Advanced Modelling in Science (TU+)

Credits	6 credit points
Instructors	Heemink, A.W. (Technische Universiteit Delft), Molenaar, J. (Wageningen Universiteit), Groesen, E.W.C. van (Universiteit Twente), Peletier, M.A. (Technische Universiteit Eindhoven)
E-mail	A.W.Heemink@tudelft.nl, jaap.molenaar@wur.nl, e.w.c.vangroesen@ewi.utwente.nl, m.a.peletier@tue.nl
Aim	This course aims at teaching the principles and practice of mathematical modelling. An important part of the course is to recognize the essential mechanisms governing a phenomenon. These mechanisms have to be translated into mathematics and included into the model. This activity requires both a good understanding of the system under consideration and good mathematical skills. Although mathematical modelling may make use of all fields of mathematics, this course will concentrate on applications in physics and focus on models in terms of partial diifferential equations.
Description	The main topics are: * Basis Concepts of Mathematical Modeling; * Non-dimensionalization, Scaling; * Conservation Principles; * Constitutive Relations; * Stability and Robustness; * Variational Methods; Except from selfstudy and class-teaching, an important part of the course concerns working in a small group on a specific project. The topics for project work may differ from year to year.
Organization	The first part of the course consists of five lectures where the main topics are presented. The second part of the course is offered as a one week "intensive course", fully devoted to a project. Here the students work in groups of 3-5 students. In most cases a computer program for simulating a certain physical phenomenon has to be developed. A few weeks after the intensive course the written report of the project has to be handed in. Furthermore, there is one last meeting where all the groups present and discuss their projects.
Examination	The grading will be based on performance in: * hand-ins of home-work assignments (30% of the grade) * a written report of group work on a small project topic and an oral presentation about the project (70% of the grade)
Literature	Continuum Modeling in the Physical Sciences, E. van Groesen and J. Molenaar, Mathematical Modeling and Computation, Vol. 13, SIAM, 2007 (ISBN 978-0-898716-25-2).
Prerequisites	The participants will benefit from a solid knowledge of advanced calculus, basic knowledge of ordinary and partial differential equations and programming experience with Matlab (or an equivalent language).
Remarks	This is an intensive course. See Courses and Exams for more information about the organization of intensive courses. First meetings will be in Utrecht, the intensive week will be in Twente (Enschede). Utrecht 4 februari, 11 februari, 18 februari 25 februari, 3 march. Intensive week 17 march- 20 march at Twente Projects: http://ta.twi.tudelft.nl/wagm/users/heemink/Download/

Last changed: 18-01-2012 10:21