Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2023-2024 (archived)

Module ENGI1151: COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS

Department: Engineering

ENGI1151: COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS FOR ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS

Type	Open	Level	1	Credits	20	Availability	Available in 2023/24	Module Cap		Location	Durham

Prerequisites

A-level Mathematics at Grade A

Corequisites

None

Excluded Combination of Modules

None

Aims

To equip students with fundamental techniques in the use of computational tools in Engineering.
To give an awareness of the importance of computational tools in the modern world and the impact it has on technological advances and in research practise both within and outside Engineering.
To introduce students to the application of computational tools in a range of settings across Engineering.

Content

Introduction to a high-level programming language for Engineering application. This is a language primarily intended for numerical computations. Typically MATLAB would be used but other languages may be selected by the course leader.
Using library functions or toolboxes, how to build on the work of others.
Data acquisition. This will typically be carried out using a system-design platform and development environment with a visual programming language.
Data manipulation and analysis.
Using computational tools for Engineering analysis. This will typically be an optimisation problem.

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:

An understanding of how a Engineering analysis is carried out using a variety of tools
An appreciation of the role of Engineering and computational tools in the modern world
An understanding of several approaches to analysing Engineering data
An appreciation of the practical limitations of computational tools in Engineering

Subject-specific Skills:

On completion of the module, students will be able to write software programs to analyse Engineering data
On completion of the module, students will be able to use off-the-shelf programs to analyse Engineering data
On completion of the module, students will be able to select the appropriate computational tool for the problem at hand and be able to discuss the merits of their chosen approach
On completion of the module, students will be able apply off-the-shelf or bespoke programs to carry out Engineering analysis

Key Skills:

Structured presentation of information in written form

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

Lectures enable the students to learn new material and provide structure and guidance to the studentâ€™s own activity.
Practical classes enable the students to put into practice learning from lectures and strengthen their understanding through application.
Students are assessed using coursework as this allows suitably complex problems to be presented to them.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity	Number	Frequency	Duration	Total/Hours
Lectures	19	1 per week	1 hour	19
Practical Classes	19	1 per week	1 hour	19	■
Preparation, reading and self study				160
Total				200

Summative Assessment

Component: Coursework		Component Weighting: 100%
Element	Length / duration	Element Weighting	Resit Opportunity
Assignment		100%	none

Formative Assessment:

Examples and exercises are given throughout the course, to be undertaken and then discussed in practical sessions.

■ Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University