerical methods for computational solid and fluid mechanics that can be used to model complex problems in engineering. It also presents innovative and promising simulation methods, including the fundamentals of these methods, as well as advanced topics and complex applications. Further, the book explores how numerical simulations can significantly reduce the number of time-consuming and expensive experiments required, and can support engineering decisions by providing data that would be very difficult, if not impossible, to obtain experimentally. It also includes chapters covering topics such as particle methods addressing particle-based materials and numerical methods that are based on discrete element formulations; fictitious domain methods; phase field models; computational fluid dynamics based on modern finite volume schemes; hybridizable discontinuous Galerkin methods; and non-intrusive coupling methods for structural models.

This book presents new research results in multidisciplinary fields of mathematical and numerical modelling in mechanics. The chapters treat the topics: mathematical modelling in solid, fluid and contact mechanics nonconvex variational analysis with emphasis to nonlinear solid and structural mechanics numerical modelling of problems with non-smooth constitutive laws, approximation of variational and hemivariational inequalities, numerical analysis of discrete schemes, numerical methods and the corresponding algorithms, applications to mechanical engineering numerical aspects of non-smooth mechanics, with emphasis on developing accurate and reliable computational tools mechanics of fibre-reinforced materials behaviour of elasto-plastic materials accounting for the microstructural defects definition of structural defects based on the differential geometry concepts or on the atomistic basis interaction between phase transformation and dislocations at nano-scale energetic arguments bifurcation and post-buckling analysis of elasto-plastic structures engineering optimization and design, global optimization and related algorithms The book presents selected papers presented at ETAMM 2016. It includes new and original results written by internationally recognized specialists.