NUMERICAL METHODS FOR MECHANICAL
ENGINEERS
INTRODUCTION
Instructor: Associate prof. Dr. : Hassanein Refaey
Course computing framework:
Spreadsheets
– Microsoft Excel.
Numerical Languages
– MATLAB
Electronic Communication by Blackboard:
Computer assignments will be submitted through
Blackboard
teams of 5; work together, learn from each other
Teams to be formed by week 2.
Textbook: Chapra & Canale, Numerical Methods for Engineers, 7th Ed.,
McGraw-Hill, 2013
Computer sessions (recommended texts):
• Palm, Introduction to MATLAB for Engineers.
• The MathWorks, The Student Edition of MATLAB.
• Pratap, Getting Started with MATLAB.
Selected References
Numerical Computing with Matlab", by Cleve Moler, SIAM, ISBN: 0-89871-
560-1
Numerical Methods", by Germund Dahlquist and Ake Bjork, Dover, ISBN:
0486428079,
A Friendly Introduction to Numerical Analysis", by Brian Bradie, Prentice
Hall, ISBN: 0-13-013054-
Introduce mechanical engineers to numerical methods as
general and fundamental tools for solving engineering problems
Illustrate and discuss how numerical methods are used in
engineering practice, industry, and research.
Show some applications of Numerical methods to mechanical
Engineering
discuss the effect of numerical errors on computer accuracy.
design a robust algorithm for solving different engineering
problems:
root finding, system of linear equations, curve
fitting, etc. .
develop and implement the necessary code for the proposed
algorithms
discuss potential areas of improvements in the proposed
solutions
COURSE OUTLINE
Lectures
Modeling, Computers, and Error Analysis (6 hours)
Roots of Equations (9 hours)
Solution of Linear Algebraic Equations (9 hours)
Optimization (6 hours)
Curve fitting and Interpolation (6 hours)
Numerical Differentiation and Integration (6 hours)
Numerical Integration of Ordinary Differential Equations (6 hours)
Laboratory
MATLAB programming environment (IDE) (1 hours)
Precision and error analysis in MATLAB (1 hours)
Functions and subroutines in MATLAB (1 hours)
Roots of Equations (2 hours)
Linear Algebraic Equations (2 hours)
Optimization (3 hours)
Curve fitting (3 hours)
Numerical Differentiation and Integration (2 hours)
Ordinary Differential Equations (2 hours)
NUMERICAL METHODS FOR ME (ME301)
ME301 gives an overview of numerical methods.
We will cover 7 chapters:
Chapter 1: Modelling, Computers, and Error Analysis.
Chapter 2: Roots of Equations. Includes bracketing methods such
as bisection and the false position method, the fixed point method,
Newton-Raphson, Secant, Brent, and applications to polynomials.
Chapter 3: Solutions of Linear Algebraic Equations. Includes
Gauss elimination, LU decomposition, matrix inversion, Gauss-
Seidel, and applications.
Chapter 4: Optimization. Includes constrained and
unconstrained.
Chapter 5: Curve Fitting and Interpolation.
Includes the least squares linear fit (LSLF), linear
and polynomial interpolation, Newton’s method, and
applications.
Chapter 6: Numerical Differentiation and
Integration. Includes Newton-Cotes integration,
Romberg integration, numerical differentiation,
and applications.
Chapter 7: Numerical Integration of Ordinary
Differential Equations (ODEs). Includes a review of
ODEs and analytic methods as well as an
introduction into numerical methods for ODEs.
Quiz 1 Report1 or Mid-term Quiz 2 Report2 or HW2 Final
HW1
10 10 20 10 10 40
Why are Numerical Methods so widely used in Engineering?
Numerical methods involve large numbers of arithmetic
calculations to solve a (complex) mathematical problem.
Engineers use mathematical modeling (equations and data) to
describe and predict the behavior of systems.
Closed-form (analytical) solutions are only possible and
complete for simple problems (geometry, properties, etc.).
Computers are widely available, powerful, and (relatively)
cheap.
Powerful software packages are available (special or general
purpose).
MODELLING & PROBLEM SOLVING
Outline of the lecture:
Engineering problem solving.
Problem solving with computers.
Modelling of physical systems.
Analytic solution of ODE.
Numerical solution of ODE.
Conservation laws for modelling.
Before computers, engineering problem solving was
approached in one of three ways:
Solutions were derived for some problems using analytical, or exact,
methods. These solutions were often useful and provided excellent insight
into the behaviour of some systems. However, analytical solutions can be
derived for only a limited class of problems.
Graphical solutions were used to characterize the behaviour of systems.
These graphical solutions usually took the form of plots. Although
graphical techniques can often be used to solve complex problems, the
results are not very precise and the methods are very tedious.
Calculators and slide rules were used to implement numerical methods
manually. These methods are theoretically sound but are usually slow and
tedious and involve numerical rounding, which reduces accuracy.
With computers, things became a lot easier and we can now
solve more complicated problems.
