This book takes readers through all the steps necessary for solving hard problems in continuum mechanics with smooth particle methods. Pedagogical problems clarify the generation of initial conditions, the treatment of boundary conditions, the integration of the equations of motion, and the analysis of the results. Particular attention is paid to the parallel computing necessary for large problems and to the graphic displays, including debugging software, required for the efficient completion of computational projects.

The book is self-contained, with summaries of classical particle mechanics and continuum mechanics for both fluids and solids, computer languages, the stability of numerical methods, Lyapunov spectra, and message-passing parallel computing. The main difficulties faced by meshless particle methods are discussed and the means of overcoming them are illustrated with worked examples.

Contents:

• Physical Ideas Underlying SPAM
• Continuum Mechanics
• Smooth Particle Methods
• Computer Programing
• Initial and Boundary Conditions, Interpolation
• Convergence and Stability
• Lucy and Embedded-Atom Fluids
• SPAM: Limitations and Difficulties
• SPAM: Sample Applications to Solids
• Summary, Literature, and Outlook

“A pervasive and interesting theme is the analogy of SPAM to molecular dynamics. Another interesting and unique feature of the book is the discussions of the instabilities that plague the method and some of the proposed remedies … The book is written in a breezy style, and the author has chosen not to number equations or to be very specific in his notation … For researchers with some background in SPAM, the book adds an intriguing and useful new viewpoint.”