Rational Mechanics

This book is a comprehensive study of the life and mathematics of Walter Noll, who helped to create the mathematical tools of modern rational mechanics and thermodynamics. Noll is one of the brilliant mathematicians of the second part of the 20th century. His contribution is large in both the applied and pure mathematics. The book stresses particularly Noll's method of axiomatization of physical theories, his axiomatics of continuum mechanics, thermodynamics of materials, special relativity theory, his discovery of the neo-classical space-time of mechanics, his theories of inhomogeneities in simple bodies, fit regions, contact interactions, annihilators of linear differential operators, and finite-dimensional spaces. It is a must for every mathematician, physicist, engineer or graduate student as a reference and key to Noll's mathematical heritage.

This monograph, entirely devoted to “Convection in Fluids”, presents a unified rational approach of various convective phenomena in fluids (mainly considered as a thermally perfect gas or an expansible liquid), where the main driving mechanism is the buoyancy force (Archimedean thrust) or temperature-dependent surface tension in homogeneities (Marangoni effect).

Newton’s classical physics and its underlying ontology are loaded with several metaphysical hypotheses that cannot be justified by rational reasoning nor by experimental evidence.

This book presents various computer-aided drug discovery methods for the design and development of ligand and structure-based drug molecules. A wide variety of computational approaches are now being used in various stages of drug discovery and development, as well as in clinical studies. Yet, despite the rapid advances in computer software and hardware, combined with the exponential growth in the available biological information, there are many challenges that still need to be addressed, as this book shows.