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302 Experiment #1 Numerical Methods Using Excel Introduction Excel is a spreadsheet software package that can be used for data reduction, analysis, and presentation. Throughout the mechanical engineering laboratory course sequence, Excel can be used to perform least squares curve fitting, numerical differentiation, numerical integration, and experimental data analysis. The purpose of this experiment is to perform linear regression analysis on experimental calibration data. Numerical differentiation will be performed on displacement and time data obtained from a free falling weight. This will result in the determination of the object's acceleration. The rectangular or trapezoidal rule of numerical integration will be used to determine the root mean square value of a computer generated sinusoidal wave. Integration of the acceleration of a vibrating structure, resulting in the determination of the object's displacement as a function of time, will be accomplished using the trapezoidal rule. Pre-Lab Assignment Read Section 6.6, 6.7, 6.8 in the Wheeler and Ganji text, and solve problems 6.61 and 6.62. Hand in the prelab along with the report for this lab as an appendix. Assignment #1: Excel File Retrieval for Assignments Copy the three files (lab1-A.xls, lab1-B.xls, lab1-C.xls) needed for this "experiment" from the hard drive of the ME Lab computers, webpage or CD. Microsoft Excel will be used for processing data. Assignment #2: Least Squares Regression Least squares regression is a statistical means of determining the relationship between independent and dependent variables. In this assignment, data obtained from the calibration of a turbine flow meter will be analyzed. An equation of the form y = mx + b will be determined, compared, and plotted against experimental data. Procedure 1. Retrieve the file lab1-A.xls by clicking on File and then Open in Excel. 2. There should be two columns of data. Range B14 through B22 and C14 through C22 correspond to the flow rate in cubic feet per second and output voltage in volts respectively. Perform a regression analysis on the original data with flow rate as the dependent variable (y) and voltage output as the independent variable (x). In Excel click on Tools, Data Analysis, Regression, OK. In the Regression box, put B13:B24 in the Y range box, put C13:C24 in the X range box. Check the
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labels box and the Line Fit Plot box. In the Output box have the display of the results of the regression analysis in the output range beginning in cell F14. A linear fit to the data can be expressed mathematically as y = mx + b, where: m = x coefficient(s) x = the independent variable (voltage) b = constant Move the plot in the worksheet so that it will printed along with the results of the regression. Name, and save the graph and the worksheet. Assignment #3: Root Mean Square Determination of a Sine Wave The root mean square value or effective voltage of an alternating sinusoidal wave is defined as a voltage which has the same heating effect as an equal value of DC voltage. The RMS value of a sinusoidal wave can be determined by numerically integrating the waveform using the following equation: 1 T 2 RMS = y ( t ) dt T 0 where T = the period of the signal and y(t) is the amplitude of the waveform which varies with time. In this assignment, a sinusoidal wave will be generated with the computer and numerically integrated using the rectangular or trapezoidal rule. Procedure 1. Clear the Excel worksheet by clicking on File, New, General, OK. 2. Generate a sine wave by performing the following operations: In cells A3 through A103 generate time values from 0 to 2*pi. One method is to enter a zero in cell A2, the formula "=2*@pi()/100" in cell A3, and the formula "=A3 + $A$3" in cell A4. Then copy the contents of cell A4 into cells A5 through A103 by clicking on cell A4, clicking on Edit, Copy, and then dragging the mouse over cells A5 through A103. 3. In cell B3 type =@SIN(A3). This is the first y-axis value in units of volts. Copy this formula from cell B3 to cells B4 through B103. Plot the sinusoidal data. With the rectangular or trapezoidal rule, integrate the square of the sinewave and determine the root mean square value. Save the worksheet on your disk.

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Assignment #4: Numerical Differentiation Numerical differentiation can be used to determine the velocity and acceleration of an object from experimentally measured displacement data. The true derivative of a function is obtained by determining the slope of the tangent at a point on a curve. Numerically differentiating displacement data with respect to time is an approximation of the slope. Because numerical differentiation is conducted with a discrete number of data points, the derivative of the function is taken between two data points and therefore has an inherent error. As the resolution of the measured displacement data increases over a fixed period of time, the error associated with an approximated derivative decreases. The objective of this assignment is to determine the velocity and acceleration of an object by numerically differentiating measured displacement data. Procedure 1. Retrieve the Excel worksheet file named LAB1-B from the data input disk. This file contains experimental measurements of the distance traveled by an object falling freely under gravity. 2. Determine the velocity and acceleration of the object by numerically differentiating the displacement data using the trapezoidal rule. 3. Generate three separate plots of displacement, velocity, and acceleration. 4. Consider smoothing the data using regression techniques to allow for improved processing of the data set. Assignment #5 "Numerical Integration" The determination of the velocity and displacement of an object can be approximated by numerically integrating acceleration data. The integral of a function between two discrete data points is equal to the area under the function defined by those two data points. A mathematical approximation of the integral can be determined by simply calculating the area under the curve. As with numerical differentiation, the accuracy of approximating the integral can be increased by increasing the resolution of the measured data. Unlike numerical differentiation, numerical integration requires initial conditions to obtain meaningful results. The objective of this assignment is to determine the displacement of a point on a vibrating structure by numerically integrating acceleration data. The results will then be compared to simultaneously measured displacement at the same point on the structure. Procedure 1. Retrieve the worksheet file named LAB1-C.xls from the data input disk. There are three columns of data that represent the time, displacement, and acceleration of a point vibrating on a structure. The displacement was measured with an LVDT (linear variable differential transformer) and the acceleration was measured with an accelerometer. 2. With the given initial conditions (i.e., the first data points), numerically integrate the acceleration data twice and determine the displacement of the point as a function of time. 3. Plot the measured and calculated displacement data of the point on the same graph. Use legends to distinguish the measured data from the calculated data.

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Post-Lab Analysis 1. How well did the least squares data fit the originally measured data in assignment #2? Support conclusions for this question with two separate approaches. 2. Plot flow meter calibration data including legends for both measured and least squares fit data. 3. What is the RMS value of the sine wave generated in assignment #3? 4. Plot the sine wave with appropriate titles. 5. Discuss the method used to determine the velocity and acceleration from displacement data in assignment #4. What errors are associated with numerical differentiation and how may they be reduced? What effects did smoothing have on the results? 6. Generate separate plots of displacement, velocity, and acceleration data determined in assignment #4. 7. Discuss the method used to determine the displacement of the vibrating point of a structure in assignment #5. How well did the integrated acceleration data correlate with the measured displacement data? 8. Plot the LVDT data and displacement data obtained from the integration of acceleration measurement. 9. Is numerical integration less subject to the effects of random noise than numerical integration, based on your results in assignments #4 and #5? Justify your answer.

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