ENGSCI 344 : Modelling and Simulation in Computational Mechanics
Engineering
2020 Semester Two (1205) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
Learning Outcomes
- Design a computational approach to solve a real physical problem including making correct decisions around what questions need answering and whether simulation is the correct tool to answer those questions, scoping out the size of the problem, and identifying the scale of the simulations need to find the answers; be able to plan how to work to a deadline, make decisions around the type of physical model that needs to be solved; choosing appropriate parameter values, and identifying any potentially computationally difficult situations and how these might be dealt with through reformulation of the governing equations; be able to choose the correct numerical method and package for solving the problem at-hand and understand the limitations of the different methods\packages available, and how these issues might be mitigated, and know how to develop simple back-of-the-envelope calculations to sanity-check the solutions. (Capability 3.1 and 3.2)
- Know how to create and import geometry for numerical models, including understanding the options and approaches for geometry creation and importation, typical software options and the importance of planning ahead for meshing control, material region allocation and boundary conditions; understand basic concepts and tools, the use and benefits of parameter based geometry creation and the use of external scripting; understand when and why to import rather than create geometry directly, including strategies/import options/typical file formats, single and bidirectional associativity, problems that can arise, approaches to geometry repair and simplification and the motivation and approaches to de-featuring. (Capability 1.1)
- Demonstrate verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, at a level where you can communicate knowledge clearly and succinctly. Communicate results of numerical models in reports and presentations including knowing the key information to include, how to focus on what matters, key model data to include, the importance of clear presentation of model definition and results (not just pretty colour pictures), common mistakes (such as font sizes on graphs, poor use of contour intervals, lack of evidence of model validity, too little/too much information) and software based opportunities for automating some report generation. (Capability 4.2)
- Be able to define appropriate physical models that include appropriate equations of state (such as laminar or turbulent, Newtonian or non-Newtonian, single phase or multphase, porous\non-porous, linear/non-linear, static/dynamic), be able to choose appropriate boundary conditions and initial conditions, a suitable domain (e.g. finite or infinite, 2D or 3D), be able to identify reduced forms for the governing equations and identify their advantages\disadvantages. (Capability 1.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
- Be able to select appropriate solver types for numerical models, including knowing the different options required for Static vs Dynamic and Linear vs Non-linear problems and the effects of this choice on the structure of the resulting equations; be able to understand the differences between Explicit and Implicit solutions methods, the meaning of increments and iterations, solver stability, numerical damping and timescale control (such as adaptive, controlled, fixed) and termination conditions. (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
- Be able to effectively and efficiently undertake Visualisation and Post-Processing of results from numerical models, including having knowledge about the different ways of presenting the same data, (e.g. vorticity, flowfield, streamlines, stresses, strains and deformations); know how to make decisions about what outputs will provide the best answers to the question being asked, know how to represent complicated and large data sets in an accessible form, how to extract summative information from full simulation data, e.g. integrated quantities like flow rate, the importance of looking at output files/logs for warnings and errors and how to export results for further processing and-or graphing/presentation. (Capability 1.1)
- Undertake verification and validation of numerical models, including verifying for correct implementation of the model (is it solving the model correctly), validating against external data (is it solving the correct model), and assessing how good is ‘good enough’?; know how to review the conceptual, mathematical and computational aspects of the model, undertaking critical review of the simulation results, and the importance of undertaking simple initial models that can be compared to analytical calculations, benchmark and sub-system cases and making comparisons to experimental data for validation, while understanding the importance of considering the effects of experimental error; understand the differences between qualitative & quantitative assessment, accuracy vs precision, uncertainty vs error; be able to assess the credibility of numerical models and their repeatability and sensitivity to input data. (Capability 2.1)
- Formulate and analyse a practical engineering problem; design solutions to the problem using the tools and techniques discussed in the course (Capability 1.1, 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Group Presentation | 3% | Group Coursework |
| Reports | 30% | Individual Coursework |
| Presentation | 15% | Individual Coursework |
| Tutorials | 12% | Individual Coursework |
| Final Exam | 40% | Individual Examination |
| 5 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |||
| Group Presentation | ||||||||||
| Reports | ||||||||||
| Presentation | ||||||||||
| Tutorials | ||||||||||
| Final Exam | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 16 hours of lectures, 6 2-hour tutorials, and 3 hrs discussion and presentation sessions throughout the semester; and then approximately 89 hours of reading, thinking about the content, working on the course project and working on reports/presentations.
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.