Book on discrete mechanics (particularly interested in Lagrangian)

In summary, the person is looking for a book on discrete mechanics focusing on deriving the discrete E-L equations through extremizing the action. They have checked some sources but have not found what they are looking for. Instead, they provide links to relevant papers and resources on Lagrangian and Hamiltonian mechanics.
  • #1
JD_PM
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Hi.I am looking for a book to learn about discrete mechanics (i.e. working in a 3D lattice instead of ##n## generalized coordinates).

I am particularly interested in how to derive the discrete E-L equations by extremizing the action.

I have checked Gregory and Goldstein but they do not deal with it.Thank you :smile:
 
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  • #2
While not a book, I found these papers:

https://page.math.tu-berlin.de/~bobenko/papers/1999_Bob_Sur_EP.pdf

https://engineering.purdue.edu/ME564/Notes/I01_Lagrange.pdf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/089812219090210B

https://arxiv.org/abs/math/0506299

and this PDF on Lagrangian Mechanics (continuous only) as a useful reference:

http://academics.smcvt.edu/abrizard/Classical_Mechanics/Notes_070707.pdf

and lastly, this book on Discrete Hamiltonian Equations:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/discrete-hamiltonian-systems-calvin-ahlbrandt/1103784880
 
  • Informative
Likes JD_PM

1. What is discrete mechanics?

Discrete mechanics is a branch of physics that deals with the study of motion and forces in systems that are composed of a finite number of discrete particles. It is based on the principles of classical mechanics, but takes into account the discrete nature of matter at the microscopic level.

2. How is discrete mechanics different from continuous mechanics?

Continuous mechanics, also known as classical mechanics, deals with systems that are composed of an infinite number of particles, and uses calculus to describe their motion. Discrete mechanics, on the other hand, deals with systems that are composed of a finite number of particles, and uses discrete mathematics to describe their motion.

3. What is the role of Lagrangian in discrete mechanics?

Lagrangian is a mathematical function that describes the dynamics of a system in terms of its position, velocity, and time. In discrete mechanics, it is used to derive the equations of motion for a system of discrete particles, taking into account the constraints and interactions between them.

4. How is Lagrangian different from Newton's laws of motion?

Lagrangian is a more general and elegant approach to describing the dynamics of a system, as it takes into account all of the constraints and interactions between particles. In contrast, Newton's laws of motion are more specific and only apply to systems that can be described as point masses with no constraints.

5. What are some applications of discrete mechanics?

Discrete mechanics has many applications in various fields, including engineering, physics, and computer science. It is used to model and analyze the behavior of systems such as mechanical systems, molecular dynamics, and particle interactions. It is also used in the development of numerical methods for solving complex problems in these fields.

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