units

MEC3456

Faculty of Engineering

18 September 2017 26 April 2024

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This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2016 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.

Monash University

6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Undergraduate - Unit

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

Faculty

Engineering

Organisational Unit

Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Coordinator(s)

Dr Zhe Liu

Offered

Not offered in 2016

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%
Students are required to achieve at least 45% in the total continuous assessment component and at least 45% in the final examination component and an overall mark of 50% to achieve a pass grade in the unit. Students failing to achieve this requirement will be given a maximum of 45% in the unit.

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

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Professor Chris Davies

Prerequisites

ENG1060