Mathematical Modelling of Solids with Nonregular Boundaries demonstrates the use of asymptotic methods and other analytical techniques for investigating problems in solid mechanics. Applications to solids with nonregular boundaries are described in detail, providing precise and rigorous treatment of current methods and techniques. The book addresses problems in fracture mechanics of inhomogeneous media and illustrates applications in strength analysis and in geophysics. The rigorous approach allows the reader to explicitly analyze the stress-strain state in continuous media with cavities or inclusions, in composite materials with small defects, and in elastic solids with sharp inclusions. Effective asymptotic procedures for eigenvalue problems in domains with small defects are clearly outlined, and methods for analyzing singularly perturbed boundary value problems are examined. Introductory material is provided in the first chapter of Mathematical Modelling of Solids with Nonregular Boundaries, which presents a survey of relevant and necessary information, including equations of linear elasticity and formulations of the boundary value problems. Background information - in the form of definitions and general solutions - is also provided on elasticity problems in various bounded and unbounded domains. This book is an excellent resource for students, applied scientists, and engineers.

Designing Innovations in Industrial Logistics Modelling describes practical methods for approaching the task of designing industrial logistics systems. It surveys the development of logistics models and their application in manufacturing to designing, planning, and implementing the movement of supplies, equipment, and products. This text/reference book discusses the combination of operation and production research to obtain solutions for designing and integrating advanced logistics systems. It provides the reader with a set of prescriptive and descriptive models and methods that have been developed exclusively for the purpose of designing, managing, and optimizing the architecture of such advanced systems. The design and application of new tools and methods is presented in such a way that emphasizes the competitiveness of manufacturing industries, and case studies are presented in a manner that demonstrates successful models and methods in advanced industrial logistics systems. In addition, Designing Innovations in Industrial Logistics Modelling explains the various formal tools and methodologies employed in evaluating new programs and covers program management and dynamic evaluation techniques.

This book presents the mathematical models applicable to manufacturing systems management, covering problems from production to real time control. It explores manufacturing systems from the viewpoints of both physical structure and performance measures. Two broad classes of mathematical models are covered in detail: Generative models, which yield a set of decision variables optimizing a performance measure, based on mathematical optimization Evaluative models, which evaluate some performance measures as a function of some predefined decision strategy. Within this class Petri Nets and Queueing Networks are discussed. Advanced Models for Manufacturing Systems Management describes dynamic systems modeling by state equations, a unifying framework for a wide variety of models. The text/reference stresses model building, but it examines model solving as well. Computational techniques are illustrated, such as linear programming, branch and bound methods, and dynamic programming. Particular emphasis is given to the development of heuristic methods from mathematical models. The book provides readers with valuable tools for management and design. The use of descriptive models within an optimization algorithm is considered. Numerous examples illustrate theoretical concepts throughout text. Appendices are given at the end of the book in order to recall fundamentals, such as linear programming and graph theory. Appendices also appear within each chapter. In this way, readers can follow the main reading path without getting involved with details; these appendices can be read at a later time. This textual structure makes this book particularly well suited for self-study. Advanced Models for Manufacturing Systems Management is beneficial reading for both students and practitioners.

Many environmental problems contain incomplete data in the initial or boundary conditions. How do we solve problems for which some of the initial and/or boundary conditions are unknown? Using a new technique, the sentinel method, this book answers these questions and others as they pertain to inverse problems in environmental pollution, such as pollution of underground and surface waters, thermal pollution, and air pollution.

Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium held in Liverpool, UK, 8-11 July 2002

Topology optimization of structures and composite materials is a new and rapidly expanding field of mechanics which now plays an ever-increasing role in most branches of technology, such as aerospace, mechanical, structural, civil and ma terials engineering, with important implications for energy production as well as building and environmental sciences. It is a truly "high-tech" field which requires advanced computer facilities and computational methods, whilst involving unusual theoretical considerations in pure mathematics. Topology optimization deals with some of the most difficult problems of mechanical sciences, but it is also of consid erable practical interest because it can achieve much greater savings than conven tional (sizing or shape) optimization. Extensive research into topology optimization is being carried out in most of the developed countries of the world. The workshop addressed the state of the art of the field, bringing together re searchers from a diversity of backgrounds (mathematicians, information scientists, aerospace, automotive, mechanical, structural and civil engineers) to span the full breadth and depth of the field and to outline future developments in research and avenues of cooperation between NATO and Partner countries. The program cov ered • theoretical (mathematical) developments, • computer algorithms, software development and computational difficulties, and • practical applications in various fields of technology. A novel feature of the workshop was that, in addition to shorter discussions after each lecture, a 30 minutes panel discussion took place in each sesssion, which made this ARW highly interactive and more informal.

Engineering systems have played a crucial role in stimulating many of the modern developments in nonlinear and stochastic dynamics. After 20 years of rapid progress in these areas, this book provides an overview of the current state of nonlinear modeling and analysis for mechanical and structural systems. This volume is a coherent compendium written by leading experts from the United States, Canada, Western and Eastern Europe, and Australia. The 22 articles describe the background, recent developments, applications, and future directions in bifurcation theory, chaos, perturbation methods, stochastic stability, stochastic flows, random vibrations, reliability, disordered systems, earthquake engineering, and numerics. The book gives readers a sophisticated toolbox that will allow them to tackle modeling problems in mechanical systems that use stochastic and nonlinear dynamics ideas. An extensive bibliography and index ensure this volume will remain a reference standard for years to come.