These lecture notes are dedicated to the mathematical modelling, analysis and computation of interfaces and free boundary problems appearing in geometry and in various applications, ranging from crystal growth, tumour growth, biological membranes to porous media, two-phase flows, fluid-structure interactions, and shape optimization. We first give an introduction to classical methods from differential geometry and systematically derive the governing equations from physical principles. Then we will analyse parametric approaches to interface evolution problems and derive numerical methods which will be thoroughly analysed. In addition, implicit descriptions of interfaces such as phase field and level set methods will be analysed. Finally, we will discuss numerical methods for complex interface evolutions and will focus on two phase flow problems as an important example of such evolutions.

Mathematical models are the decisive tool to explain and predict phenomena in the natural and engineering sciences. With this book readers will learn to derive mathematical models which help to understand real world phenomena. At the same time a wealth of important examples for the abstract concepts treated in the curriculum of mathematics degrees are given. An essential feature of this book is that mathematical structures are used as an ordering principle and not the fields of application. Methods from linear algebra, analysis and the theory of ordinary and partial differential equations are thoroughly introduced and applied in the modeling process. Examples of applications in the fields electrical networks, chemical reaction dynamics, population dynamics, fluid dynamics, elasticity theory and crystal growth are treated comprehensively.

Das Lehrbuch bietet eine lebendige und anschauliche Einfuhrung in die mathematische Modellierung von Phanomenen aus den Natur- und Ingenieurwissenschaften. Leser lernen, mathematische Modelle zu verstehen und selbst herzuleiten und finden eine Fulle von Beispielen, u. a. aus den Bereichen chemische Reaktionskinetik, Populationsdynamik, Stroemungsdynamik, Elastizitatstheorie und Kristallwachstum. Die Methoden der Linearen Algebra, der Analysis und der Theorie der gewoehnlichen und partiellen Differentialgleichungen werden sorgfaltig eingefuhrt.