Analytical Mechanics: a Comprehensive Treatise on the Dynamics of Constrained Systems; for Engineers, Physicists, and Mathematicians

A new work of unrivaled scope, this book is a comprehensive and state-of-the-art treatise on the mechanics of Lagrange and Hamilton, that is, classical analytical dynamics, and its principal applications to constrained systems (contact, rolling, and servoconstraints). It is a book on advanced dynamics from a unified viewpoint, namely, the kinetic principle of virtual work, or principle of Lagrange. As such, it continues, renovates, and expands the grand tradition laid by such mechanics masters as Appell, Maggi, Whittaker, Heun, Hamel, Chetaev, Synge, Pars, Lur'e, Gantmacher, Neimark, and Fufaev.
In spite of the advanced level, originality, density, rarity, and wealth of the topics covered, this 1,400 page-long volume (the most extensive ever written on analytical mechanics) is eminently readable and inclusive, and in this sense, this unique work constitutes an optimal investment of the reader's time and money ("best buy").
The book is of interest to engineers, physicists, and mathematicians; advanced undergraduate and graduate students and teachers; researchers and professionals; all will find this encyclopedic work an extraordinary asset; for classroom use or self-study.

John G. Papastavridis is at Georgia Institute of Technology.