COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN

CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

An Introduction to myself
Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib
Associate Professor,
PhD of Civil Engineering (Water Resources Engineering)
University of Tehran, IRAN
Email:banihabib@ut.ac.ir, banihabib.m.e@gmail.com
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

An Introduction to myself
RESEARCH INTERESTS:
• Water Resources planning and management
• Sediment transport, debris flow, flood management and river restoration

PUBLICATIONS:
• Papers in Refereed Journals (In English): 39
• Papers in Iranian Refereed Journals (In Persian): 49
• Papers in Proceedings of International Conferences: 40
• Papers in Proceedings of National Conferences: 117
• Books and Guidelines: 11 books and national standard guidelines
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

An Introduction to the course

Course Title: COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN CIVIL ENGINEERING
• Introduction to Basic Concepts
• Errors in Numerical Methods
• Curve Fitting
• Numerical Interpolation and Integration
• Solution of Systems of Algebraic Equations (linear and non-linear systems)
• Finite Differences
• Stability, Consistency and Convergence
• Boundary and Initial Conditions
• Partial Differential Equations
• Numerical Solutions to Parabolic, Hyperbolic and Elliptic Equations
• Method of Characteristics
• Applications in Civil Engineering
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Extra syllabuses
•Optimization (Simplex and multi-objectives)
•Multi criteria decision models
•Artificial neural network
•Decision in uncertain and risk conditions
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

References
•1. Rajasekaran, S. (1986) numerical methods in science and engineering (A
practical approach). Chopra for A.H. Wheeler & co. (P) Ltd
•2. Donand Greenspan & Vincecenzo Casulli (1988) numerical analysis for applied
mathematics, science and engineering. Addison-Esley publishing company
•3. Kopchenova N.V. and I.A. Maron (1987). Computational mathematics. MIR
publishers, moscow
•4. Gerald C.F. (1980) applied numerical analysis. Addision-Wesley publishing
company
•5. Hoffman J.D. (2001) numerical methods for engineers and scientists. Second
edition revised and expanded. Marcel Dekker, Inc. New york. Basel
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Similar courses
•Numerical methods
•Classic Numerical Methods
•Modern Numerical methods
•Computational Hydraulic
•Computational fluid Dynamic (CFD)
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 1. Introduction To Basic Concepts

Steps of the basic concepts in computational methods
Algorithm Computatio
Start Real Engineering Problem Modelling Programing Results
/scheme n
Simplification Errors

Example:
1. Rainfall- runoff simulation (flood simulation) by HEC-HMS
2. River flow simulation by HEC-RAS
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Prevention and reduction of the errors in models

•Wrong input data causes wrong output from the model:
•GIGO: garbage in garbage out
•Models should be tested for simple cases with exact solutions
•Models should be examined for extreme (max and min) conditions of the
problems
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Prevention of the errors in algorithms

•Wrong algorithm causes wrong results
•Algorithms should be compared with examined previous algolithms
•Algorithms should be tested for simple cases
•Models should be examined for extreme (max and min) cases
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Prevention of errors in programing

Programs may have errors and warning:
•Errors always should be checked and remove from the program.
•But, warnings needs to be checked: They are:
1. Maybe errors (should be removed)
2. Or OK ( no action needed)
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Prevention of the errors in computation by computers

This error comes from limited bits in saving numbers by computers
and can be controlled by:
•Allocating enough digits for real numbers
•etc. (we talk about later)
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors in Numerical Methods

•Terminology
•Storing real numbers in computers
•Storing integer numbers in computers
•Storing real numbers in normalized scientific notation in computers
•Round off and truncation (approximation) errors
•Reducing round off errors
•Absolute error, relative error and percent error
•Measurement errors
•Errors in calculations, functions, polynomials and series
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors in Numerical Methods/Terminology

Significant Digits (SD):
•The significant digits, or figures, in a number are the digits of the
number which are known to be correct.
There are three rules on determining how many significant figures are in a
number:
• Non-zero digits are always significant. 123 (3 SD), 0.012 (2 SD),
• Any zeros between two significant digits are significant. 100.01 (5 SD)
• A final zero or trailing zeros in the decimal portion ONLY are
significant. 500. (3 SD), 0.0700 (3 SD)
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors in Numerical Methods/Terminology

Precision and Accuracy
•Precision refers to how closely a number represents the number it is
representing.
•Accuracy refers to how closely a number agrees with the true value of the
number it is representing.
•Precision is governed by the number of digits being carried in the numerical
calculations.
•Accuracy is governed by the errors in the numerical approximation.
• Precision and accuracy are quantified by the errors in a numerical
calculation.
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors in Numerical Methods/Terminology

The accuracy of a numerical calculation is quantified by the error of the
calculation. Several types of errors can occur in numerical calculations:
•Errors in the parameters (inputs) of the problem (assumed nonexistent).
•Algebraic errors (algorithms) in the calculations (assumed nonexistent).
• Iteration errors.
•Approximation errors (Ex: truncation error).
•Round-off errors.
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors in Numerical Methods/Terminology

•Iteration error is the error in an iterative method that approaches the
exact solution of an exact problem wrongly.
•Round-off error is the error caused by the digit/bite length employed in
the
•calculations.
•Approximation error is the difference between the exact solution of an
exact problem and the exact solution of an approximation of the exact
problem.
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University
Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: Storing real numbers in computers

•X=+/-(b n, bn-1, bn-2, …b2, b1, b0, b-1, b-2, b-3, ….b-k+1, bk )

•+/-(bn, bn-1, bn-2, …b2, b1, b0) is integer part.

•+/-(b-1, b-2, b-3, ….b-k+1, bk ) is mantissa part
•For Example:
•6.125=+(1x2^2+1x2^1+0X2^0)+(0x2^-1+0X2^-2+1X2^-3)
•6.125=(110.001) in binary form
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: Storing real numbers in computers

•For m bits t-1.
 

•For k bits t.
For example:
In 32 bit computer, we have 31 bits for integer figure and 1 bit for the sign
(+/-):-1 =2,147,483,647
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: normalized scientific notation

 •X=+/- M*
Where:
•M= mantissa
•C= exponent

For example: in a 32 bit computers:

•23 bits is for mantissa
•7 bits is for exponent
•1 bit is for the sign (+/-) of mantissa
•1 bit is for the sign (+/-) of exponent
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: normalized scientific notation

 Accordingly:

•The largest exponent is: -1=127

•The largest exponent is: =0.999,999,880,790,710,449,218,75

Thus, the largest normalized scientific notation in a 32 bit computer is:

The largest exponent is: (1-)=1.70141*

•Therefore: for numbers larger than Overflow

•Therefore: for numbers smaller than underflow
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: round-off and truncating errors

 If
we allocate n bits for mantissa:
• =<round-off error =<
•: =<truncating error =<

•For example in 32 bit computers: n=23 and we have:

• =<round-off error =<
•: =<truncating error =<
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: truncation error

 Truncation error comes reminder of the series and polynomials:

For example: we need to calculate series like this for sin, cos, tan, cotan
•
•If we use
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Chapter 2. Errors In Numerical Methods: Reducing round-off errors

1. Use maximum bits for mantissa for example 23 bits in 32 bit computers
2. Avoid from overflow and underflow and keep value [-1, 1] in
calculations. For example: If x and z have small values comparing to y,
use (x/z)*y instead of (x*y)/z
3. Reduce number of calculation. For example use Hoerner’s scheme in
calculating polynomials.
4. Remove ambiguity. For example f(x)= (1-cos x)/x, when x=0
5. Use Maclaurin Series in calculating sin & cos.
6. Use double precision in calculation.
 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN
CIVIL ENGINEERING
Dr. Mohammad Ebrahim Banihabib, Visiting
Professor, Eastern Mediterranean University

Homework and Exams

•Email your homework to: banihabib.watersoftware@gmail.com
•Note: other email should be send to: banihabib.m.e@gmail.com

•Every class homework:

1. Write 3 key statement of the class
2. Ask a Q about what was taught in class
3. Write a comment/suggestion about what was taught in class

•Final grade:
•20% homework
•35% midterm exam
•45% final exam