Numerical Computations

MTH-307 
Dr. Abdul Jalil
Instructor’s Introduction
 Start Words
 If you don’t let a teacher know at what level you are by asking a
question, or revealing your ignorance you will not learn or
grow.
 You can’t pretend for long, for you will eventually be found out.
Admission of ignorance is often the first step in our education.

Steven Covey—Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Numerical Computations
 Numerical Computations are techniques to approximate
mathematical procedures (e.g., integrals)
 Approximations are needed because we either cannot solve the
procedure analytically (e.g., the standard normal cumulative
distribution function) or because the analytical method is
intractable (e.g., solving a set of a thousand simultaneous
linear equations for a thousand unknowns). 
 By end of this course, participants will be able to apply the
numerical methods for the following mathematical procedures 
Why use Numerical Computations?
• To solve problems that cannot be solved exactly
Mathematical Procedures
Mathematical Procedures
• Nonlinear Equations
• Differentiation
• Simultaneous Linear Equations
• Curve Fitting
• Interpolation
• Regression
• Integration
• Ordinary Differential Equations
• Other Advanced Mathematical Procedures:
• Partial Differential Equations
• Optimization
• Fast Fourier Transforms
Steps in Solving an Engineering Problem

Problem Description

Mathematical Model

Solution of Mathematical Model

Using the Solution

Relation of Different Aspects
Example of Solving an Engineering
Problem (real-life physical problem)

Bascule Bridge
Bascule Bridge THG
Bascule Bridge THG

Hub

Trunnion
a long hollow steel shaft

Girder
Trunnion-Hub-Girder The resulting steel
trunnion-hub assembly is
Assembly Procedure then shrinking fit into the
girder of the bridge.

Trunnion is shrunken fit

into a steel hub.
Step1. Trunnion immersed in dry-ice/alcohol
Step2. Trunnion warm-up in hub
Step3. Trunnion-Hub immersed in
dry-ice/alcohol
Step4. Trunnion-Hub warm-up into girder
Problem: Why did the trunnion get stuck?

Can you find out why?

 Specification
• A hollow trunnion of outside diameter 12.363” is to be fitted in
a hub of inner diameter 12.358”.
• The trunnion was put in dry ice/alcohol mixture (temperature
of the fluid - dry ice/alcohol mixture is -108oF ) to contract the
trunnion so that it can be slide through the hole of the hub. To
slide the trunnion without sticking, a diametrical clearance of
at least 0.01” is required between the trunnion and the hub.
• Assuming the room temperature is 80oF, is immersing the
trunnion in dry-ice/alcohol mixture a correct decision?
 Problem

After Cooling, the Trunnion Got Stuck in Hub

Why did it get stuck?
Magnitude of contraction needed in the trunnion was
0.015” or more. Did it contract enough?

As per specifications, the trunnion needs to

contract by
= trunnion outside diameter - hub inner
diameter + diametric clearance
= 12.363 – 12.358 + 0.01
= 0.015”
Expert Calculations-
Reduction in the outer diameter of the trunnion
Was model adequate?
• But, when the steel trunnion was put in the hub,
it got stuck.
• Why did this happen?
• Was our mathematical model adequate for this
problem or did we create a mathematical error?
Varying thermal expansion coefficient as a function of
temperature for cast steel.
Is the formula used, correct?
T(oF) α (μin/in/oF)
-340 2.45
-300 3.07
-220 4.08
-160 4.72
-80 5.43
0 6.00
40 6.24
80 6.47
The Correct Model Would Account for Varying
Thermal Expansion Coefficient
Can You Roughly Estimate the Contraction?

Ta=80oF; Tc=-108oF; D=12.363”

Can You Find a Better Estimate for the
Contraction?

Ta = 80oF
Tc = -108oF
D = 12.363"
 Estimating Contraction Accurately
Change in diameter
(D) by cooling it in dry
ice/alcohol is given by

Ta = 80oF
Tc = -108oF
D = 12.363"
Polynomial
Regression
The contraction in the trunnion is not enough to meet the
required specification of 0.015".
So what is the solution to the problem?

One solution is to immerse the trunnion in

liquid nitrogen which has a boiling point of -
321 F as opposed to the dry-ice/alcohol
o

temperature of -108 F.
o
Revisiting steps to solve a problem
1) Problem Statement: Trunnion got stuck in
the hub.
2) Modeling: Developed a new model

3) Solution: 1) Used trapezoidal rule OR b)

Used regression and integration.
4) Implementation: Cool the trunnion in liquid
nitrogen.