NUMERICAL METHODS WITH

APPLICATIONS
(MEC500)

Dr. Siti Mariam binti Abdul Rahman

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Office: T1-A14-12C
e-mail: mariam4528@salam.uitm.edu.my
Course Information
Course Code : MEC 500
Course Name : Numerical Methods with Applications
Level : Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) Mechanical
Credit unit :3
Contact Hours : Lecture : 2 hrs/week
Tutorial : 0 hrs/week
Practical : 2 hrs/week
Part :6
Course Status : Non core
Prerequisite : MEC424 and MEC454
Course Outcome
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

a) Describe various techniques and their limitations in

solving engineering problem (PO1, LO1, SS1]{C2}.
b) Apply various numerical techniques in solving
engineering problems [PO1, LO1, SS1]{C3}
c) Distinguish the numerical techniques in solving
engineering problems [PO3, LO3, SS1]{C4}.
d) Use computational tools to solve mathematical
problems [PO5, LO2, SS1]{P4}.
Syllabus Content
Week Topics Contact
hours
Week 1 2 Chapter 1: Introduction 4 hours
Introduction to Mathematical Modeling and
Computing Environment
Approximation and Round Off
Truncation Errors and Taylor Series
Week 3 - 4 Chapter 2: Roots of Equations 4 hours
Bracketing Methods
Open Methods
Roots of Polynomials
Engineering Applications
Week 5 6 Chapter 3: Linear Algebraic Equations 4 hours
Gauss Elimination, Matrix Inversion, and
Gauss-Seidel Methods
LU Decomposition
Engineering Applications
Syllabus Content
Week Topics Contact
hours
Week 7 9 Chapter 4: Curve Fitting 5 hours
Least-Squares Regression
Interpolation
Engineering Applications
Week 9 - 11 Chapter 5: Numerical Differentiation and 5 hours
Integration
Newton-Cotes Integration
Numerical Differentiation
Engineering Applications
Week 12 14 Chapter 6: Ordinary Differential Equations 6 hours
Runge-Kutta Methods
Multistep Methods
Boundary-Value and Eigenvalue Problems
Engineering Applications
Assessment
Coursework : 100 %

Assignments : 40 %
Test 1 : 15 %
Test 2 : 30 %
Test 3 : 15 %
Question?
NUMERICAL METHODS WITH
APPLICATIONS
(MEC500)

Chapter 1: Introduction to
Numerical Methods and
Error Analysis
Outcomes of Chapter 1
Describe numerical techniques as compared to
analytical methods
Use Taylor series expansion to approximate a
function
Perform error analysis associated with numerical
methods
1.1: Introduction to Mathematical
Modeling and Computing Environment

What: Method that provides approximate solution

to engineering problems.
Why: To assist decision-making process in
engineering
When: When analytical solution cannot be
gathered

Applications: Finding root(s) of a function, solving

linear algebraic equations, fitting curves to data,
interpolating the function
 Problem
Problem
definition
definition

Mathematic
Mathematic EXPERIMENTATIO
EXPERIMENTATIO
THEORY
THEORY
al
al model
model N
N

Tools:
Tools:
Computer,
Computer, statistics,
statistics,
numerical
numerical methods,
methods,
graphics
graphics

Numeric
Numeric oror
graphic
graphic
results
results
Societal
Societal interfaces:
interfaces:
Scheduling,
Scheduling, optimization,
optimization,
communication,
communication, public
public
interaction
interaction

Implementatio
Implementatio
n
n
Solving engineering
problem
How to solve engineering problem?
Formulate mathematical model
Solve mathematical model

Modeling [Representing real world by

mathematical functions]
Modeling requires understanding of engineering
system
By observation & experiment (empirical)
Theoretical analysis & generalization
Mathematical model
A mathematical model can be defined as a formulation or
equation that expresses the essential features of a physical
system or process in mathematical terms.
Models can be represented by a functional relationship
between dependent variables, independent variables,
parameters, and forcing functions.
Used to predict the behavior of a system.
Model mathematical function:
q0 = f(qi,c,u)

q0 = dependent variable
qi = independent variable(s)
c = parameter(s)
u = forcing function(s)
Mathematical model
Characteristics of mathematical model
It describes a natural process or system in mathematical
terms
It represents an idealization and simplification of reality
It yields reproducible results and consequently can be
used for predictive purposes [useful in design process]
Some model can be very complex & may not be solved
exactly or require more sophisticated mathematical
techniques than simple algebra for their solution
Mathematical model
Example: Newtons 2nd Law -the time rate change of
momentum of a body is equal to the resulting force acting on it.
The model is formulated as
F=ma
(dv/dt) = F/m
(d2x/dt2) = F/m
Linear position (x): dependent variable
Force (F): forcing function
Time (t): independent variable
Mass (m): parameter

Complexity increases if we include other effect such as friction or

wind resistance
Example of mathematical
modeling and problem solving
Free falling object situation released from rest at t = 0.

y = y0 + v0t + (1/2)gt2 equation of motion

g = gravitational acceleration = 9.81 m/s2
v0 = initial velocity (=0)

Analytical solution:
We need to solve
dy/dt = v = v0 + gt
this first!
V = 0 + 9.81t
v = 9.81t
At t = 2.0s
v = 9.81(2.0) = 19.61 m/s (True solution)
Example of Mathematical
modeling and Problem Solving
Numerical solution: Forward finite difference (eg.)
vi = yi+1 yi / ti+1 ti

What we need:
Values of the position y at discrete time t
at least two points

The numerical solution approaches the true value when the

step size is reduced
t(s) 0 2 4 t(s) 0 2 2.05
y(m) 0 19.62 44.145 y(m) 0 19.62 20.6132
6
v(t=2) = 12.2625 m/s v(t=2) = 19.86525
m/s
 Problem
Problem
definition
definition

Mathematic
Mathematic EXPERIMENTATIO
EXPERIMENTATIO
THEORY
THEORY
al
al model
model N
N

Tools:
Tools:
Computer,
Computer, statistics,
statistics,
numerical
numerical methods,
methods,
graphics
graphics

Numeric
Numeric oror
graphic
graphic
results
results
Societal
Societal interfaces:
interfaces:
Scheduling,
Scheduling, optimization,
optimization,
communication,
communication, public
public
interaction
interaction

Implementatio
Implementatio
n
n
Five categories of numerical
methods
1. Roots of equations
concerned with the value of a
variable or a parameter that satisfies
a single nonlinear equation
Solve for x so that f(x) = 0

2. Systems of linear equations

a set of values is sought that
simultaneously satisfies a set of
linear algebraic equations
Solve for xs, given the asand cs
a11x1 + a12x2 = c1
a12x1 + a22x2 = c2
Five categories of numerical
methods
1. Curve fitting
fit curves to data points
regression & interpolation
2. Numerical differentiation and
integration
Integration: Find area under
the curve
Differentiation: Find slope of
the curve
3. Ordinary differential equations
determine the rate of change
of a quantity
Solve for y as a function of t
(From lecture notes by En. Hanif Mat)

We need to be
able to solve this
first!
Advantages of Numerical
Methods
Provide a powerful problem-solving tools
Reinforce understanding of mathematics
Provide insight and opportunity to analyze solution(s)
Reduce the amount of time used in arithmetic operations.

However, we need to understand the limitations of each

numerical methods:
Influencing factors
Complexity of the problem
Societal importance of the problem
Solutions are unbiased and precise
Cost effective
Minimal environmental impacts
 Next lecture:
Approximation & Round-off Error