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- Catalog Description
- 471 Intermediate Problem Solving for Engineers. II; 3 cr. Use of computational tools for the solution of problems encountered in engineering physics applications. Topics covered include orbital mechanics, structural vibrations, beam and plate deformations, heat transfer, neutron diffusion, and criticality. Emphasis will be on modeling, choice of appropriate algorithms, and model validation. P: Math 319 and NEEP 271 or Computer Science 310.
- Course Prerequisite(s)
- Math 319
- NE 271 or CS 310
- Consent of instructor with equivalent course in computing
- Prerequisite knowledge and/or skills
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Students must be familiar with one or two tools commonly used to solve engineering problems. These include procedural programming languages (FORTAN, C, C++, Java, etc.) or tools such as Matlab, MathCAD, Maple, and Excel. In addition, students must be familiar with the solution of linear ordinary and partial differential equations.
- Textbook(s) and/or other required material
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There is no text for this course. Extensive notes are distributed and several supporting web sites with sample input files are used.
- Course objectives
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Course Objectives: It is the instructor's intention to...
familiarize students with several modern tools and techniques for solving differential equations.
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familiarize students with the use of problem-solving skills for solving realistic engineering problems using problem-based learning techniques.
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Course Outcomes: Students must have the ability to...
numerically solve systems of ordinary differential equations.
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numerically solve 1-D boundary value problems.
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numerically solve elliptic partial differential equations.
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numerically solve parabolic partial differential equations.
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numerically solve hyperbolic partial differential equations.
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numerically solve eigenvalue problems.
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Carry out Monte Carlo simulations.
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apply these techniques to a series of complex, open-ended engineering problems.
- Topics covered
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Introduction
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Initial Value Problems -- Runge-Kutta methods for systems of equations
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Boundary Value Problems -- shooting and finite-difference methods
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Partial Differential Equations -- elliptic, parabolic, hyperbolic
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Eigenvalue Problems
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Monte Carlo Simulations
- Class/laboratory schedule
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EP 471 typically meets twice per week for 75-minute lecture/lab sessions in a computer-based classroom. Students spend most of the time in "hands-on" activities, working through problems with the instructor.
- Contribution of course to meeting the professional component
- This course contributes primarily to the students' knowledge of engineering topics, and does provide design experience.
The following statement indicates which of the following considerations are included in this course: economic, environmental, ethical, political, societal, health and safety, manufacturability, sustainability.
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EP 471 emphasizes open-ended problem sets, as described in the assessment tools section below. Because the course focuses on numerical methods, there is little coverage of any of ABET's supplemental topics (economic, environmental, etc.)
- Relationship of course to undergraduate degree program objectives and outcomes
- This course primarily serves students in the department. The information below describes how the course contributes to the undergraduate program objectives.
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EP 471 provides students with an education in practical computing tools and emphasizes open-ended problem solving. Problem sets and projects must be presented in clear, concise, written form, honing the writing skills of students taking the course.
- Assessment of student progress toward course objectives
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5 or 6 open-ended problem sets
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1 open-ended project on topic of student's choice
- Person(s) who prepared this description
