Integral Methods in Science and Engineering : Techniques and Applications

The physical world is studied by means of mathematical models, which consist of differential, integral, and integro-differential equations accompanied by a large assortment of initial and boundary conditions. In certain circumstances, such models yield exact analytic solutions. When they do not, they are solved numerically by means of various approximation schemes. Whether analytic or numerical, these solutions share a common feature: they are constructed by means of the powerful tool of integration—the focus of this self-contained book. This work illustrates the application of integral methods to diverse problems in mathematics, physics, biology, and engineering. The thirty two chapters of the book, written by scientists with established credentials in their fields, contain state-of-the-art information on current research in a variety of important practical disciplines.