Modern Tools to Perform Numerical DifferentiationThe original direct differential quadrature (DQ) method has been known to fail for problems with strong nonlinearity and material discontinuity as well as for problems involving singularity, irregularity, and multiple scales. But now researchers in applied mathematics, computational mechanics, and en

In the past few years, the differential quadrature method has been applied extensively in engineering. This book, aimed primarily at practising engineers, scientists and graduate students, gives a systematic description of the mathematical fundamentals of differential quadrature and its detailed implementation in solving Helmholtz problems and problems of flow, structure and vibration. Differential quadrature provides a global approach to numerical discretization, which approximates the derivatives by a linear weighted sum of all the functional values in the whole domain. Following the analysis of function approximation and the analysis of a linear vector space, it is shown in the book that the weighting coefficients of the polynomial-based, Fourier expansion-based, and exponential-based differential quadrature methods can be computed explicitly. It is also demonstrated that the polynomial-based differential quadrature method is equivalent to the highest-order finite difference scheme. Furthermore, the relationship between differential quadrature and conventional spectral collocation is analysed. The book contains material on: - Linear Vector Space Analysis and the Approximation of a Function; - Polynomial-, Fourier Expansion- and Exponential-based Differential Quadrature; - Differential Quadrature Weighting Coefficient Matrices; - Solution of Differential Quadrature-resultant Equations; - The Solution of Incompressible Navier-Stokes and Helmholtz Equations; - Structural and Vibrational Analysis Applications; - Generalized Integral Quadrature and its Application in the Solution of Boundary Layer Equations. Three FORTRAN programs for simulation of driven cavity flow, vibration analysis of plate and Helmholtz eigenvalue problems respectively, are appended. These sample programs should give the reader a better understanding of differential quadrature and can easily be modified to solve the readers own engineering problems.

Examines numerical and semi-analytical methods for differential equations that can be used for solving practical ODEs and PDEs This student-friendly book deals with various approaches for solving differential equations numerically or semi-analytically depending on the type of equations and offers simple example problems to help readers along. Featuring both traditional and recent methods, Advanced Numerical and Semi Analytical Methods for Differential Equations begins with a review of basic numerical methods. It then looks at Laplace, Fourier, and weighted residual methods for solving differential equations. A new challenging method of Boundary Characteristics Orthogonal Polynomials (BCOPs) is introduced next. The book then discusses Finite Difference Method (FDM), Finite Element Method (FEM), Finite Volume Method (FVM), and Boundary Element Method (BEM). Following that, analytical/semi analytic methods like Akbari Ganji's Method (AGM) and Exp-function are used to solve nonlinear differential equations. Nonlinear differential equations using semi-analytical methods are also addressed, namely Adomian Decomposition Method (ADM), Homotopy Perturbation Method (HPM), Variational Iteration Method (VIM), and Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM). Other topics covered include: emerging areas of research related to the solution of differential equations based on differential quadrature and wavelet approach; combined and hybrid methods for solving differential equations; as well as an overview of fractal differential equations. Further, uncertainty in term of intervals and fuzzy numbers have also been included, along with the interval finite element method. This book: Discusses various methods for solving linear and nonlinear ODEs and PDEs Covers basic numerical techniques for solving differential equations along with various discretization methods Investigates nonlinear differential equations using semi-analytical methods Examines differential equations in an uncertain environment Includes a new scenario in which uncertainty (in term of intervals and fuzzy numbers) has been included in differential equations Contains solved example problems, as well as some unsolved problems for self-validation of the topics covered Advanced Numerical and Semi Analytical Methods for Differential Equations is an excellent text for graduate as well as post graduate students and researchers studying various methods for solving differential equations, numerically and semi-analytically.

The main aim of this book is to analyze the mathematical fundamentals and the main features of the Generalized Differential Quadrature (GDQ) and Generalized Integral Quadrature (GIQ) techniques. Furthermore, another interesting aim of the present book is to shown that from the two numerical techniques mentioned above it is possible to derive two different approaches such as the Strong and Weak Finite Element Methods (SFEM and WFEM), that will be used to solve various structural problems and arbitrarily shaped structures. A general approach to the Differential Quadrature is proposed. The weighting coefficients for different basis functions and grid distributions are determined. Furthermore, the expressions of the principal approximating polynomials and grid distributions, available in the literature, are shown. Besides the classic orthogonal polynomials, a new class of basis functions, which depend on the radial distance between the discretization points, is presented. They are known as Radial Basis Functions (or RBFs). The general expressions for the derivative evaluation can be utilized in the local form to reduce the computational cost. From this concept the Local Generalized Differential Quadrature (LGDQ) method is derived. The Generalized Integral Quadrature (GIQ) technique can be used employing several basis functions, without any restriction on the point distributions for the given definition domain. To better underline these concepts some classical numerical integration schemes are reported, such as the trapezoidal rule or the Simpson method. An alternative approach based on Taylor series is also illustrated to approximate integrals. This technique is named as Generalized Taylor-based Integral Quadrature (GTIQ) method. The major structural theories for the analysis of the mechanical behavior of various structures are presented in depth in the book. In particular, the strong and weak formulations of the corresponding governing equations are discussed and illustrated. Generally speaking, two formulations of the same system of governing equations can be developed, which are respectively the strong and weak (or variational) formulations. Once the governing equations that rule a generic structural problem are obtained, together with the corresponding boundary conditions, a differential system is written. In particular, the Strong Formulation (SF) of the governing equations is obtained. The differentiability requirement, instead, is reduced through a weighted integral statement if the corresponding Weak Formulation (WF) of the governing equations is developed. Thus, an equivalent integral formulation is derived, starting directly from the previous one. In particular, the formulation in hand is obtained by introducing a Lagrangian approximation of the degrees of freedom of the problem. The need of studying arbitrarily shaped domains or characterized by mechanical and geometrical discontinuities leads to the development of new numerical approaches that divide the structure in finite elements. Then, the strong form or the weak form of the fundamental equations are solved inside each element. The fundamental aspects of this technique, which the author defined respectively Strong Formulation Finite Element Method (SFEM) and Weak Formulation Finite Element Method (WFEM), are presented in the book.

In the past few years, the differential quadrature (DQ) method has been extensively applied in engineering. This book gives a systematic description of the mathematical fundamentals for the DQ method and its detailed implementation in solving the flow, structural, as well as Helmholtz problems. The DQ method is a global approach for numerical discretization, which approximates the derivatives by a linear wighted sum of all the functional values in the whole domain. Following the analysis of function approximation and the analysis of a linear vector space, it is shown in the book that the weighting coefficients of the polynomial-based, Fourier expansion-based, and the exponential-based DQ methods can be computed explicitly. It is also demonstrated that the polynomial-based DQ method is equivalent to the highest order finite difference scheme. Furthermore, the relationship between the DQ method and the conventional spectral collocation method is analyzed. Three FORTRAN programs are attached respectively for simulation of driven cavity flow, vibration analysis of plate, and Helmholtz eigenvalue problem. It is believed that through the three sample programs, the readers can understand the DQ method better and can easily modify the programs to solve their own engineering problems.

This book aims to present in depth several Higher-order Shear Deformation Theories (HSDTs) by means of a unified approach for the mechanical analysis of doubly-curved shell structures made of anisotropic and composite materials. In particular, the strong and weak formulations of the corresponding governing equations are discussed and illustrated. The approach presented in this volume is completely general and represents a valid tool to investigate the structural behavior of many arbitrarily shaped structures. An isogeometric mapping procedure is also illustrated to this aim. Special attention is given also to advanced and innovative constituents, such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), Variable Angle Tow (VAT) composites and Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). In addition, several numerical applications are developed to support the theoretical models. Accurate, efficient and reliable numerical techniques able to approximate both derivatives and integrals are presented, which are respectively the Differential Quadrature (DQ) and Integral Quadrature (IQ) methods. Finally, two numerical techniques, named Strong Formulation Finite Element Method (SFEM) and Weak Formulation Finite Element Method (WFEM), are developed to deal with multi-element domains characterized by arbitrary shapes and discontinuities.

This book aims to present in depth several Higher-order Shear Deformation Theories (HSDTs) by means of a unified approach for studying the Hygro-Thermo-Magneto-Electro- Elastic Theory of Anisotropic Doubly-Curved Shells. In particular, a general coupled multifield theory regarding anisotropic shell structures is provided. The three-dimensional multifield problem is reduced in a two-dimensional one following the principles of the Equivalent Single Layer (ESL) approach and the Equivalent Layer-Wise (ELW) approach, setting a proper configuration model. According to the adopted configuration assumptions, several Higher-order Shear Deformation Theories (HSDTs) are obtained. Furthermore, the strong and weak formulations of the corresponding governing equations are discussed and illustrated. The approach presented in this volume is completely general and represents a valid tool to investigate the physical behavior of many arbitrarily shaped structures. An isogeometric mapping procedure is also illustrated to this aim. Special attention is given also to advanced and innovative constituents, such as Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs), Variable Angle Tow (VAT) composites and Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs). In addition, several numerical applications are used to support the theoretical models. Accurate, efficient and reliable numerical techniques able to approximate both derivatives and integrals are considered, which are respectively the Differential Quadrature (DQ) and Integral Quadrature (IQ) methods. The Theory of Composite Thin Shells is derived in a simple and intuitive manner from the theory of thick and moderately thick shells (First-order Shear Deformation Theory or Reissner- Mindlin Theory). In particular, the Kirchhoff-Love Theory and the Membrane Theory for composite shells are shown. Furthermore, the Theory of Composite Arches and Beams is also exposed. In particular, the equations of the Timoshenko Theory and the Euler-Bernoulli Theory are directly deducted from the equations of singly-curved shells of translation and of plates.