Underactuated multibody systems are intriguing mechatronic systems, as they posses fewer control inputs than degrees of freedom. Some examples are modern light-weight flexible robots and articulated manipulators with passive joints. This book investigates such underactuated multibody systems from an integrated perspective. This includes all major steps from the modeling of rigid and flexible multibody systems, through nonlinear control theory, to optimal system design. The underlying theor...

Voronoi diagrams partition space according to the influence certain sites exert on their environment. Since the 17th century, such structures play an important role in many areas like Astronomy, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Ecology, Economics, Mathematics and Computer Science. They help to describe zones of political influence, to determine the hospital nearest to an accident site, to compute collision-free paths for mobile robots, to reconstruct curves and surfaces from sample points, to ...

The Finite Element Method for Solid and Structural Mechanics is the key text and reference for engineers, researchers and senior students dealing with the analysis and modeling of structures, from large civil engineering projects such as dams to aircraft structures and small engineered components. This edition brings a thorough update and rearrangement of the book's content, including new chapters on: - Material constitution using representative volume elements - Differential geometry and ...

This book offers an in-depth presentation of the finite element method, aimed at engineers, students and researchers in applied sciences.The description of the method is presented in such a way as to be usable in any domain of application. The level of mathematical expertise required is limited to differential and matrix calculus.The various stages necessary for the implementation of the method are clearly identified, with a chapter given over to each one: approximation, cons...

This book gives an introduction to the finite element method as a general computational method for solving partial differential equations approximately. Our approach is mathematical in nature with a strong focus on the underlying mathematical principles, such as approximation properties of piecewise polynomial spaces, and variational formulations of partial differential equations, but with a minimum level of advanced mathematical machinery from functional analysis and partial differential ...

This book addresses the need in the field for a comprehensive review of motion planning algorithms and hybrid control methodologies for complex legged robots. Introducing a multidisciplinary systems engineering approach for tackling many challenges posed by legged locomotion, the book provides engineering detail including hybrid models for planar and 3D legged robots, as well as hybrid control schemes for asymptotically stabilizing periodic orbits in these closed-loop systems. Complete wit...

Numerical Methods for Partial Differential Equations: Finite Difference and Finite Volume Methods focuses on two popular deterministic methods for solving partial differential equations (PDEs), namely finite difference and finite volume methods. The solution of PDEs can be very challenging, depending on the type of equation, the number of independent variables, the boundary, and initial conditions, and other factors. These two methods have been traditionally used to solve problems involvin...

Approaches computational engineering sciences from the perspective of engineering applicationsUniting theory with hands-on computer practice, this book gives readers a firm appreciation of the error mechanisms and control that underlie discrete approximation implementations in the engineering sciences.Key features:Illustrative examples include heat conduction, structural mechanics, mechanical vibrations, heat transfer with convection ...

Computational contact mechanics is a broad topic which brings together algorithmic, geometrical, optimization and numerical aspects for a robust, fast and accurate treatment of contact problems.This book covers all the basic ingredients of contact and computational contact mechanics: from efficient contact detection algorithms and classical optimization methods to new developments in contact kinematics and resolution schemes for both sequential and parallel computer architectures. ...

The aim of the book is to give an accessible introduction of mathematical models and signal processing methods in speech and hearing sciences for senior undergraduate and beginning graduate students with basic knowledge of linear algebra, differential equations, numerical analysis, and probability. Speech and hearing sciences are fundamental to numerous technological advances of the digital world in the past decade, from music compression in MP3 to digital hearing aids, from network based ...

Optimization problems subject to constraints governed by partial differential equations (PDEs) are among the most challenging problems in the context of industrial, economical and medical applications. Almost the entire range of problems in this field of research was studied and further explored as part of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) priority program 1253 on “Optimization with Partial Differential Equations” from 2006 to 2013. The investigations were motivated by the fascinat...

Do you spend too much time creating the building blocks of your graphics applications or finding and correcting errors? Geometric Tools for Computer Graphics is an extensive, conveniently organized collection of proven solutions to fundamental problems that you'd rather not solve over and over again, including building primitives, distance calculation, approximation, containment, decomposition, intersection determination, separation, and more. If you have a mathematics degree, this book wi...