UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
SCHOOL OF MATHEMATICS

Math 8401/2: Mathematical Modelling and Methods Of Applied Mathematics

Fall 2005/Spring 2006

Course Description: This course is concerned with the classical methods of Applied Mathematics. The objective is to introduce the student to a number of fundamental mathematical ideas and techniques that lie at the core of the applied mathematician's approach. For this, the course will focus on the development, analysis and interpretation of mathematical models from the natural sciences. Special attention will be given to the formulation ("mathematical modelling") of selected natural processes, including planetary motion, Brownian dynamics, heat conduction, osmotic flow, acoustic and elastic wave propagation, electrostatics and, finally, to the general aspects of thermomechanics of continua.
Besides being important in their own right these events demand a variety of techniques for their mathematical description. Accordingly, some basic mathematical methods will be discussed and used in the analyses of their motivating applications. These procedures will range from simple dimensional analysis, scaling and linearization to (introductory material in) transform methods, perturbation theory, integral equations and the calculus of variations.
Prerequisites: Advanced undergraduate mathematics.
Instructor: Fernando Reitich.
Office: VinH538, Telephone: 626-1324, E-mail: reitich@math.umn.edu
Text: Mathematics Applied to Deterministic Problems in the Natural Sciences (Third Printing, 1994), C. C. Lin and L. A. Segel.
Classes: MWF 09:05-09:55am, Vincent Hall 209. (Spring 2006)
Homework: There will be 9 (nine) homework assignments during the year. These will consist of exercises from the textbook supplemented with problems to be provided by the instructor.
Exams: Final Exam, Fall 2005: Wednesday, December 14, 09:05-09:55am, VinH 301.
Final Exam, Spring 2006: Friday, May 5, 09:05-09:55am, VinH 209.
Grading Policy: The course grade will be computed according to the following weighting system:
Homework ........................... 65%
Final Exam ........................... 35%



SYLLABUS FOR Math 8401: Fall 2005
Week Dates Sections Topics
1 W 9/7
F 9/9
2.1

Planetary Orbits: Kepler's laws and gravitation
N-body problems
2 M 9/12
W 9/14
F 9/16
2.2


Elementary perturbation theory
Linear ODE's
Linear ODE's (cont'd)
3 M 9/19
W 9/21
F 9/23
2.2

2.3
The pendulum
Poincare's perturbation theory
Nonlinear ODE's: Existence
4 M 9/26
W 9/28
F 9/30
2.3


Nonlinear ODE's:Uniqueness
Nonlinear ODE's: Stability
Nonlinear ODE's: Finite differences
5 M 10/3
W 10/5
F 10/7
11.3

6.1
The phase plane
The phase plane (cont'd)
The basic simplification procedure
6 M 10/10
W 10/12
F 10/14
6.1
6.2

Conditioning and sensitivity
Dimensional analysis
Dimensional analysis (cont'd)
7 M 10/17
W 10/19
F 10/21
6.3

7.1
Scaling
Scaling (cont'd)
Regular perturbation theory: introduction
8 M 10/24
W 10/26
F 10/28
7.1
7.2

Regular perturbation theory: series method
Regular perturbation theory: parametric differentiation method
Regular perturbation theory: method of successive approximations
9 M 10/31
W 11/2
F 11/4
9.1


Singular perturbation theory: introduction
Singular perturbation theory: boundary value problems for ODE's
Singular perturbation theory: matched asymptotics
10 M 11/7
W 11/9
F 11/11
9.1
11.2

Singular perturbation theory: matched asymptotics (cont'd)
Singular perturbation theory: multiple-scale expansions
Singular perturbation theory: multiple-scale expansions (cont'd)
11 M 11/14
W 11/16
F 11/18
3.1

3.2
1-D Brownian motion
1-D Brownian motion (cont'd)
Asymptotic series
12 M 11/21
W 11/23
F 11/25
3.2
3.3

Asymptotic series (cont'd)
1-D diffusion: derivation from Brownian motion
Thanksgiving Holiday
13 M 11/28
W 11/30
F 12/2

3.4
4.1
A 2-D example: probabilistic derivation of Laplace's eqn.
1-D diffusion: derivation from a macroscopic perspective
The heat equation: initial-boundary value problem
14 M 12/5
W 12/7
F 12/9
4.1


The heat eqn. in 2 and 3-D: generalizations
The heat eqn.: uniqueness, max. pple. , sub- and supersolutions
Existence in 1-D: separation of variables
15 M 12/12
W 12/14


Review
Final Exam <-- SOLUTIONS



SYLLABUS FOR Math 8402: Spring 2006
Week Dates Sections Topics
1 M 1/16
W 1/18
F 1/20

4.2, 4.3

Martin Luther King's Birthday
Fourier series: introduction, definition and convergence
Fourier series: integration, differentiation and Gibbs phenomenon
2 M 1/23
W 1/25
F 1/27

5.3

Fourier series: mean square approx., Bessel's ineq., Parseval's thm.
Fourier transform: definition
Fourier transform: inversion formula
3 M 1/30
W 2/1
F 2/3


Solution of the heat eqn. in 2 and 3-D
The heat eqn. in 2 and 3-D: initial conditions; the Dirac delta
The heat eqn.: steady state and Laplace's equation
4 M 2/6
W 2/8
F 2/10

16.1

Electrostatics: introduction, the electric field
Electrostatics: Coulomb's and Gauss' laws
Electrostatics: electric potential and electrostatic energy
5 M 2/13
W 2/15
F 2/17


Electrostatics: Poisson's and Laplace's eqns.
Electrostatics: conductors and boundary conditions
Potential theory: Green's identities and uniqueness theorems
6 M 2/20
W 2/22
F 2/24

16.2

Potential theory: fundamental solutions and integral representations
Potential theory: Green's function and Poisson's kernel
Potential theory: the volume potential
7 M 2/27
W 3/1
F 3/3


Potential theory: the double-layer potential
Potential theory: the single-layer potential
Potential theory: integral equations
8 M 3/6
W 3/8
F 3/10


Introduction to the calculus of variations: strings and membranes
Pple. of minimum potential energy, Hamilton's and Fermat's principles
Introduction to Hilbert spaces

M 3/13
W 3/16
F 3/17


Spring Break
9 M 3/20
W 3/22
F 3/24


Linear functionals, Riesz representation theorem, weak convergence
Sobolev spaces: H^1 and H^1_0
The Ritz-Galerkin method: introduction
10 M 3/27
W 3/29
F 3/31

12.1

The Ritz-Galerkin method: existence and convergence of approx. solutions
Longitudinal motion of a bar: derivation of the governing eqns.
Longitudinal motion of a bar: the material derivative, conservation of mass
11 M 4/3
W 4/5
F 4/7
12.1


Longitudinal motion of a bar: force, stress and balance of linear momentum
Longitudinal motion of a bar: strain and stress-strain relations
Longitudinal motion of a bar: initial and boundary conditions; linearization
12 M 4/10
W 4/12
F 4/14
12.2
12.4
13.1
Longitudinal motion of a bar: 1-D elastic wave propagation
Longitudinal motion of a bar: work and energy
The continuous model
13 M 4/17
W 4/19
F 4/21
13.2
13.3
14.1
Kinematics of deformable media: Eulerian and Lagrangian descriptions
The material derivative
Field eqns. of continuum mechanics: conservation of mass
14 M 4/24
W 4/26
F 4/28
14.2
14.3
15.1
Field eqns. of continuum mechanics: balance of linear momentum
Field eqns. of continuum mechanics: balance of angular momentum
Inviscid fluid flow
15 M 5/1
W 5/3
F 5/5
15.3


Compression waves in gases: linear and nonlinear waves
Review
Final Exam <-- SOLUTIONS



Dr. Reitich's weekly schedule (Spring 2006)

Time Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
9:05-09:55 Class MA8401 (VinH209) Class MA8401 (VinH209) Class MA8401 (VinH209)
10:10-11:00 Office Hour (VinH538) Office Hour (VinH538) Office Hour (VinH538)
11:15-12:05 Applied Math Seminar
12:20-13:10
13:25-14:15 Industrial Problems Seminar
14:30-15:20
15:35-16:25 Financial Math Seminar
16:40-17:30
17:45-18:35





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