System Dynamics for Engineering Students: Concepts and Applications

System Dynamics for Engineering Students: Concepts and Applications discusses the basic concepts of engineering system dynamics. Engineering system dynamics focus on deriving mathematical models based on simplified physical representations of actual systems, such as mechanical, electrical, fluid, or thermal, and on solving the mathematical models. The resulting solution is utilized in design or analysis before producing and testing the actual system.

The book discusses the main aspects of a system dynamics course for engineering students; mechanical, electrical, and fluid and thermal system modeling; the Laplace transform technique; and the transfer function approach. It also covers the state space modeling and solution approach; modeling system dynamics in the frequency domain using the sinusoidal (harmonic) transfer function; and coupled-field dynamic systems.

The book is designed to be a one-semester system-dynamics text for upper-level undergraduate students with an emphasis on mechanical, aerospace, or electrical engineering. It is also useful for understanding the design and development of micro- and macro-scale structures, electric and fluidic systems with an introduction to transduction, and numerous simulations using MATLAB and SIMULINK.

• The first textbook to include a chapter on the important area of coupled-field systems
• Provides a more balanced treatment of mechanical and electrical systems, making it appealing to both engineering specialties

Nicolae Lobontiu, Ph.D., is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alaska Anchorage. Professor Lobontiu’s teaching background includes courses in system dynamics, controls, instrumentation and measurement, mechanics of materials, dynamics, vibrations, finite element analysis, boundary element analysis, and thermal system design.