Numerical Methods for Engineers and Scientists

By Joe D. Hoffman and Steven Frankel

Book Overview

Emphasizing the finite difference approach for solving differential equations, the second edition of Numerical Methods for Engineers and Scientists presents a methodology for systematically... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0070292132
• ISBN13: 9780070292130
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 825 Pages
• Weight: 2.74 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Perfect numerical methods book as one can get for a 1st course.

A great textbook for a first course in Numerical Methods as it gives an extensive yet detailed coverage of numerical techniques that form the base for more advanced work in CFD. This book is based almost entirely on the finite difference method for solving differential equations. A chapter addresses finite element techniques but it only a primer; you will need a textbook solely devoted to FEM. This book is written for a mechanical engineer, as most of the governing equations are invariably from the areas of heat transfer, fluid flow, gas dynamics and solid mechanics. The good points are 1. Each method described comes with a index notated formula that takes the head ache out of programming. Plus there are plenty of FORTRAN subroutines to look at. 2. Not only does Hoffman give you the finite difference equation he also throws in a solved example with one or two iterations worked out in full detail; the benefit of this cannot be overstated. 3. Plenty of practice problems with results at the back of the book. 4. Enough math to give the reader an insight into how the method works. If you care for rigor this is not the book. The drawbacks are 1. Hoffman has condensed the portions dealing with PDE's from previous editions cutting out some theoretical development. Since most wouldn't have had a course in PDE's (like me) a few more pages might have better squared away a few difficult concepts (eg. characteristic lines of PDE's). 2. Could use another round of proof-reading. This book is littered with typos; which one runs into even in key formulas. This is unacceptable in what is otherwise a pedagogically sound book. 3. I would have liked to see some more elaboration on multidimensional problems in PDE's apart from the 1D unsteady examples which form the workhorse. Hoffman mentions that the explicit methods for 1D unsteady problems work for higher while the implicit schemes introduce numerical complexity which merit advanced methods. These specialized methods for higher dimensional parabolic and hyperbolic PDE's are not developed. As it stands the book is packed with enough material for 3 semesters study. This book works well for self study. Everything from linear algebra (direct and iterative methods, LU factorization, eigenproblems), non-linear eqns, interpolation, numerical integration and differentiation, ODE's, BVP's, and PDE's is touched upon. Unlike most introductory texts Hoffman doesn't shy away from non-linear problems in differential equations. I used it for the num. methods course even though the prescribed text was Heath's Scientific Computing which was the worst textbook I ever read (thankfully never purchased it). If you are getting started in CFD then this book provides a solid first step.

An excellent work!

Dr. Hoffman has written a splendid book. For an introduction to numerical methods it is lucid and in-depth simultaneously. Provides fundamentally important knowledge on the whole gamut of numerical solutions techniques and issues.

it is the best book i have ever come across

the best book for numerical methods which i feel personally. the topics on taylors series was very interesting.the numerical integration and other topics were really enlightening