2.086 Numerical Computation for Mechanical Engineers
Fall 2011
Temperature field in an idealized railroad rail cross-section during a transient heat treatment process.
Instructors: Anthony T Patera, Henrik Schmidt
TAs: Justin Lee Miller, James Douglass Penn
Lecture:
MW 1-2.30 PM
(Room 1-390)
Lab: T 2-5 PM
(Room 14-0637)
Lab: R 2-5 PM
(Room 14-0637)
Lab: F 2-5 PM
(Room 14-0637)
Information:
Introduction to programming concepts including variable types, data structures, flow control. Numerical methods relevant to MechE including approximation (interpolation, statistical regression); integration; solution of linear and nonlinear equations, eigenproblems, ordinary differential equations, partial differential equations. Deterministic and probabilistic methods. Examples from MechE including lumped and continuum models from solid and fluid mechanics, heat transfer; dynamics and control; design and manufacturing. Assignments requiring MATLAB programming.
Announcements
2.086 Graders needed for Spring Term 2012
We hope we might convince several of you to join the Spring 2012 2.086 teaching team as graders for the problem sets. The time commitment is roughly 10 hours/week and the (financial) incentive is $11.00/hour. (Note the problem sets for Spring 2012 will largely be the same as the problem sets for Fall 2011.) Please let us know if you have interest.
Quite independent of the above, thanks for your very good performance last semester in 2.086 and also for your valuable feedback on ways to improve 2.086.
Best,
Tony
Announced on 05 January 2012 4:06 p.m. by Debra R Blanchard
Eigenproblems
Hi all:This semester in 2.086 we did not find time to consider numerical treatment of eigenproblems (apart from the use of "eig" within the ODE unit). You can find on Stellar under Unit VI some lecture notes of Professor Patera's on eigenproblems: basic mathematical properties and some simple but effective numerical techniques (in particular for finding extreme eigenvalues).
Have a terrific holiday break!
Best,
Debbie
Announced on 14 December 2011 3:53 p.m. by Debra R Blanchard
Final Lecture on Wednesday
On Wednesday, for those of you who do attend lecture (we hope as many of you as possible), we would like to get your feedback on some proposed MechE curriculum changes --- presently related to Course 2A but also perhaps ultimately to Course 2. These curriculum changes would involve the requirements for math, numerical
methods, and programming (2.086-like material) and hence your comments as 2.086 students would be extremely helpful. Mostly we would focus on syllabus issues, but we can also consider related pedagogy questions (i.e., how the material should be presented).
Note the session on Wednesday will not be about 2.086 per se, so we do encourage you to separately provide feedback on your 2.086 experience this semester; this will help us design a better 2.086. You can provide your 2.086 feedback through the usual evaluation channel at <http://web.mit.edu/subjectevaluation/>.
Best,
Tony
Announced on 13 December 2011 1:55 p.m. by Debra R Blanchard
Newton Final Bits
We've been busy uploading a few things for you under Unit VII...
1. At <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-0YLAThER84> you will find a video of James' robot arm demo from Monday's class.
2. You will find a scan of Professor Patera's Catenary Scribbles from Monday's class.
3. And you will find a zip file with the Catenary Matlab Scripts (demonstrated in Monday's class).
Finally, note that your last problem set (on Newton) is due 5PM tomorrow, Wednesday, 14 December.
Best,
...Debbie
Announced on 13 December 2011 1:49 p.m. by Debra R Blanchard
Pset 4 and Quiz 5
Pset 4 and Quiz 5 are ready for you to pick up. Come on by (Room 3-264) anytime today or Wednesday to pick them up.
Please note that I'll be out of the office tomorrow. I'll also be out from Thursday, 15 December, through Tuesday, 20 December, but I'll be back on 21 December.
Best,
...Debbie
Announced on 12 December 2011 12:35 p.m. by Debra R Blanchard
