Numerical Methods for Nonlinear Engineering Models

The purpose of this book is to develop and illustrate various numerical computer based methods that can be used for engineering models and equations. The intended audience is the practicing engineer who needs to model real world engineering models or the upper level engineering undergraduate or first year graduate student interested in developing skills in computer models of engineering problems. The material is presented in a "learning by example" style whereby many examples are used to develop and illustrate concepts as opposed to extensive mathematical treatments. The book presents an integrated approach to engineering models whereby linear models are treated as simple special cases of more general approaches appropriate for nonlinear models. In addition to standard topics in numerical methods, the material covers the estimation of parameters associated with engineering models and the statistical nature of modeling with nonlinear models. Topics covered include coupled systems of nonlinear equations and coupled systems of nonlinear differential equations. This text emphasizes the general area of nonlinear engineering models with an in-depth discussion of computer algorithms for solving nonlinear problems coupled with appropriate examples of such nonlinear engineering problems. The present book is a balance of numerical theory applied to nonlinear or linear engineering models with many examples taken for typical engineering type problems. This book is for the engineer who wants to learn the basics of the theory but who wishes to rapidly get to solving real nonlinear engineering type problems with modern desktop computers.