Unit information: Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos in 2009/10

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Unit name Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos
Unit code EMAT33100
Credit points 10
Level of study H/6
Teaching block(s) Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director Professor. Krauskopf
Open unit status Not open
Pre-requisites

None
Co-requisites

None
School/department School of Engineering Mathematics and Technology
Faculty Faculty of Science and Engineering

Description including Unit Aims

This course is consistently rated as one of the most popular in the Faculty. Based on a format of lively lectures combined with experiments and computer demonstrations, it introduces students of all disciplines to chaos theory and the profound effect that this field has had on all subjects. The course focuses on geometric techniques for analysing a system, thereby avoiding cumbersome algebraic manipulations. Of particular interest are qualitative changes of the dynamics as parameters are changed, which allows you to describe ways of how a system can become chaotic. No specific mathematics background is assumed.

Aims:

This unit is intended to alert students to the complicated behaviour that can occur in simple systems and to equip them with the straightforward mathematical tools to analyse simple nonlinear systems

Intended Learning Outcomes

Enhancement and development of students' understanding of and ability to use the language and methods of mathematics in the description, analysis and design of nonlinear engineering systems.

Teaching Information

Lectures

Assessment Information

Two-hour written examination: 100% (all learning outcomes)

Reading and References

  • Steven H. Strogatz, Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, with Applications in Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Engineering, Addison-Wesley, 1994
  • J.M.T. Thompson & H.B. Stewart, Nonlinear Dynamics and Chaos, Wiley, 2002
  • John Guckenheimer & Philip J. Holmes, Nonlinear Oscillations, Dynamical Systems and Bifurcations of Vector Fields, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1986
  • Yuri A. Kuznetsov, Elements of Applied Bifurcation Theory, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1995, 1998
  • Robert L. Devaney, An Introduction to Chaotic Dynamical Systems, Perseus Publishing Co., 1989
  • H.-O. Peitgen, H. Jürgens & D. Saupe, Chaos and Fractals, New Frontiers of Science, Springer-Verlag, New York, 1992

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