Abstract
Pathways: Computational Engineering
Mechanical Engineering Applications
Daniel D. Warner
Monday, November 16 10:30 - 11:30

This session will showcase material from a new course at Clemson University that has been 
developed for sophomore and junior students in Mechanical Engineering.  This workshop will
review the development of both programming skills using MATLAB, as well the mathematical
and physical knowledge to prepare the students to analyze an indeterminate planar truss.

The students will have completed an elementary course is statics and can set up and solve
a simple determinate truss by hand.  They have also had a brief introduction to MATLAB.
The 6 major steps along the path to analyzing an indeterminate truss are:
 1. Develop a computational approach to specifying and displaying a truss.
 2. Develop the mathematical background in matrix algebra and the numerical solution of 
    linear systems of equations.
 3. Develop the MATLAB codes for constructing and solving the linear system based on the 
    elementary summation of forces.
 4. Develop the formulation of potential energy based on virtual displacements.
 5. Develop the mathematical background in matrix algebra for minimizing a quadratic function
    of several variables.
 6. Develop the MATLAB code for constructing and analyzing the linear system that minimizes
    the potential energy.

The workshop participants will be provided with MATLAB codes and handouts that reflect each of
the 6 steps.  The codes will be executable, but will contain annotations indicating which
portions the students would normally be required to develop in their own.