Numerical methods for nonlinear engineering models /

This voluminous book by Hauser (electrical and computer engineering, North Carolina State Univ.) covers numerical topics ranging from roots of nonlinear equations to introductory finite element method. The advantage of this work lies in the author's approach of show-and-tell or "learning by example." Hauser chose the Lua programming language in lieu of some of the most popular languages in academia, namely C, C++, and MATLAB. The examples are almost exclusively in the area of nonlinear electronics (considering the author's background), which may be quite advantageous for electronics engineers. However, the volume may not be suitable to a wider audience including mechanical, aerospace, and civil engineering students. In addition, chapters do not include practice problems. The mathematics and analysis are straightforward by design as an attempt by the author to make the material accessible to readers who may shy away from "numerical methods." For that reason, the book may not be fitting from a theoretical point of view for in-depth analysis of nonlinear techniques, especially in the area of numerical stability of nonlinear problems. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate through professional collections. R. N. Laoulache University of Massachusetts Dartmouth