Numerical Methods For Engineers

Lecture 1: Introduction to Numerical Methods

By
MD Irfan Ali
Thermal & Aerospace Program
School of Mechanical Chemical & Materials
Engineering

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 Contents

1. Importance of Numerical Methods

2. Types of Numerical Methods

3. Fundamental Laws of Engineering

4. Subsidiary Laws of Engineering

5. Mathematical Modelling

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 Importance of Numerical Methods

1. Numerical methods are techniques by which mathematical

problems are formulated so that they can be solved with
arithmetic operations.
2. Using Numerical Methods solutions to complex systems can be
obtained with ease.
3. Numerical Methods save solving time and increases the
interpretation time.
4. With the development of fast, efficient digital computers, the
role of numerical methods in engineering problem solving has
increased dramatically in recent years.
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The three phases of engineering problem solving in (a) the
precomputer and (b) the computer era.

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 Types of Numerical Methods

1. Direct Methods
2. Iterative Methods

Direct Method Iterative Method

Direct Method produces solution in Iterative Methods produces solution in

finite number of steps. successive iterations, by using an
appropriate initial guess.

Operational count is possible. Operational count is not possible.

Example: Gauss-Jordan Method for Example: Gauss-Seidel Method for

solving system of linear equations. solving system of linear equations.

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 Fundamental and Subsidiary Laws

Fundamental Laws: These are the laws which every system in nature should obey.
Following are the three fundamental laws:
a) Law of Conservation of Energy
b) Law of conservation of Mass
c) Newton’s Laws of Motion

Subsidiary Laws: These laws are the mathematical correlations which the system
will obey under certain specified conditions. There are numerous subsidiary laws,
following are the some subsidiary laws of Heat Transfer:
a) Fourier’s Law of Heat Conduction
b) Newton’s Law of Cooling
c) Stefan-Boltzmann’s Law of Radiation
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 Mathematical Modelling

A mathematical model can be broadly defined as a formulation or equation

that expresses the essential features of a physical system or process in
mathematical terms. In a very general sense, it can be represented as a
functional relationship of the form
𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
= 𝑓(𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠, 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠)

where
1. the dependent variable is a characteristic that usually reflects the behaviour
or state of the system;
2. the independent variables are usually dimensions, such as time and space,
along which the system’s behaviour is being determined;
3. the parameters are reflective of the system’s properties or composition; and
4. the forcing functions are external influences acting upon the system.
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 Illustration of Mathematical Model: ‘F=ma’

𝐹 = 𝑚 ∗ 𝑎……………………………………..(1.1)
where F =net force acting on the body (N), m =mass of the object (kg),
and a =its acceleration (m/s2).

The second law can be recast in the format of Eq. (1.1) by merely
dividing both sides by m to give
𝑎 = 𝐹/𝑚………………………………………..(1.2)

Where
a = the dependent variable reflecting the system’s behaviour,
F =the forcing function, and
m =a parameter representing a property of the system.
Note that for this simple case there is no independent variable because
we are not yet predicting how acceleration varies in time or space.

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 Example: Solution to the Falling Parachutist Problem

A parachutist of mass 68.1 kg jumps out of a

stationary hot air balloon. The drag
coefficient is equal to 12.5 kg/s. Formulate the
problem and find the terminal velocity of
parachutist by using both Numerical and
Analytical Methods.

Schematic diagram of the forces acting on a falling

parachutist. FD is the downward force due to
gravity. FU is the upward force due to air
resistance. 9
 Analytical Solution
Newton’s law of motion should be applied on the parachutist to solve the
above problem i.e. 𝑎 = 𝐹/𝑚

𝑑𝑣 𝐹
→ = … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (1.3)
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐹 = 𝐹𝐷 + 𝐹𝑉 , 𝐹𝐷 = 𝑚𝑔, 𝐹𝑉 = −𝐶 ∗ 𝑣
On substitution of 𝐹𝐷 and 𝐹𝑉 in equation 1.3, we get
𝑑𝑣 𝑚𝑔 − 𝐶𝑣
→ = … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (1.4)
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
On simplifying equation 1.4, we get
𝑑𝑣 𝐶𝑣
→ =𝑔− … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … (1.5)
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
The analytical solution to the above equation using variable separable
method is:
𝑔𝑚 𝐶
− 𝑚 𝑡
𝑣 𝑡 = 1−𝑒 … … … … … … … … … … … … … (1.6)
𝐶
From the above equation we can calculate the parachutist velocity at any
time ‘t’.

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Analytical Solution

A velocity of 44.87 m/s (100.4

mi/h) is attained after 10 s. Note
also that after a sufficiently long
time, a constant velocity, called
the terminal velocity, of 53.39 m/s
(119.4 mi/h) is reached. This
velocity is constant because,
eventually, the force of gravity
will be in balance with the air
resistance. Thus, the net force is
zero and acceleration has ceased. 11
 Numerical Solution
𝑑𝑣 𝐹
→ =
𝑑𝑡 𝑚
Numerical Method always gives you an approximate solution. In the above
𝑑𝑣
equation ‘ 𝑑𝑡 ’ can be approximated as follows:
𝑑𝑣 ∆𝑣 𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 −𝑣(𝑡𝑖 ) 𝑑𝑣 ∆𝑣
≈ = , but from calculus 𝑑𝑡 = lim .
𝑑𝑡 ∆𝑡 𝑡𝑖+1 −𝑡𝑖 ∆𝑡→0 ∆𝑡
So on substituting the above approximation in the governing equation 1.3, we
get:
𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 𝐶
= 𝑔 − 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 … … … … … … … … … … … … … . . 1.7
𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖 𝑚
On rearranging 1.7, we get:
𝐶
𝑣 𝑡𝑖+1 = 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 + 𝑔 − ∗ 𝑣 𝑡𝑖 ∗ 𝑡𝑖+1 − 𝑡𝑖 … … … … … … … 1.8
𝑚
Equation 1.8 is the numerical solution for the problem.
For first iteration ‘𝑡𝑖 =0 seconds’ and ‘𝑡𝑖+1=2 seconds’ i.e. each interval width is 2
seconds. ‘𝑣 𝑡𝑖 =0m/s’. So the first iteration is as follows:
12.5
𝑣 = 0 + 9.8 − 0 ∗ 2 = 19.6 𝑚/𝑠
68.1
For second iteration: ‘𝑡𝑖 =2 seconds’ and ‘𝑡𝑖+1 =4 seconds’ i.e. each interval width
is 2 seconds. ‘𝑣 𝑡𝑖 =19.6 m/s’. So the second iteration is as follows:
12.5
𝑣 = 19.6 + 9.8 − 68.1 19.6 ∗ 2 = 32 𝑚/𝑠 …………..
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 Numerical Solution

The calculation is continued in a similar fashion to obtain

additional values:

It can be seen that the numerical method

captures the essential features of the exact
solution. However, because we have
employed straight-line segments to
approximate a continuously curving
function, there is some discrepancy
between the two results. One way to
minimize such discrepancies is to use a
smaller step size.

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Difference between Analytical and Numerical solutions

Analytical Solution Numerical Solution

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Difference between Analytical and Numerical solutions

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 Quiz: Choose the best answer

1) Numerical Methods are used to solve Engineering Problems due to the fact
that:
a) They are more accurate than the analytical methods
b) They are more tedious to solve engineering problems
c) They are more precise to solve engineering problems
d) They saves time of calculation with the aid of computers

Ans: d

Explanation: The main advantage of using numerical methods is that it solves

even the complex engineering problems in less time with the aid of computers.

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 Quiz: True or False

Statement: Solution of Numerical method is more accurate than the Analytical

method.

Ans: False

Explanation: Numerical methods always give the approximate solution,

whereas analytical solution always give you the exact solution.

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 Quiz: True or False

The mathematical model for any engineering system can be represented as:

𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
= 𝑓(𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠, 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠)

Ans: False

Explanation: The correct form is as follows:

𝐷𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒
= 𝑓(𝐼𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑉𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒𝑠, 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝐹𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠)

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 Quiz: Fill in the blanks.

1) Operation count is possible in ________________ method.

2) Formulation, Solution and ____________________ are the three phases of
engineering problem solving.
3) Law of conservation of Mass & Energy, and Newton’s Laws of motion are
the ____________________ laws of nature.
4) Gauss-Seidel Method to solve system of linear equations is a
________________ numerical method.
5) Numerical methods are classified as _______________ & ______________
methods.

Answers:
1) Direct
2) Interpretation
3) Fundamental
4) Indirect
5) Direct and Indirect.

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 Summary

Following topics are covered in this lecture:

1. Importance of Numerical Methods
1.1 Using Numerical Methods solutions to complex systems can be
obtained with ease.
1.2 Numerical Methods save solving time and increases the
interpretation time.
2. Types of Numerical Methods
2.1 The Direct Methods
2.2 The Indirect Methods
3. Fundamental Laws of Engineering
3.1 Law of conservation of energy
3.2 Law of conservation of mass
3.3 Newton’s laws of motion
4. Subsidiary Laws of Engineering
4.1 Laws of heat transfer
5. Mathematical Modelling

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