"System dynamics deals with mathematical modeling and analysis of devices and processes for the purpose of understanding their time-dependent behavior. While other subjects, such as Newtonian dynamics and electrical circuit theory, also deal with time-dependent behavior, system dynamics emphasizes methods for handling applications containing multiple types of components and processes such as electromechanical devices, electrohydraulic devices, and fluid-thermal processes. Because the goal of system dynamics is to understand the time-dependent behavior of a system of interconnected devices and processes as a whole, the modeling and analysis methods used in system dynamics must be properly selected to reveal how the connections between the system elements affect its overall behavior. Because systems of interconnected elements often require a control system towork properly, control system design is a major application area in system dynamics"-- Provided by publisher.

• 1 Introduction
• 2 Dynamic Response and the Laplace Transform Method
• 3 Modeling of Rigid-Body Mechanical Systems
• 4 Spring and Damper Elements in Mechanical Systems
• 5 Block Diagrams, State-Variable Models and Simulation Methods
• 6 Electrical and Electromechanical Systems
• 7 Fluid and Thermal Systems
• 8 System Analysis in the Time Domain
• 9 System Analysis in the Frequency Domain
• 10 Introduction to Feedback Control Systems
• 11 Control System Design and the Root Locus Plot
• 12 Compensator Design and the Bode Plot
• 13 Vibration Applications
• Appendices: A. Guide to Selected MATLAB Commands and Functions
• B. Fourier Series
• C. Developing Models from Data
• D. Introduction to MATLAB (on the website)
• E. Numerical Methods (on the text website).

System Dynamics includes the strongest treatment of computational software and system simulation of any available text, with its early introduction of MATLAB (R) and Simulink (R). The text's extensive coverage also includes discussion of the root locus and frequency response plots, among other methods for assessing system behavior in the time and frequency domains as well as topics such as function discovery, parameter estimation, and system identification techniques, motor performance evaluation, and system dynamics in everyday life.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)