NUMERICAL METHODS WITH

APPLICATIONS
(MEC500)

Dr. Siti Rabizah Makhsin

Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Office: T1-A14-1A
e-mail: sitirabizah@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) Evaluate the numerical techniques in solving engineering problems
[PO3, LO3, SS1]{C6}.
d) Construct computational approach to solve engineering 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 Error
• Truncation Errors and Taylor Series
Week 3 - 4 Chapter 2: Roots of Equations 4 hours
• Bracketing Methods
• Open Methods
• Engineering Applications
Week 5 – 6 Chapter 3: Linear Algebraic Equations 4 hours
• Gauss Elimination, Matrix Inversion, and Gauss-
Seidel Methods
• LU Decomposition Method
• Engineering Applications
Week 7 Assignment 1 Deadline
Week 9 Intermediate Exam 1 2 hours
 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 Integration 5 hours
• Newton-Cotes Integration
• Numerical Differentiation
• Engineering Applications
Week 12 – 13 Chapter 6: Ordinary Differential Equations 6 hours
• Runge-Kutta Methods
• Multistep Methods
• Boundary-Value and Eigenvalue Problems
• Introduction to Finite Element Method
• Engineering Applications
Week 14 Intermediate Exam 2 2 hours
Week 14 Assignment 2 Deadline
 Assessment

• Coursework : 100 %

• Assignments : 40 % (Mini Project 1 = 20%

Mini Project 2 = 20%)
• Test 1&2 : 60 % (TEST 1=30%, TEST 2=30%)
 Recommended Textbook

• Chapra, Steven C., and

Canale, Raymond P.,
Numerical Methods for
Engineers, Seventh Edition,
International Edition,
McGraw-Hill, 2015.
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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
• Perform error analysis associated with numerical
methods
• Use Taylor series expansion to approximate a function
 What is Numerical Methods??

• techniques by which mathematical

problems are formulated so that
they can be solved with arithmetic
operations.
• involve large numbers of tedious
arithmetic calculations.
 Noncomputer Methods

• Analytical or exact methods – direct solution  results in

exact solution (simple, closed-form mathematical
structure)
• Graphical solutions used to solve complex problems but
the results are not very precise (totally tedious without
computer)  limited problems
• Calculators
 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 x’s, given the a’s and c’s
a11x1 + a12x2 = c1
a12x1 + a22x2 = c2
 Five categories of numerical methods
3. Curve fitting - fit curves to data points
• Regression
 a significant degree of error associated with
the data. (e.g. Experimental results)
 derive a single curve that represents the
general trend of the data without necessarily
matching any individual points.
• Interpolation
 to determine intermediate values between
relatively error-free data points. (e.g. tabulated
information)
 to fit a curve directly through the data points
 use the curve to predict the intermediate
values.
 Five categories of numerical methods
4. Numerical differentiation and
integration
• Integration: Find area under the
curve
• Differentiation: Find slope of the
curve
5. Ordinary differential equations
• determine the rate of change of a
quantity
• E.g range from population-
forecasting models (rate of change
of population) to the acceleration of
a falling body (the computation of
eigenvalues)
• Solve for y as a function of t
 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…
 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 & generalisation
 Engineering Problem Solving Process

Problem
definition

THEORY
Mathematical
DATA
model

Tools:
Computer, statistics, numerical methods,
graphics…

Numeric or
graphic results

Societal interfaces:
Scheduling, optimization, communication,
public interaction…

Implementation
 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) ---- (eq 1)

q0 dependent variable a characteristic that usually reflects the
behavior or state of the system
independent dimensions, such as time and space,
qi along which the system’s behavior is
variable(s)
being determined
parameter(s) constants reflective of the system’s
c properties or composition
forcing function(s) external influences acting upon the
u system
 Mathematical model
• Example: Newton’s 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:
NO independent
F=ma … (Eq 2)
variable 
• Net force acting on the body , F (N or kgms-2) not yet predicting how
• Acceleration, a (ms-2) acceleration varies in time
or space.
• Mass of the object , m (kg)

Parameter
• Rearrange eq 2 in eq 1 format: a=F/m (represent the
property of system)
Dependent variable
Forcing function
 Mathematical model
• Characteristics of mathematical model
• It describes a natural process or system in mathematical terms
• It represents an idealisation 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
Example of Mathematical Modelling & Problem Solving:
Determine the terminal velocity of a free-falling body near the
earth’s surface
Upward force due to Acceleration (a) as the time rate of change of the velocity
air resistance (dv/dt) and substituting it into Eq. 2:

dv/dt = F/m v - velocity (m/s) and t-time (s).

g- gravity (9.81 m/s2)
c-proportionality constant drag
coefficient (kg/s).
Net force, F = FD + FU
FD = mg (if downward force assigned as positive sign)

Fu = – c v If assume the Fu as linearly proportional to

velocity (upward direction)

dv/dt = (mg – cv)/m  dv/dt = g – (c/m) v ….(Eq 3)

if the parachutist is initially at rest ( v=0 at t=0),

Downward force due 𝒈𝒎 −
𝒄
𝒕
to gravity 𝒗 𝒕 = (𝟏 − 𝒆 𝒎 …….( Eq 4)
𝒄
Example of Mathematical Modelling & Problem Solving:
Determine the terminal velocity of a free-falling body near the
earth’s surface

Forcing function
Independent variable

𝒄
𝒈𝒎 − 𝒎 𝒕
𝒗 𝒕 = (𝟏 − 𝒆 ……. (Eq 4)
𝒄

Dependent variable Parameter

(represent the
property of system)
Example of Mathematical Modelling & Problem Solving:
Determine the terminal velocity of a free-falling body near the
earth’s surface  USING ANALYTICAL SOLUTION
Upward force due to Parachutist of mass 68.1 kg jumps out of a stationary hot air
air resistance balloon The drag coefficient is 12.5 kg/s.
𝒄
𝒈𝒎 − 𝒕
𝒗 𝒕 = (𝟏 − 𝒆 𝒎 ……. (Eq 4)
𝒄

𝟏𝟐.𝟓
𝟗.𝟖𝟏(𝟔𝟖.𝟏) − 𝒕
𝒗 𝒕 = 𝟏𝟐.𝟓
(𝟏 − 𝒆 𝟔𝟖.𝟏 = 𝟓𝟑. 𝟒𝟒 (𝟏 − 𝒆−𝟎.𝟏𝟖𝟑𝟓𝟓𝒕 )

Which can be compute to:

Downward force due

to gravity
Example of Mathematical Modelling & Problem Solving:
Determine the terminal velocity of a free-falling body near the
earth’s surface  USING NUMERICAL METHODS
Upward force due to Mathematical problem is
air resistance reformulated so it can be solved
by arithmetic operations.

Newton’s second law by realising

that the time rate of change of
velocity can be approximated.

If you are given an initial value for

velocity at some time ti, you can
easily compute velocity at a later
time ti+1 (finite divided difference)

New value = old value + (slope x

Downward force due
step size)  Euler’s Method
to gravity
Example of Mathematical Modelling & Problem Solving:
Falling Parachutist Problem USING ANALYTICAL SOLUTION

To compute the velocity using a step size of 2 s intervals with

Upward force due to
vo=0, c=12.5 and m=68.1
air resistance
𝟏𝟐. 𝟓
𝒗 = 𝟎 + 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 − 𝟎 𝟐 = 𝟏𝟗. 𝟔𝟐 𝒎/𝒔
𝟔𝟖. 𝟏
𝟏𝟐. 𝟓
𝒗 = 𝟎 + 𝟗. 𝟖𝟏 − 𝟏𝟗. 𝟔𝟐 𝟐 = 𝟑𝟐. 𝟎𝟒 𝒎/𝒔
𝟔𝟖. 𝟏

Downward force due

to gravity
Example of Mathematical Modelling &
Problem Solving:
Advantages of Numerical Methods
• Provide a powerful problem-solving tools (capable of handling large
systems of equations, nonlinearities, and complicated geometries that are
not uncommon in engineering practice and that are often impossible to
solve analytically)
• Reinforce understanding of mathematics
• Provide insight and opportunity to analyse 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