Model Reduction for Control System Design

Abstract

This book should be considered somehow as a compilation of Prof Richards' notes accumulated over his extensive academic experience.It constitutes an excellent text as well as reference book, for seniors as well as graduate students.The book covers many aspects of the mechanics of deformable solids, starting from fundamental concepts, taking the reader step-by-step to more complex and interesting applications.The subject index is clear and the figures, drawn by hand, are of good quality and bring back-for some of usthe nostalgia of the past.The only negative comment stems from the fact that, with the exception of the Preface and some footnotes, no systematic references are included at the end of each chapter or at the end of the book.This is unfortunate as the curiosity of the reader is often challenged by the text, but his desire to pursue further details is constrained.This reviewer also recommends that the author provides an addi-tional solution manual for the multitude of interesting and judiciously selected problems included at the end of each chapter, encouraging self-study.The first three chapters ͑Introduction, Strain and Stress, Stress-strain Relation-ship͒ cover well-established fundamentals; they constitute somehow the building blocks for the remainder of the book.The author reviews here first-order concepts with the theoretical rigor required for the reader to fully appreciate the implied assumptions and limitations.Chapter 4 ͑Strategies for Elastic Analysis and Design͒ starts to introduce engineering applications and stresses the importance of graphic visualization in tackling inverse problems.The author also discusses in some detail the importance of existence and uniqueness, as well as the assumed boundary conditions.