The online version of the Caltech Catalog is provided as a convenience; however, the printed version is the only authoritative source of information about course offerings, option requirements, graduation requirements, and other important topics.

APPLIED MECHANICS

Ae/AM/CE/ME 102 abc. Mechanics of Structures and Solids. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

CE/Ae/AM 108 ab. Computational Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Civil Engineering.

AM 125 abc. Engineering Mathematical Principles. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second, third terms. Prerequisite: ACM 95/100 abc. Topics include linear spaces, operators and matrices, integral equations, variational principles, ordinary and partial differential equations, stability, perturbation theory, stochastic system analysis and Bayesian updating. Applications to problems in engineering and science are stressed. Instructor: Beck.

AM/ACM 127. Calculus of Variations. 9 units (3-0-6); third Term. Prerequisites: ACM 95/100. First and second variations; Euler-Lagrange equation; Hamiltonian formalism; action principle; Hamilton-Jacobi theory; stability; local and global minima; direct methods and relaxation; isoperimetric inequality; asymptotic methods and gamma convergence; selected applications to mechanics, materials science, control theory and numerical methods. Instructor: Bhattacharya.

AM/CE/ME 150 abc. Graduate Engineering Seminar. 1 unit; each term; first, second and third terms. Students are required to attend a graduate seminar, in any division, each week of each term. Students not registered for the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees must receive the instructor’s permission. Graded pass/fail. Instructor: Staff.

AM/CE 151 ab. Dynamics and Vibration. 9 units (3-0-6); first, second terms. Equilibrium concepts, conservative and dissipative systems, Lagrange’s equations, differential equations of motion for discrete single and multi degree-of-freedom systems, natural frequencies and mode shapes of these systems (Eigen value problem associated with the governing equations), phase plane analysis of vibrating systems, forms of damping and energy dissipated in damped systems, response to simple force pulses, harmonic and earthquake excitation, response spectrum concepts, vibration isolation, seismic instruments, dynamics of continuous systems, Hamilton’s principle, axial vibration of rods and membranes, transverse vibration of strings, beams (Bernoulli-Euler and Timoshenko beam theory), and plates, traveling and standing wave solutions to motion of continuous systems, Rayleigh quotient and the Rayleigh-Ritz method to approximate natural frequencies and mode shapes of discrete and continuous systems, frequency domain solutions to dynamical systems, stability criteria for dynamical systems, and introduction to nonlinear systems and random vibration theory. Instructor: Staff.

AM/ME 165 ab. Elasticity. 9 units (3-0-6); second, third terms. Prerequisites: Ae/Ge/ME 160 a and registered in Ae/Ge/ME 160 b. Fundamental concepts and equations of elasticity. Linearized theory of elastostatics and elastodynamics: basic theorems and special solutions. Finite theory of elasticity: constitutive theory, semi-inverse methods. Variational methods. Applications to problems of current interest. Not offered 2012–13.

AM 200. Special Problems in Advanced Mechanics. Hours and units by arrangement. By arrangement with members of the staff, properly qualified graduate students are directed in independent studies in mechanics.

Ae/AM/MS/ME 213. Mechanics and Materials Aspects of Fracture. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/CE/ME 214 abc. Computational Solid Mechanics. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/ME 215. Dynamic Behavior of Materials. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/ME 223. Plasticity. 9 units (3-0-6). For course description, see Aerospace.

Ae/AM/ME 225. Special Topics in Solid Mechanics. Units to be arranged. For course description, see Aerospace.

AM 250. Research in Applied Mechanics. Hours and units by arrangement. Research in the field of applied mechanics. By arrangement with members of the staff, properly qualified graduate students are directed in research.