Lagrangian

This book provides an accessible introduction to the variational formulation of Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics, with a novel emphasis on global descriptions of the dynamics, which is a significant conceptual departure from more traditional approaches based on the use of local coordinates on the configuration manifold. In particular, we introduce a general methodology for obtaining globally valid equations of motion on configuration manifolds that are Lie groups, homogeneous spaces, and embedded manifolds, thereby avoiding the difficulties associated with coordinate singularities.

Jets and plumes are shear flows produced by momentum and buoyancy forces. Examples include smokestack emissions, fires and volcano eruptions, deep sea vents, thermals, sewage discharges, thermal effluents from power stations, and ocean dumping of sludge. Knowledge of turbulent mixing by jets and plumes is important for environmental control, impact and risk assessment. Turbulent Jets and Plumes introduces the fundamental concepts and develops a Lagrangian approach to model these shear flows. This theme persists throughout the text, starting from simple cases and building towards the practically important case of a turbulent buoyant jet in a density-stratified crossflow.

This textbook introduces readers to the detailed and methodical resolution of classical and more recent problems in analytical mechanics. This valuable learning tool includes worked examples and 40 exercises with step-by-step solutions, carefully chosen for their importance in classical, celestial and quantum mechanics.

The aim of this work is to bridge the gap between the well-known Newtonian mechanics and the studies on chaos, ordinarily reserved to experts. Several topics are treated: Lagrangian, Hamiltonian and Jacobi formalisms, studies of integrable and quasi-integrable systems.