Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering

CHE — 374 – Computational Methods in Engineering,

Winter 2016——————————————————

SYLLABUS

Objectives
The main objective of the course is to provide the fundamentals of numerical methods to solve
various problems in engineering and science using digital computers. Both the principles and
applications of the numerical methods will be explained and illustrated.

Prerequisites
• MATH 102, 201, and 209

Cource Policy
• Policy about course outlines can be found in §23.4(2) of the University Calendar—
http://www.registrar.ualberta.ca/calendar/

Important Dates
• Lectures begin: January 4, 2016 (Mon.)

• Lectures end: April 8, 2016 (Fri.)

• Holidays: February 15, 2016 (Family Day), March 25, 2016 (Good Friday), March 28,
2016 (Easter Monday)

• Reading Week - February 15-19, 2016 (no classes)

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• Midterm Exam I: February 1, 2016, 10:00–10:50am, ETLC1 E1-013 (typical Monday

lecture time and location)2

• Midterm Exam II: March 07, 2016, 10:00–10:50am, ETLC E1-013 (typical Monday
lecture time and location)3

• Final Exam: April 21, 2016, 9:00-11:00am, location is TBA.

Location & Time of Lectures and Seminars

• Lectures: MWF, 10:00–10:50am, ETLC E1-013.

• Seminars:

– Beginning Jan. 08, 2016.

– J1: F, 8:00–8:50am, ETLC4 E2-005
– J2: F, 14:00–14:50pm, ETLC E2-005
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http://campusmap.ualberta.ca
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the location is to be updated
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the location is to be updated
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http://campusmap.ualberta.ca

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 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
CHE — 374 – Computational Methods in Engineering,
Winter 2016——————————————————

Instructor, Teaching and Grading Assistants

Instructor

• Instructor: Dr. Petr Nikrityuk.

Office: Donadeo ICE 12-261, E-mail: nikrityu@ualberta.ca
Office hours: Beginning Jan. 11, Mon. and Wed., 13pm-15pm pm or send an e-mail
(with subject: CHE374) to set an appointment.

• TA:

– Mr. Anton, Fadic; E-mail: anton.fadic@ualberta.ca

– Mr. Bansal, Hemant; E-mail: hemant@ualberta.ca
– Office hours: send an e-mail to set an appointment.

• Grading assistant Mr. Mehran Heydari; E-mail: mehran2@ualberta.ca

Text Book
• A. Gilat and V. Subramaniam. Numerical Methods for Engineers and Scientists. An
Introduction with Applications Using MATLAB .
R 2nd/3rd ed. 2011, Jon Wiley &
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Sons, Inc.

• The E-Text version is available: http://www.wiley.ca

• See a video for E-Text books: http://www.wiley.com/college/sc/wileyflex/wileyetext.

html

Supplementary Reading

• J.B. Riggs. Computational Methods for Engineers with MATLAB

R Applications. 2013.
Ferret Publishing.

Cource Website
https: // eclass. srv. ualberta. ca (eClass-Moodle)

Assignments
• Beginning Jan. 4, problem sets will be distributed electronically through the eclass –
website.

• Students are permitted to collaborate with one another in completing their assignments,
but any submitted material must be one’s own (see Academic Honesty in ’Statements’
below).

• Assignments are to be submitted into the Assignment Box according to the Schedule
below (on Tuesdays). Late assignments will not be graded.
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The bookstore ordered some hardcover copies.

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 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
CHE — 374 – Computational Methods in Engineering,
Winter 2016——————————————————

Assignment # Submission deadline Assignment # Submission deadline

1 January 12, 4pm 5 February 23, 4pm

2 January 19, 4pm 6 March 1, 4pm

3 January 26, 4pm 7 March 15, 4pm

4 February 9, 4pm 8 March 29, 4pm

Cource Activities and Mark Distribution

Grading will be assigned based on a combination of absolute and relative evaluation of student
performance, following the guidelines of the Faculty of Engineering.

• Assignments: 20%

• Midterm Exam I: 15%

• Midterm Exam II: 20%

• Final Exam: 45%

Grading Principles
The final mark on the 4-point system will be given based on a combination of absolute marks
assigned throughout the course and suggested distribution of grades.

Course Topics6
1. Introduction (covered in Exam I)

– Course organization, objectives.

– Modeling, Errors, Numbers in Computers
– Software tools: MATLAB .
R

2. Solution of Nonlinear Algebraic Equations (covered in Exam I and Final)

– Single equation
∗ Graphical method
∗ Bisection method
∗ Regula Falsi method.
∗ Newton’s method and Secant method.
∗ Fixed point iteration
– Systems of equations
∗ Newton’s method
∗ Fixed Point iteration method
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This content is basic one. Some specific topics can be modified or changed during the course.

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 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
CHE — 374 – Computational Methods in Engineering,
Winter 2016——————————————————

3. Solving Systems of Linear Algebraic Equations (covered in Exam I and Final)

– Gauss Elimination Method including pivoting

– LU Decomposition method
– Iterative methods: Jacobi, Gaus-Seidel including SOR
– Tridiagonal systems of equations
– Error, residual, norms and conditional number

4. Curve Fitting and Interpolation (covered in Exam II)

– Curve fitting with a linear and nonlinear equations

– Curve fitting with quadratic and higher-order polynomials

5. Numerical Differentiation(covered in Exam II and Final)

– Finite Difference approximation of derivatives

– High-Order finite-difference approximation of derivatives
– Numerical partial differentiation

6. Numerical Integration(covered in Exam II)

– Midpoint methods
– Trapezoidal method
– Simpson’s method
– Multiple integrals

7. Numerical Solution of Ordinary Differential Equations (ODE)(covered in Fi-

nal Exam)

– Initial Value problems

∗ Euler’s methods (explicit, implicit)
∗ Midpoint method
∗ Runge-Kutta methods
∗ Multistep methods
∗ Solving a system of First-Order ODEs
– Boundary Value problems
∗ The Shooting method
∗ Finite-Difference method

8. Introduction to Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations (PDE)

(covered in Final Exam)

– Classification of partial differential equations.

– Solution of Laplace and Poisson equations (2D) using Finite-Difference method.

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 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
CHE — 374 – Computational Methods in Engineering,
Winter 2016——————————————————

Audio/Video Recording
Audio or video recording of lectures and seminars or any other teaching environment by students
is allowed only with the prior written consent of the instructor or as a part of an approved
accommodation plan. Recorded material is to be used solely for personal study, and is not be
used or distributed for any other purpose without prior written consent from the instructor.

Lecture & Seminar Format

The focus of the lectures is to present basic concepts and algorithms for numerical solution of
engineering problems. A number of practical examples will be given to reinforce theory and
concepts.
The focus of the seminars will be to implement different algorithms on digital computer.
Complicated problems will be tackled to further understanding of the lecture theory and im-
prove the skills for the problem solving.

Calculator Policy
Only approved non-programmable calculators with gold stickers are allowed in all exams. Stu-
dents can purchase calculators at the University Book Store with stickers already affixed.
Calculators purchased elsewhere can be brought to the Dean’s Office where the appropri-
ate sticker will be affixed to the calculator. List of approved calculators can be found at
http://www.engineering.ualberta.ca/calculator.cfm.

Exam-Related Information
• All exams in the course are closed book. No any books and no any lecture notes
are allowed.

• Formula sheet will be provided. The formula sheets will be posted on the course
website one week before each exam. Exams will include both theoretical questions and
practical problems to be solved.

• ONE double side page (Letter Format, Width 27.94 cm, Height 21.59 cm) with
ONLY own hand-written notes (not scanned and not photo-copied) is allowed.

• Students writing examinations are required to confirm their identity by presenting their
student card or other acceptable photo identification.

• Only those aids, calculators, references, etc. authorized by the instructor may be brought
into the examination facility. The use of unauthorized personal listening, recording, pho-
tographic and/or computational devices is prohibited. Students who bring unauthorized
devices into an examination will be charged with cheating under the provisions of the
Code of Student Behaviour-www.governance.ualberta.ca.

Re-Examination Policy
• Policies regarding re-examinations are given in Section 23.5 of the University Cal-
endar.

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 Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
CHE — 374 – Computational Methods in Engineering,
Winter 2016——————————————————

Statements
• The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity
and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding aca-
demic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students
are particularly urged to familiarise themselves with the provisions of the Code of Stu-
dent Behaviour-www.governance.ualberta.ca and avoid any behaviour which could po-
tentially result in suspicious of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or
participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in
suspension or expulsion from the University, GFC 29 SEP 2003.

• Students who require accommodations in this course due to disability affecting mobility,
vision, hearing, learning, or mental or physical help are advised to discuss their needs
with Specialized Support and Disability Services, 2-800 SUB, 492-3381 (phone) or 492-
7269 (TTY).

Plagiarism & Cheating

• The following behaviour constitutes academic misconduct in this course (in addition to
those specified on the Code of Student Behaviour—www.governance.ualberta.
ca):

1. Looking at another student’s exam during a midterm or final.

2. Copying any part of an assignment from another student.
3. Permitting any other class member to copy any part of your assignment.
4. Using a programmable calculator in the exams.