Undergraduate - UnitMEC3456 - Engineering computational analysis

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

print version

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Level	Undergraduate
Faculty	Faculty of Engineering
Organisational Unit	Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Offered	Not offered in 2015
Coordinator(s)	Dr Zhe Liu

Synopsis

This unit conveys the fundamentals of numerical analysis techniques for root-finding, interpolation, integration, the solution of ordinary differential equations and data analysis, and Matlab is employed to demonstrate their implementation. The role computers play in both the solution of engineering problems and the acquisition and analysis of data is explored through consideration of common partial differential equations in mechanics, and their solution via finite difference, finite volume, and finite element methods.

Outcomes

Understanding of the role of computers and numerical analysis in modern engineering practice
Appreciation of stability, efficiency and accuracy constraints on available methods for numerical approximation of engineering solutions
Understanding of numerical methods for interpolation, root-finding, integration, solution of ordinary and partial differential equations, and analysis of data.
Knowledge and skills to generate accurate solutions to engineering problems using numerical computing
Knowledge of the types of equations which arise in computational mechanics
Understanding of finite difference, finite volume and finite element methods, and their application to computational mechanics problems
Understanding of methods for data analysis, including sampling, Fourier transforms and filtering
Solve engineering problems numerically
Determine the appropriate technique to solve a problem through consideration of the accuracy, efficiency and stability of available methods
Acquire, analyse and interpret data
Complete tasks as part of a team
Improve oral and written communication skills
Appreciation of the role of computers in engineering industry
Confidence in identifying engineering problems and formulating original solutions.

Assessment

Laboratory and Assignments: 30%
Examination (3 hours): 70%

Workload requirements

3 hour lectures, 3 hours practice sessions or laboratories per week (this may alternate with 2 hours lectures and 4 hours practice sessions/laboratories) and 6 hours of private study per week

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chris Davies

Prerequisites

ENG1060