Flexible multibody dynamics (Q606879)

This is a textbook intended for graduate students studying current issues in dynamics. The title proclaims the ultimate focus of the book, but from a content perspective, less than 20\% of the text is devoted to the title subject. The bulk of the book discusses various topics needed for the study of flexible dynamic systems. The book has six parts with each containing multiple chapters (18 in all), consuming over 725 fine-print pages. Thus a reader who may not be specifically interested in flexible systems will nevertheless find a wealth of topics on dynamics itself. The first part, composed of four chapters, provides a summary of basic concepts useful in the sequel. The first two chapters review vectors, tensors, coordinate systems, and concepts in differential geometry. In the third chapter the author reviews basic principles of mechanics, and then in the fourth chapter he presents a rather detailed exposition of rotation. The second part, in two chapters, presents the kinematics and kinetics of rigid body dynamics; and the third part, also in two chapters, presents concepts of analytical dynamics with a focus on virtual work and variational principles. In the fourth part, the author lays a greater emphasis on multibody dynamics and begins with an extensive discussion of constrained systems. Four chapters provide an exposition ranging from holonomic/non-holonomic definitions to joint descriptions, and from algebraic formulations to numerical analysis. The fifth part documents methods for describing rotation and motion including quaternions, Euler parameters, Euler-Rodrigues parameters, Cayley-Gibbs-Rodrigues parameters, and Wiener-Milenkovic parameters. Finally, in the sixth part, the author discusses the title subject: four chapters are devoted to this effort with the first of these presenting some preliminary analyses of flexible systems with a focus on nonlinear effects. The next chapter (Chapter 16) presents a series of applications: flexible joints, cables, beams, plates, and shells. The book then concludes with an extensive presentation of finite element methods and a brief description of some useful matrix methods. In spite of the great volume of the text, the numerous topics make the discussion of any given topic relatively brief. This means that the reader needs to already have a semi-working knowledge of the topics if he or she is to get the maximum benefit from the text. As an aid to the reader/learner, however, the author provides numerous examples and guided problems throughout the text. The physical appearance and editing are excellent, with high-quality figures (in color) and quite readable exposition. Purchase by advanced dynamics students, by practitioners, by researchers, and by libraries is highly recommended.