Prerequisites: IT upper division or graduate student, MATH 2243, AEM 2012.

Three-dimensional Newtonian mechanics, kinematics of rigid bodies, dynamics of rigid bodies, generalized coordinates, holonomic constraints, Lagrange equations, and applications.

Textbook: Required: Engineering Dynamics, Ginsberg, Cambridge University Press, 2008, ISBN: 978-0-521-88303-0

Summary

Material Covered and Prerequisites

This course is a review of basic dynamics and an introduction to concepts and methods used in advanced dynamics. The student taking this class should have had an undergraduate (sophomore level) engineering dynamics course (or classical mechanics if you are a non-engineering major), vector calculus, differential equations and linear algebra. The course is intended for first year graduate students or motivated undergraduates.

The course starts with a review of basic Newtonian dynamics (which students should have seen in their undergraduate dynamics class) with an emphasis on mathematical formalism. This is followed by an introduction to analytical dynamics (D' Alembert's and Hamilton's principles, Lagrange's Equations) and attitude dynamics (Euler angles & quaternions). In the last part of the course, students learn how to solve 3-D rigid body dynamics problems using both the Newtonian and analytical approaches.

Homeworks

Normally problem sets are assigned once every two weeks. These consist of both pen-and-paper type of problems as well as computer based numerical problems. MATLAB is used for the computer based problem sets. Homeworks are collected and graded.

Quizes and Final Exam

Two quizzes are given during lecture periods. The quizzes and the final are open notes or open book exams. The final exam is given at the scheduled final exam time.