FRS 003 — Sec. 008 —
(1 unit) — CRN 53616 — T 4:10-5:00pm — 3 Wellman
Computer Simulation in Civil & Environmental Engineering
Instructors: Yueyue Fan, Amit Kanvinde and Fabian Bombardelli, Department
of Civil & Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
Description: The subject matter addresses applications of computer
simulation in various Civil and Environmental Engineering fields, such as transportation
system engineering, structural engineering, and water resources engineering. Through
informal lectures, visual demonstration, and discussion, students are expected
to gain basic exposure to concepts of computer simulation and its broad set of
applications in engineering. While much of the current introductory undergraduate
curriculum is focused on specific civil engineering topics, the entire realm of
computer simulation, on which civil engineers rely extensively, is introduced
somewhat late. With a view to provide a more accurate and complete picture of
civil engineering at the freshman level, the goal of this seminar will be to motivate
students’ interests in engineering, and to demonstrate how engineering,
physical and social sciences can be brought together via simulation techniques,
to improve the safety and to promote the welfare of society.
Format: The seminar will meet for one hour each week. The time
will be divided between informal lecture presentations, discussion, lab demonstration,
and student presentations. Real life case studies and research examples will be
discussed. There is no text for the course; handouts and other material, including
self-teaching power-point presentations and simulation-animations will be distributed
as needed. Grading: Students will be required to prepare
a short paper on a topic to be chosen in consultation with the instructor. The
course grade will be based on the quality of their written paper -- 4 to 6 pages
(1/3) and oral presentations (1/3) and on the frequency and quality of their participation
in class discussion (1/3).
About the Instructors: Professor Yueyue Fan is a member of the
faculty in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her research
interests include optimization and system identification of dynamic systems. Current
projects include studies of seismic risk mitigation of transportation networks
and emergency response plans. She currently teaches courses on system optimization
and identification at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Professor Amit Kanvinde is a member of the faculty in the Department of Civil
and Environmental Engineering. His research interests include earthquake engineering,
design and simulation of steel structures, fracture and fatigue of steel structures.
He currently teaches courses on linear and nonlinear structural analysis, design
of steel structures (graduate and undergraduate), and mechanics of materials.
Professor Fabián A. Bombardelli is a member of the faculty in the Department
of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His research interests include computational
fluid dynamics and computational hydraulics with emphasis on multiphase flows
of environmental import. Other topics such as open-channel resistance, water quality
and river mechanics are part of his interests. Prof. Bombardelli currently teaches
courses on simulation in water resources, fluid mechanics, stratified flow and
urban hydraulics and hydrology.