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Practical use of Hamilton's principle

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2006

Rick Salmon
Rick Salmon
Affiliation:
Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA 92093
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Abstract

Hamilton's principle of mechanics has special advantages as the beginning point for approximations. First, it is extremely succinct. Secondly, it easily accommodates moving disconnecting fluid boundaries. Thirdly, approximations – however strong – that maintain the symmetries of the Hamiltonian will automatically preserve the corresponding conservation laws. For example, Hamilton's principle allows useful analytical and numerical approximations to the equations governing the motion of a homogeneous rotating fluid with free boundaries.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 132 , July 1983 , pp. 431 - 444
Copyright
© 1983 Cambridge University Press

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