Course Details

1. Use office automation software such PowerPoint and EXCEL software.
2. Explain methods for solving Linear Algebraic Equations and setup linear systems that apply to QS problems and solve.
3. Perform Interpolation and curve fitting, define curve fitting and Interpolation, and apply to experimental data.
4. 4. Analyse methods of numerical integration and use trapezoidal rule, Simpson’s rule and Gauss quadrature to and learn their field of application.
5. Perform Numerical Differentiation, explain the meaning and use of differentiation and apply to Civil Engineering problems.
6. Create programs that follow the general rules of computer programming.
7. Use MATLAB to implement algorithms solving civil engineering problems.

Revision of Related Software

Review the basics of PowerPoint and present guidelines to create visual presentations that communicate the presented material. Give examples of presentations that demonstrate the key points to follow and also presentations with examples to avoid. Review extensively the functions of EXCEL and explain how EXCEL can be used to manipulate data, create tables and graphs and how these are formatted to be used in presentations. Use EXCEL to create macros that are can be applied to the measurements of civil engineering works.

Numerical Methods

Setup systems of linear equations and solve using Gauss elimination. Use raw (experimental) data and perform interpolation and curve fitting to create graphs that describe the raw data. Use trapezoidal rule, Simpson’s rule and Gauss quadrature and learn their field of application. Perform Numerical Differentiation.

Computer Programming Using MATLAB

• Steven C. Chapra, Raymond P. Canale, Numerical Methods for Engineers, 4th Edition, Mc Graw Hill, 2002.

• Hamming R.W., Numerical Methods for Scientists and Engineers, 2nd Edition, Dover Publication, 1987.
• Press William H. P., Teukolsky S. A., Vetterling W. T., Flannery B. P., Numerical Recipes 3rd Edition: The Art of Scientific Computing, Cambridge University Press, 2007.

The course will be presented through theoretical lectures in class. The lectures will present to the student the course content and allow for questions. Part of the material will be presented using visual aids. The aim is to familiarize the student with the different and faster pace of presentation and also allow the instructor to present related material (photographs etc) that would otherwise be very difficult to do. The student will also have hands on experience in the computer lab where relevant software will be used to create simple computer programs. The learning process will be enhanced with the requirement from the student to solve exercises not only in the lab but also during the lectures. These include self-evaluation exercises which will be solved in class. These exercises will not be graded. Exercises will also be given as homework which will be part of the assessment. Besides from the notes taken by students in class, all of the course material will be made available through the class website and also through MOODLE. Finally the instructor will be available to students during office hours or by appointment in order to provide any necessary tutoring.