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CHAPTER 3

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

Chapter 3
ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

 Problem analysis
 The engineering method
 Problem presentation
 Computer solution
 Use of computer software in engineering solutions

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Learning Objectives

End of this chapter, student should be able to :-

1. Recognize the importance of engineering
problem analysis.
2. Explain the engineering method.
3. Solve and present simple or complex problems
in an orderly, logical and systematic way.

Practice of Engineering
• Accumulate knowledge & experience
• Use in fundamental area in engineering

Design Problem solving

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Problem Solving
• Combination of
1. Knowledge
2. Experience
3. Process
4. Art
• Ability to solve technical problems (involves a
combination of art and sciences)

• By science means by knowledge of the principle of

mathematics, chemistry, physics etc.

• By art means the proper judgment, experience and

common sense. – the art of problem solving is a skill
developed with practice.

Problem Analysis
• Before the solution taken, consider the follows:

1. How important is the answer to the given

problem?
2. Would a rough, preliminary estimate be
satisfactory or is a high degree of accuracy
demanded?
3. How much time do you have and what resources
are at your disposal?

• Problem solving is approach in a logical and

organized method, if it follows a process

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Problem solving
 Can be more efficient if it follows a process
 Engineering Method
• As an example of a process!
• Consists of six basic steps

Engineering Method
1. Recognize and understand the problem
2. Accumulate data and verify accuracy
3. Use visual images and symbols
4. Select appropriate theory or principal
5. Make necessary assumption
6. Solve the problem
7. Verify and Check Results

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1. Recognize & Understand problem

 If the problem is not well defined

1. Study the problem

2. Eliminate the things that are unimportant
3. Focusing on the root of the problem
4. This can help eliminating false trial & shortening
time taken

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2. Accumulate data & Verify accuracy

 All pertinent physical facts, such as sizes, temperature,

voltages, currents, costs, concentrations, weights, times
etc. must be ascertained

 Deal only with items that can be verified.

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3. Use visual images and symbols

 Convert problem statements into drawings or diagrams

and relate each property or quality to various symbolic
representations

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3. Select the appropriate theory or principal

Select appropriate theories or scientific

principles that apply to the solution of the
problem.

Understand and identify limitations or

constrains that apply to the selected theory.

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4. Make necessary assumptions

 Perfect solution to real problem do not exists

 Simplification and assumptions need to be made

** step no. 3 and no. 4  the order of these two

steps may be reversed

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5. Solve the problem

 Solve using the application of mathematical

theory provided by previous step

 Trial error solution

 Results normally will be in numerical form

with appropriate units.

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6. Verify and Check Results

 Result must be check to ensure the correctness

 Correctness can be verified by:

 Repeat solution using different technique

 Experiment
 Examined the answer whether it makes sense or
not

 Units  used correct units  dimensionally

correct..

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Problem Presentation and

Organization

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Problem Presentation
1. Problem statement
2. Diagram
3. Theory
4. Assumptions
5. Solutions Steps
6. Identify results and verify accuracy

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1. Problem statement

 State as concisely as possible the problem to be

solved.

 The statement should be a summary of the

given information, but must contain all
essential material.

 Clearly state what is to be determined.

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2. Diagram

“A picture paints a
thousand words!!”
 Prepare a diagram with all pertinent
dimensions, flow rates, currents, voltages,
weights etc.
 A very efficient method of showing
given and needed information.
 Appropriate way of illustrating the
physical setup, which may be difficult to
describe adequately in words.

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3. Theory

Referenced equation with completely

defined variables is sufficient.
Extensive theoretical derivation may be
necessary because the appropriate theory
has to be derived, developed or modified.

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4. Assumptions

List in complete detail all assumption that have

been made to realize solution to the problem.
Important for reader’s understanding of
solution and limitations.

5. Solution steps - steps of solving the

problem

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6. Identify results and verify accuracy

Clearly identify the final answer.

Requires that the answer be examined to
determined if it is realistic, so check solution
accuracy and if possible, verify the results.

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Example of Problem Solution presentation

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Example of Problem Solution presentation

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LABORATORY REPORT WRITING

“A GOOD lab report does more than present data ;

it demonstrates the writer's comprehension of the
concepts behind the data ”

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General Suggestions

 Write a neat report. You should ensure that all

sentences are grammatically correct and that
there are no mistakes in spelling.
 Organize your data in a data table.
 Carry units in all calculations.

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GUIDELINES
1. COVER PAGE

The cover page of your lab report should

include:
 the name of the experiment;
 your instructor's name;
 your name & student id ;
 the date the lab was performed;
 the lab due date or submitted.

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1. TITLE
2. OBJECTIVE

 The objective is the reason you are doing the

experiment.
 Before you write the objective you need to know why
you are doing the experiment.
 The objective should be stated clearly in your own
words.

3. EQUIPMENT

 This section contains a list of the equipment that you

used to perform the experiment.
 When possible, draw a diagram to illustrate the
apparatus.
 number of the equipment where possible

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4. PROCEDURE
• This section includes a description of what you did. A step by step
format is the best approach.

5. RESULT & CALCULATION

 This section is where measurements taken during the experiment
are reported.
 Data should be reported in a clear and organized way (pie chart,
diagram, graph).
 Calculations based on the data are presented in this section. You
need to report all the calculations that you did. You need to provide
the formulas used to compute your results. Sample calculation.

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6. DISCUSSION

 This section provide a discussion of whether

or not you feel the errors are reasonable.
 It is the most important part of your report,
because here, you show that you understand
the experiment beyond the simple level of
completing it.

Explain. Analyze. Interpret

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Analysis Interpretation

What do the results What is the significance

indicate clearly? of the results?

What have you found? What questions might

we raise?
Explain what you know
Find logical explanations
with certainty based
for problems in the
on your results . data.

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7. CONCLUSION

• Conclusion can be very short .Be sure to go

back and reread your objective before writing
your conclusion.

• Your conclusion should be tied to the objective.

Was the objective for the experiment met?
State whether or not you achieved your objective.

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Computer Solutions

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COMPUTER SOLUTION
A simple problem may require only brief hand
calculations or the use of engineering calculator.

If the complexity of the solutions is high or the

amount of data or number of cases to be
processed is large, other methods should be
considered.

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USE COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN

ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS

 Spreadsheet
 Math Calculation Packages
 Programming Languages
 Flowcharting
 Computer Aided Design (CAD)

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Spreadsheet
Example software :-
EXCEL, Lotus 123 and Quattro Pro.

Handling large quantities of data and in

allowing repetitive calculation to be done in
relative ease.
Allows to store original data, computed results
and charts in electronic form.

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Math Calculation Packages

Example Software :-
Maple, MathCAD, Mathematica, Matlab.

Ability to perform complex mathematical

computations (algebra, calculus, differential
equation)

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Programming Languages
Example :-
FORTRAN, C++,Visual Basic, MATLAB
Prepare solution to certain problems

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Flowcharting
Logic diagram to describe each step that the
program must perform to arrive at the
solution.
A popular logic tool used for showing an
algorithm in graphics form.
Programmer prepares flowchart before
coding.

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Purpose of Flowcharting
An aid in developing the logic of a
program.
Verification that all possible conditions
have been considered in a program.
Provides means of communication with
others about the program.
A guide in coding the program.
Documentation for the program.

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Flowcharting
Most common flowchart symbols are:

Start / End Input/Output Processes

Choices

Three general structures:

• Sequential structure Flow Arrow

• Selection structure
• Repetitive structure

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Example of Flowchart:
Sequential Structure

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Example of Flowchart:
Selection Structure

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Example of Flowchart:
Repetition Structure

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Computer Aided Design (CAD)

 Example :-
 Solidworks, AutoCAD, Catia

solid 2D or 3D modelling, analysis

used to produce computer animation
for special effects in movies,
advertising and technical manuals
 benefits :- save time for analysis

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NEXT CLASS
Chapter 4
ENGINEERING ESTIMATION & APPROXIMATIONS

 Errors
 Significant Digits
 Accuracy and precision
 Approximations

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