Mastering modelling, and in particular numerical models, is becoming a crucial and central question in modern computational mechanics. Various tools, able to quantify the quality of a model with regard to another one taken as the reference, have been derived. Applied to computational strategies, these tools lead to new computational methods which are called "adaptive." The present book is concerned with outlining the state of the art and the latest advances in both these important areas.

Papers are selected from a Workshop (Cachan 17-19 September 1997) which is the third of a series devoted...

Stability of NonLinear Shells is a compilation of the author's work on analyzing the behaviour of spherical caps and related shell structures under various (axisymmetric) load systems. Differing from other texts on shells of revolution, it is one of the first attempts to deal with effects of multi-parameter load systems. This extension leads to the discovery of some new, hitherto unknown phenomena exhibited by these structures. In addition, the book presents a novel way to characterize properties of solutions of the governing equations for spherical caps - a classification anchored in...

A hydrocode refers to a computer program used for the study of the dynamic response of materials and structures to impulse (primary blast), impact (involving everything from car and aircraft collisions to impacts of space structures by assorted debris).

The understanding of hydrocodes requires knowledge of numerical methods in the code as well as a keen understanding of the physics of the problem being addressed. This can take many years to learn via codes. There are currently a number of titles addressing the physics of high pressure and high rate material but nothing introducing...

There are numerous engineering applications for high-speed rotating structures which rotate about their symmetric axes. For example, free-flight sub-munition projectiles rotate at high speeds in order to achieve an aerodynamically-stable flight.

This is the first book of its kind to provide a comprehensive and systematic description of rotating shell dynamics. It not only provides the basic derivation of the dynamic governing equations for rotating shells, but documents benchmark results for free vibration, critical speed and parametric resonance. It is written in a simple and clear...

The aim of this volume is to encourage comparative explorations of the links between economic regionalism and government behaviour. At present, the relation between government and the economy is in a state of flux. In the old "developed" world, supranational organizations such as the EU and the WTO, are exerting more influence over economic life. Simultaneously, regional governments have emerged to provide public services to local populations. In some European countries, economic decision making is no longer in the power of the nation state, but has been transferred to international and local...

During the past two decades, there has been a dramatic increase
in interest in the study of motor control and learning. In this
volume authors from a variety of backgrounds and theoretical
perspectives review their research with particular emphasis on
the methods and paradigms employed, and the future direction of
their work. The book is divided into four main sections. The
first section contains chapters examining general issues and
trends in the movement behaviour field. The remaining three
sections contain chapters from scientists working in three
broadly defined...

The field of membrane separation technology is presently in a state of rapid growth and innovation. Many different membrane separation processes have been developed during the past half century and new processes are constantly emerging from academic, industrial, and governmental laboratories. While new membrane separation processes are being conceived with remarkable frequency, existing processes are also being constantly improved in order to enhance their economic competitiveness. Significant improvements are currently being made in many aspects of membrane separation technology: in the...