ADVANCED NUMERICAL AND

COMPUTING TECHNIQUES
ASSIGNMENT 1

Name
Branch
Roll. No.
Contact No.
Title

Mathematics
Topic Used

Natansh Kishor Naidu

M.Tech Mechanical Engg. (Thermal)
14MME003
07405165953
1. To calculate the normal depth in a
rectangular channel.
2. Finding the roots of the equation to
find the temperature to which the
trunnion has to be cooled before it
is shrink fitted into a steel hub.
Newton-Raphson Method.

CONTENTS
Introduction
The Newton Raphson Method
Engineering Applications of the
Newton Raphson Method
References.

 INTRODUCTION
The limitations of analytical methods in practical applications have led
scientists and engineers to evolve numerical methods. Numerical methods
are techniques by which mathematical problems are formulated so that
they can be solved with arithmetic operations. Their aim is to provide
constructive methods for obtaining answers to problems in a numerical
form. Although Numerical Methods invariably involve large numbers of
tedious arithmetic calculations, it is little wonder that with the
development of fast, efficient digital computers, the role of numerical
methods in engineering problem solving has increased dramatically in
recent years.

THE NEWTON-RAPHSON METHOD

Let x0 be an aproximate root of the equation f(x) = 0. If x1 = x0 + h be the
exact root, then f(x1) = 0.
Therefore, expanding f(x0 + h) by Taylors series :f(x ) + hf (x ) +

h
f (x ) + . = 0
2!

Since h is small neglecting h2 and higher powers of h, we get :-

or

f(x ) + hf (x ) = 0
h=

f(x )
f (x )

Therefore, a closer approximation to the root is given by :x =x

f(x )
f(x )

Similarly starting with x1 a still better approximation x2 is given by

x =x
In general,
=

f(x )
f(x )

( )
( )

which is known as Newton-Raphson Formula or Newtons iteration

formula.

Advantages of the Newton Raphson Method : The Newton Raphson formula converges if the initial
approximation x0 is chosen sufficiently close to the root; and the
rate of convergence is very fast (has Quadratic Convergence).
Requires only one initial approximation
Disadvantages of the Newton Raphson Method : Divergence at inflection points
Problem of division by zero (i.e. when the slope of the curve is
horizontal computation of root may not be possible)

ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS OF THE NEWTON

RAPHSON METHOD:1. To calculate the normal depth in a rectangular channel.
1.1

The Problem
A rectangular channel is 2.3 m wide and laid at a bed slope of 1
in 350. If the Chezys constant C = 30 in SI units, determine the
normal depth when the flow is 0.75 m3/s.

1.2

Setting up the solution

The Chezys Formula can be written as,
Q = AC(mi)

In this example,
Q = 0.75 m3/s,
C = 30
i = 1 in 350.
Since the channel is rectangular and of width b(=2.3m) then we
can write Chezys formula as,

Q = by C

by
b + 2y

Where,
yn = normal depth of the rectangular channel

Gathering together the variables with known values we have,

Where K is a constant which can be evaluated. We can rewrite

this as a simple cubic equation in yn as follows,

1.3

The detailed solution.

For this example, as per the given data,

Now, our cubic equation is,

Here, it is observed that f(yn = 0) <0 and f(yn=0.5)>0. This

means that the solution yn of the above cubic equation lies in the
interval (0,0.5). Hence our initial approximation yn0 for the root
of the cubic equation should lie in the interval (0,0.5).
For inexperienced users it may be difficult to make an
appropriate approximation for yn0. A simple way of doing this is
to assume that the flow velocity, V = 1 m/s. In this case,
yn0=0.326 which belongs to (0,0.5). Thus yn0=0.326 can be
safely taken as the initial approximation yn0.
The calculations are as follows;

This process is now repeated using yn1=0.391m.

In practice, the iterations would stop at this point, however, to

further make the point that the Newton Raphson Method has a
quadratic rate of convergence, one further iteration is computed
with yn2=0.381m.

It should be noted that engineers do not normally work to this

level of numerical accuracy for depth calculations in open
channel flow, in practice it is meaningless.

2. A trunnion has to be cooled before it is shrink fitted into a

steel hub.
The equation that gives the temperature to which the trunnion
has to be cooled to obtain the desired contraction is given by:

Use the Newton-Raphson method of finding roots of

equations to find the temperature to which the trunnion
has to be cooled. Conduct three iterations to estimate the
root of the above equation. Find the absolute relative
approximate error at the end of each iteration.
2.1

Problem solution.

Let us assume the initial guess of the root of f(Tf) = 0 as

Tf,0 = -100.
Iteration: 1
The estimate of the root is,

The absolute relative approximate error |a| at the end of

iteration 1 is:

The number of significant digits at least correct is 0, as we need

an absolute relative approximate error of less than 5% for one
significant digit to be correct in our result.
Iteration: 2
The estimate of the root is,

The absolute relative approximate error |a| at the end of

iteration 2 is:

The number of significant digits at least correct is 1.

Iteration: 3
The estimate of the root is,

The absolute relative approximate error |a| at the end of

iteration 3 is:

REFERENCES:

Numerical Methods in Engineering & Sciences

by: Dr. B.S. Grewal
Hydraulics & Fluid Mechanics including Hydraulic
Machines
by: Dr. P.N. Modi & Dr. S.M. Seth
Publication : Example to show the use of the NewtonRaphson method to calculate the normal depth in a
rectangular channel.
by: School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds.
Publication: Newton-Raphson Method of Solving a
Nonlinear Equation.
Author: Autar Kaw