Engr.

Aure Flo Oraya, MSCE

What is it?
Mathematics? MATHEMATICAL
PROBLEMS
Large Numbers?
Arithmetic Solutions
Data Science?
Supercomputers? SOLUTION
How computers changed numerical
methods
 In the past, engineers
used slide rules …
 Our generation started
using calculators …
 Now we have computers.
Reasons why you should study
numerical methods
1. Numerical methods are extremely powerful
problem-solving tools. They are capable of handling
large systems of equations, nonlinearities, and
complicated geometries that are not uncommon in
engineering practice and that are often impossible to
solve analytically. As such, they greatly enhance your
problem-solving skills.
Reasons why you should study
numerical methods
2. During your careers, you may often have occasion to
use commercially available prepackaged, or “canned,”
computer programs that involve numerical methods.
The intelligent use of these programs is often
predicated on knowledge of the basic theory
underlying the methods.
Reasons why you should study
numerical methods
3. Many problems cannot be approached using canned
programs. If you are conversant with numerical methods
and are adept at computer programming, you can
design your own programs to solve problems
without having to buy or commission expensive
software.
Reasons why you should study
numerical methods
4. Numerical methods are an efficient vehicle for learning
to use computers. It is well known that an effective way to
learn programming is to actually write computer programs.
Because numerical methods are for the most part designed
for implementation on computers, they are ideal for this
purpose. Further, they are especially well-suited to illustrate
the power and the limitations of computers. When you
successfully implement numerical methods on a computer
and then apply them to solve otherwise intractable problems,
you will be provided with a dramatic demonstration of how
computers can serve your professional development. At the
same time, you will also learn to acknowledge and control the
errors of approximation that are part and parcel of large-scale
numerical calculations.
Reasons why you should study
numerical methods
5. Numerical methods provide a vehicle for you to
reinforce your understanding of mathematics.
Because one function of numerical methods is to reduce
higher mathematics to basic arithmetic operations, they
get at the “nuts and bolts” of some otherwise obscure
topics. Enhanced understanding and insight can result
from this alternative perspective.
Topics to be covered in this course
Topics to be covered in this course
Topics to be covered in this course
Topics to be covered in this course
 Modelling
The
Engineering
Problem- Knowledge and
Solving Process understanding are
prerequisites for the
effective
implementation of
any tool.
 Mathematical Model
A mathematical model can be broadly defined as a
formulation or equation that expresses the essential
features of a physical system or process in mathematical
terms.

characteristic that dimensions along reflective of the external

usually reflects the which the system’s influences
behavior or state of the system’s behavior properties or acting upon the
system is being composition system
determined
Illustration
Newton’s Second Law 1. It describes a natural process or

𝐹 = 𝑚𝑎 system in mathematical terms.

2. It represents an idealization and
𝑎 = 𝐹/𝑚 simplification of reality (ignores
dependent represents negligible details of the natural
variable a property
process and focuses on its essential
reflecting of the
the forcing system manifestations).
system’s function 3. Finally, it yields reproducible
behavior
There is no INDEPENDENT VARIABLE results and, consequently, can be
because we are not yet predicting how used for predictive purposes.
acceleration varies with time and space.
Illustration
Newton’s Second Law
A more complex model:
𝑑𝑣/𝑑𝑡 = 𝐹/𝑚
𝐹 = 𝐹𝐷 + 𝐹𝑢
𝐹𝐷 = 𝑚𝑔 𝐹𝑈 = −𝑐𝑣
drag coefficient*velocity
𝑚𝑔 − 𝑐𝑣
𝑑𝑣/𝑑𝑡 =
𝑚
𝒅𝒗 𝒄
=𝒈− 𝒗
𝒅𝒕 𝒎
 Illustration
Newton’s Second Law
𝒅𝒗 𝒄
=𝒈− 𝒗
𝒅𝒕 𝒎
𝒈𝒎 −
𝒄
𝒕 independent
𝒗 𝒕 = 𝟏−𝒆 𝒎 variable
𝒄

dependent
forcing
variable
function
reflecting
the
system’s
parameters
behavior
Example: Analytical Soln to the Falling
Parachutist Problem
A parachutist of mass 68.1 kg jumps out of a stationary hot air
𝒄
𝒈𝒎 − 𝒕
balloon. Use 𝒗 𝒕 = 𝟏− 𝒆 𝒎 to compute the velocity
𝒄
prior to opening the chute. The drag coefficient is 12.5kg/s
𝑔𝑚 −
𝑐
𝑡
𝑣 𝑡 = 1−𝑒 𝑚
𝑐
9.81 𝑚/𝑠 2 (68.1𝑘𝑔) −
12.5
𝑡
𝑣 𝑡 = 1−𝑒 68.1
𝑘𝑔
12.5
𝑠
𝑣 𝑡 = 53.44 1 − 𝑒 −0.18355𝑡
Example: Analytical Soln to the Falling
Parachutist Problem
𝑣 𝑡 = 53.44 1 − 𝑒 −0.18355𝑡 Exact or Analytical Solution
 Illustration
Newton’s Second Law
𝑑𝑣 Δ𝑣 𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑣(𝑡𝑖 ) Finite Difference Approximation
≅ = of the Derivative
𝑑𝑡 Δ𝑡 𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖
𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑣(𝑡𝑖 ) 𝑐
= 𝑔 − 𝑣(𝑡𝑖 )
𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖 𝑚
𝑐
𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 = 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 + 𝑔 − 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 (𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖 )
𝑚
slope

New Value = Old Value + slope * time step Euler’s Method

Example: Numerical Soln to the Falling
Parachutist Problem
Perform the same computation but use 𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 = 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 +
𝑐
𝑔− 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 (𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖 ) to compute the velocity. Employ a
𝑚
step size of 2 seconds for the calculation.
𝑐
𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 = 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 + 𝑔 − 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 (𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖 )
𝑚
12.5
𝑣 = 0 + 9.81 − (0) 2 = 19.62 𝑚/𝑠
68.1
12.5
𝑣 = 19.62 + 9.81 − (19.62) 2 = 32.04 𝑚/𝑠
68.1
Example: Numerical Soln to the Falling
Parachutist Problem
Conservation Laws
Mass In
= Mass Out

Change =
Increases - Decreases
 Assignment 1 (DUE: Feb6)
1. For the free-falling parachutist with linear drag, assume a first jumper
is 70 kg and has a drag coefficient of 12 kg/s. If a second jumper has a
drag coefficient of 15 kg/s and a mass of 80 kg, how long will it take
him to reach the same velocity the first jumper reached in 9 s?
2. The amount of a uniformly distributed radioactive contaminant
contained in a closed reactor is measured by its concentration
𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑞𝑢𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑙 𝐵𝑞
𝑐( 𝑜𝑟 ). The contaminant decreases at a decay rate
𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝐿
proportional to its concentration 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑦 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 = −𝑘𝑐 where k is a
𝑑𝑐
constant with units 𝑑𝑎𝑦 −1 . By conservation law, = −𝑘𝑡 or the
𝑑𝑡
change in mass is the decrease by decay. Use Euler’s method to solve
this equation from 𝑡 = 0 to 1 day with 𝑘 = 0.175𝑑𝑎𝑦 −1 . The
𝐵𝑞
concentration at 𝑡 = 0 is 100 . Plot the sol’n in a semilog graph and
𝐿
determine the slope. Interpret your results.