These proceedings contain lectures presented at the NATO-NSF-ARO sponsored Advanced Study I stitute on "Computer Aided Analysis and Optimization of Mechanical System Dynamics" held in Iowa City, Iowa, 1-12 August, 1983. Lectures were presented by free world leaders in the field of machine dynamics and optimization. Participants in the Institute were specialists from throughout NATO, many of whom presented contributed papers during the Institute and all of whom participated actively in discussions on technical aspects of the subject. The proceedings are organized into five parts, each addressing a technical aspect of the field of computational methods in dynamic analysis and design of mechanical systems. The introductory paper presented first in the text outlines some of the numerous technical considerations that must be given to organizing effective and efficient computational methods and computer codes to serve engineers in dynamic analysis and design of mechanical systems. Two substantially different approaches to the field are identified in this introduction and are given attention throughout the text. The first and most classical approach uses a minimal set of Lagrangian generalized coordinates to formulate equations of motion with a small number of constraints. The second method uses a maximal set of cartesian coordinates and leads to a large number of differential and algebraic constraint equations of rather simple form. These fundamentally different approaches and associated methods of symbolic computation, numerical integration, and use of computer graphics are addressed throughout the proceedings.

These proceedings contain lectures and contributed papers presented at the NATO-NSF Advanced Study Institute on Optimization of Distributed Parameter Structures (Iowa City, Iowa 21 May - 4 June, 1980). The institute was organized by E. Haug and J. Cea, with the enthusiastic help of leading contributors to the field of distributed parameter structural optimization. The principle con tributor to this field during the past two decades, Professor William Prager, participated in planning for the Institute and helped to establish its technical direction. His death just prior to the Institute is a deep loss to the community of engineers and mathematicians in the field, to which he made pioneering contri butions. The proceedings are organized into seven parts, each address ing important problems and special considerations involving classes of structural optimization problems. The review paper presented first in the proceedings surveys contributions to the field, primarily during the decade 1970-1980. Part I of the pro ceedings addresses optimality criteria methods for analyzing and solving problems of distributed parameter structural optimization. Optimality criteria obtained using variational methods of mech anics, calculus of variation, optimal control theory, and abstract optimization theory are presented for numerous classes of struct ures; including beams, columns, plates, grids, shells, and arches."

These proceedings contain lectures and contributed papers presented at the NATO-NSF Advanced Stucy Institute on Optimization of Distributed Parameter Structures (Iowa City, Iowa 21 May - 4 June, 1980). The institute was organized by E. Haug and J. Cea, with the enthusiastic help of leading contributors to the field of distributed parameter structural optimization. The principle con tributor to this field during the past two decades, Professor William Prager, participated in planning for the Institute and helped to establish its technical direction. His death just prior to the Institute is a deep loss to the community of engineers and mathematicians in the field, to which he made pioneering contri butions. The proceedings are organized into seven parts, each address ing important problems and special considerations involving classes of structural optimization problems. The review paper presented first in the proceedings surveys contributions to the field, primarily during the decade 1970-1980. Part I of the pro ceedings addresses optimality criteria methods for analyzing and solving problems of distributed parameter structural optimization. Optimality criteria obtained using variational methods of mech anics, calculus of variation, optimal control theory, and abstract optimization theory are presented for numerous classes of struct ures; including beams, columns, plates, grids, shells, and arches."