MathswhereisitusedinEngineering?

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(www.strava.com;www.prism.ie)
Topic EngineeringApplications SpecificExample
Complex
Numbers(incl.
DeMoivres
theorem)
ElectricalEngineering(A.C.Circuits):
Resistors,inductors,capacitors,power
engineering,
analysisofelectric&magneticfieldsand
theirinteractionswithmaterialsand
structures
Electronics:
Digitalsignalprocessing,imageprocessing
Mechanical/CivilEngineering:
Fluidflow,stressanalysis
SportsandExerciseEngineering/Biomedical
Engineering:
Signalprocessingandanalysis,power
meters,heartratemonitors
EnergySystemsEngineering:
Designofcontrolsystemstoprotectocean
energyconvertersatsea

Calculating the voltage, current and impedance (opposition to the passage of a

current)incircuitssuchastheoneshown.

AseriesRCcircuit

Analyse signals from a heart rate monitor and display on a device (such as a
computer,orsportswatch).

Heartratemonitorscompriseanumberofparts.Achestbelttransmitsasignaltoawatchwhich
displaystheappropriateheartrate.Monitorsmustbedesignedsoasnottodisplayinterfering
signals.
Matricesand
determinants
(incl.eigenvalues
andeigenvectors)
CivilEngineering:
Trafficengineeringandmodelling,structural
engineering(trusses),structuralengineering
ElectricalEngineering(A.C.Circuits):
Electricalnetworks
ElectronicEngineering&IT:
Computergraphics(zoom,rotations,
transformations,animationetc),Google
searchalgorithms,
Imageanalysisincludingfacialrecognition;

Modellingtrafficvolumesintoandoutofspecificzonesinacitynetworkinorderto
designnewinfrastructure.Thediagramoppositeshowsa6zonenetwork.

Atripdistributionmodelfortransportmodelling

Resistor
Capacitor
Voltage
Current
(i)
simplificationofcomplexdatasets,
advanceddataandsystemsmodelling,
digitalcommunications
MechanicalEngineering:
Mechanics,representationofstressand
strain
EnergySystemsEngineering:
Predictingemissionsofpollutantsfromnext
generationjetengines

Design of space frame roof structures. The calculation of forces in members of

complexstructuresusesmatricestodesigneachmember.

AspaceframeatParkwest/CherryOrchardTrainStation

Laplace
transforms
(solving
differential
equations)
BiomedicalEngineering:
Analysisofdefibrillatorsystems,drug
delivery,fluidflow
ElectricalEngineering:
Circuits,powersystems(generators),
feedbackloops(e.g.controlofaircraft
systems)
CivilEngineering:
Structuraldesign(earthquakeengineering)
MechanicalEngineering:
Mechanicsofvibrations,fluidflow
EnergySystemsEngineering:
Controlofbatterycharginganddischarging
inelectriccars

Determine the concentration of a drug as a function of time and distance from an

initial injection site. The diagram opposite shows a model of drug dispersal from 2
initialinjectionsites

Drugtransportat2injectionsites
Statisticsand
probability
CivilEngineering:
Floodmodelling,water/wastewater
treatment
ElectronicEngineering&IT:
Designingandmodellingtheinternet
BiomedicalEngineering:
Measuringperformanceofdrugs,catheters,
prosthesesetc
EnergysystemsEngineering/Civil
Engineering:
Windenergygeneration,waveheight
prediction
ElectronicEngineering&IT:
Failureratesforsemiconductordevices;
behaviourofsemiconductormaterialsand
structures;imageanalysis;data
compression;digitalcommunications
techniquesanderrorcorrection

Determinationofappropriatesitesfornewwindfarmdevelopments.Historicaldata
isanalysedusingstatisticstodeterminetheprobabilityofhavingacertainwindlevel
on a given day. Statistics are also used to determine where and when power is
requiredwithinthenationalgrid.
50yearreturnperiodsforhighwindsinIreland

Vectorand
Trigonometry
MechanicalEngineering:
Resolvingforcesinaplane,designofgears
(e.g.incars),designofairplanelandinggear
CivilEngineering:
Structuralengineering,surveying,traffic
engineering,geotechnicalengineering
ElectricalandElectronicEngineering:
Oscillatingwaves(circuits,signalprocessing),
electricandmagneticfields,designofpower
generatingequipment,radiofrequency(RF)
systemsandantennadesign
EnergySystemsEngineering:
Designofsuntrackingmirrors(heliostats)
forconcentratingsolarpowerplants
Calculatetherequiredheightforthelandinggearonajetaircraftwithagiventake
offangletoensureacertaintailclearancefromtheground(i.e.avoidtailstrike).The
loadonthelandinggearcanalsobecalculatedusingtrigonometryandvectors.

ABoeing777200freighterplanetailstrike(CopenhagenAirport,2011).Changesweremadeto
landinggeardesignandnewcomputeralgorithmsdevelopedtopreventpilotsincreasingpitchif
thereisariskoftailstrike
Differentiation/
differential
equations(e.g.
ordinary
differentialand
partialdifferential
equations,
separationof
variables,ratesof
change,Fourier
Series)
EnergySystemsEngineering(Mechanical&
Civil):
Computationalfluiddynamics,modellingof
airflowinbuildings(fordesignand
temperaturecontrol),designofHVAC
systems,waveequationforwaterand
seismicwaves
ElectricalandElectronicEngineering:
Calculationofcurrentsinacircuit,wave
propagation,designofsemiconductors,
ImageAnalyses(e.g.edgedetection)
CivilEngineering:
Hydraulics,conservationofmassequations
(e.g.wastewaterandwatertreatment),air
pollutionmodels,designofreactorvessels,
predictingquantitiesofmaterialsnecessary
forconstruction,designoffoundations(soil
consolidation),computationalsolid
mechanics
MechanicalEngineering:
Fluidflow,dynamics(motionofprojectiles,
simpleharmonicmotion),heattransfer,
temperaturedistribution,combustion
(internalcombustionengines),
computationalsolidmechanics
GeneralEngineering:
Calculatevolumes,areasandlengthsof
objects,shapes,lines&curves

Design wastewater treatment reactors to remove pollutants before discharge to a

river. The size of the treatment system, the amount of oxygen required, pumping
requirementscanbecalculated.Thequalityoftheeffluentcanalsobepredicted.
Modellinghydraulicsandcontaminantflowinawastewatertreatmentplant

Automobiledesign.Optimisethedesignofautomobileinternalcombustionsystems
bymodellingpressuresininletvalves,cylindersandoutletvalves.Thesecalculations
areusedtomodelcombustionefficiencyandimprovepoweroutputsinvehicles.

op
o
+
o
oe
(pp) +pE = u
Amodelofaninternalcombustionengine.Suchmodelsusepartialderivates(forexample
conservationofmassequations).
Integration(e.g.
integrationby
substitution,
integrationby
parts,partial
fractions,root
meansquares
etc.)
SportsandExerciseEngineering:
Gaitanalysis,powermeters,designof
portableandwearablesensors
CivilEngineering:
Modellingofpollutiondispersal,modelling
andforecastingofoceancurrents,waves
andtheeffectofclimateonthese,fire
engineering
MechanicalEngineering:
Fluidmechanics(e.g.deicingplanes),
dynamics(motionofprojectiles,simple
harmonicmotion),mechanics,
determinationofcentreofmassofobjects,
designofcombustionvessels,fuelcells
BiomedicalEngineering:
Modellingofinternalorgans(e.g.modeland
testmedicalhypothesisofkidneyfunctions
toaidtreatment)
EnergySystemsEngineering:
Forecastingtheeffectofrenewableenergy
onreducinggreenhousegasemissionsinto
thefuture.
ElectricalandElectronicEngineering:
Designofthyristorfiringcircuits(usedin
powersupplies,photographicflashlights,
dimminglights,alarmsystems,robotics).
GeneralEngineering:
Foodprocessing(designofmilkprocessing
systems,productionofcheesestrings
(coolingrequirementstoensurebacteriaare
killed)!

Thyristors are solidsate semiconductors devices (similar to diodes) that act as

switches. They are mainly used to control alternating currents where high voltages
and currents are involved. Integration can be used to design thyristors for
applicationssuchasshownbelow.

Shownaboveisasimpledooralarmcircuitwithathyristor.Thyristorsarealsousedextensivelyin
robotics.

The development of new artificial joints is revolutionising medicine and improving

patientqualityoflife.Biomedicalengineersdesignandtestthesedevices.Inparallel
itisvitalthesedevicesworkproperlywheninstalledinthehumanbody.Forexample
integrationmathematicsisusedtodesigntheoptimalshapeorcalculatestressesin
artificialhips.

Acustomdesignedartificialhipforapatient.Motionanalysiscanhelpmanufacturersofartificial
jointsimprovetheirdesign(shownaboveisgaitanalysisdatafromamultiplesclerosispatientinred
withahealthyadultinblue).
Resistor
Resistor
Door Switch
Thyristor LED
9V DC
Functions,
polynomial,
linear
equations
(Gaussian
elimination),
inequalities,
logarithms,
Euclidean
geometry(incl.
plane
intersection)
Almostallengineeringproblemswilluse
someifnotallofthesetopics.
GeneralEngineering:
Empiricalrelationshipsforengineering
design,curvefitting,kinetics(biologicaland
chemicalreactions),fuelcelldesign,traffic
modelling,poweranalysis,optimisationof
industrialprocesses(e.g.injectionmoulding
systems),stressanalysis,determiningthe
sizeandshapeofalmostallengineeredparts
(e.g.wherebeamsareweldedtogetheratan
angletheyhavetobefirstcut
appropriately),softwaredesign,computer
graphicsetcetc.
Companiesexportingproductsincursignificantfreightcosts.Engineersmustdesign
productsandcontainerstofitasmanyunitsintothesmallestpossiblespace.Military
engineers use geometry to determine the optimal shape of explosives that can
minimisetransportcosts.

Comparingshapesforsolidpropellantsusedinmilitaryhardware.Inthisexampleofrandompacking
thecylindricalconfigurationwasshowntobemoreefficient.