by Paul Manneville (Ecole Polytechnique, France)

Table of Contents (139k)
Preface (218k)
Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview (1,136k)

This book is an introduction to the application of nonlinear dynamics to problems of stability, chaos and turbulence arising in continuous media and their connection to dynamical systems. With an emphasis on the understanding of basic concepts, it should be of interest to nearly any science-oriented undergraduate and potentially to anyone who wants to learn about recent advances in the field of applied nonlinear dynamics. Technicalities are, however, not completely avoided. They are instead explained as simply as possible using heuristic arguments and specific worked examples.

• Introduction and Overview
• First Steps in Nonlinear Dynamics
• Life and Death of Dissipative Structures
• Nonlinear Dynamics: From Simple to Complex
• Nonlinear Dynamics of Patterns
• Open Flows: Instability and Transition
• Developed Turbulence
• Summary and Perspectives