Computational Mechanics Research Trends (eBook)

Computational mechanics is the discipline concerned with the use of computational methods to study phenomena governed by the principles of mechanics. Before the emergence of computational science (also called scientific computing) as a "e;third way"e; besides theoretical and experimental sciences, computational mechanics was widely considered to be a sub-discipline of applied mechanics. It is now considered to be a sub-discipline within computational science. Computational mechanics (CM) is interdisciplinary. Its three pillars are mathematics, computer science, and mechanics. Computational fluid dynamics, computational thermodynamics, computational electromagnetics, computational solid mechanics are some of the many specializations within CM. Some examples where computational mechanics have been put to practical use are vehicle crash simulation, petroleum reservoir modeling, biomechanics, glass manufacturing, and semiconductor modeling. In the last century, especially in the second half thereof, computational mechanics has had profound influences on science and technology. Complex systems that would be very difficult or impossible to treat using analytical methods have been successfully simulated using the tools provided by computational mechanics. With the incorporation of quantum, molecular and biological mechanics into new models, CM is poised to play an even bigger role in the future. This new and important book gathers the latest research from around the globe in this dynamic field.