Introduction To Engineering Analysis
Introduction To Engineering Analysis
Introduction To Engineering Analysis
Engineering Analysis
c Y.S. Muzychka, 2015
ENGR 9420 - Engineering Analysis: Introduction to Engineering Analysis 2
More general expressions are derivable for the special case when fluid is not assumed to
be incompressible. They are beyond the scope of this course. However, we will examine some
special cases of irrotational flow which yield Laplace’s equation for the velocity potential.
σz = ν(σx + σy )
Substitution of the strain equations into the equation of compatibility, under the assump-
tion of plane strain, yields the same result as Eq. (8).
Finally, if we introduce the concept of a stress function φ and define:
∂ 2φ
σx = − ρgy (9)
∂y 2
∂ 2φ
σy = − ρgy (10)
∂x2
∂ 2φ
τxy = − (11)
∂x∂y
we may satisfy the equilibrium equations identically, and most problems then reduce to the
solution of the equation of compatibility, which now becomes:
∂ 4φ ∂ 4φ ∂ 4φ
+ 2 + =0 (12)
∂x4 ∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂y 4
This is the biharmonic equation. The biharmonic equation is a fourth order partial differ-
ential equation. We will examine a few solutions to problems from plane elasticity theory
which are modelled by the biharmonic equation.
A non-homogenous biharmonic type equation also appears in elasticity problems involv-
ing the deflection of thin plates:
∂ 4w ∂ 4w ∂ 4w p(x, y)
4
+ 2 2 2
+ 4
= (13)
∂x ∂x ∂y ∂y D
where w is the deflection of the plate, the parameter D is the plate rigidity:
Et3
D=
12(1 − ν 2 )
p
where c = T /ρ.
In the case of a two dimensional membrane with constant tension T and mass per unit
area ρ, we have:
∂ 2w ∂ 2w 1 ∂ 2w
+ = (16)
∂x2 ∂y 2 c2 ∂t2
p
where once again c = T /ρ.
For beams undergoing transverse vibrations we find the following equation of motion:
∂2 ∂ 2w ∂ 2w
EI(x) + m(x) =0 (17)
∂x2 ∂x2 ∂t2
where EI(x) is the local stiffness and m(x) is the mass distribution. For a beam of constant
stiffness and mass we obtain:
∂ 4w 1 ∂ 2w
+ =0 (18)
∂x4 a2 ∂t2
p
where a = EI/m.
Additional equations will be considered later in the course, namely torsional vibrations
in shafts and vibrations in circular membranes.
∂ 2T ∂ 2T ∂ 2T Ṡ
2
+ 2
+ 2
=− (21)
∂x ∂y ∂z k
which is the steady Poisson equation, and
∂ 2T ∂ 2T ∂ 2T
+ + =0 (22)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
which is Laplace’s equation for steady heat conduction.
ENGR 9420 - Engineering Analysis: Introduction to Engineering Analysis 6
∂ 2 CA ∂ 2 CA ∂ 2 CA
+ + =0 (25)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
which once again is Laplace’s equation for steady mass diffusion.
1.2.5 Hydrology
Fluid in porous media is of interest to reservoir engineers and hydrologists (Bear, 1972). For
very low flow rates (seepage) of an incompressible fluid, the field of hydrology frequently
utilizes Darcy’s law for modelling fluid flow through porous media. The specific fluxes are:
∂φ ∂φ ∂φ
qx = −K , qy = −K , qz = −K (26)
∂x ∂y ∂z
where
p
φ=z+ (27)
ρg
is the piezo-metric head or hydraulic potential.
Under the assumption of an isotropic and homogeneous medium, combining all three
with the equation of continuity for a porous media gives:
∂ 2p ∂ 2p ∂ 2p
+ + =0 (28)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z 2
assuming that the permeability K, of the porous media is constant. Once again, we Laplace’s
equation arise, but this time in terms of the pressure field. Once the pressure field is found,
the components of flow follow from Darcy’s law.
ENGR 9420 - Engineering Analysis: Introduction to Engineering Analysis 7
∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ ρ
2
+ 2 + 2 =− (29)
∂x ∂y ∂z
where φ is the electrical potential, ρ is the charge density, i.e. ρ = ρ(x, y, z), and is the
permittivity of the medium. Frequently, we encounter problems where by the charge density
is assumed to be zero and the above equation simplifies to Laplace’s equation:
∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ ∂ 2φ
+ + 2 =0 (30)
∂x2 ∂y 2 ∂z
In the case of current carrying conductors, the magnetic field is characterized by the
following vector equation:
∇2 A = −J (31)
which is a vector Poisson equation, i.e each component in the i, j, k directions is also a
Laplacian operator in three dimensions. However, for a cylindrical electrical conductor of
arbitrary cross-section, if the current is only flowing in the z-direction then this simplifies to:
∂ 2 Az ∂ 2 Az ∂ 2 Az ρ
2
+ 2
+ 2
= − = −µJ (32)
∂x ∂y ∂z
where µ is the permeability of the medium and J is the current density, i.e. J = J(x, y, z).
It is easy to see that several fundamental problems are governed by Laplace’s equation
and Poisson’s equation. We will explore additional concepts related to vector operators in
a later section, namely transformation of the above equations into cylindrical and spherical
coordinates, as well as general orthogonal curvillinear coordinates.
• scaling methods
• separation of variables
• integral transforms
• similarity transformations
ENGR 9420 - Engineering Analysis: Introduction to Engineering Analysis 8
• variational methods
• integral methods
It is hoped that students will learn the basics of these techniques and through additional
self instruction learn more advanced elements related to problems in their field of interest.
References
Bear, J., Dynamics of Fluid Flow in Porous Media, Dover, 1972.
Binns, K.J. and Lawrenson, P.J., Analysis and Computation of Electric and Magnetic Field
Problems, Permagon Press, 1973.
Bird, R.B., Stewart, W.E., Lightfoot, E.N., Transport Phenomena, Wiley, 1960.
Bradshaw, M.D. and Byatt, W.J., Introductory Engineering Field Theory, Prentice-Hall,
1967.
Moon, P. and Spencer, D.E., Field Theory for Engineers, Van Nostrand, 1961.
Ugural, A.C. and Fenster, S.K., Advanced Strength and Applied Elasticity, Prentice-Hall,
1995.