Use of Numerical Software in Education and Research

Until the early 1980’s, main frame computer use in Engineering Education and Research involved mainly FORTRAN programming and less frequently CSMP programming coding. With the introduction of personal computers in the early 1990's, several types of interactive programs for numerical solution of engineering problems developed. The intention was to replace the old time consuming and often inaccurate solution techniques (such as 1. Analytical solutions that may include model simplification by neglecting less important terms and model manipulation to bring it into a solvable form. 2. Short-cut solution techniques where the problem is replaced by a simpler one that can be solved, 3. Trial and error solution techniques and 4. Graphical solutions) with numerical solution techniques. Over the years, several types of numerical solution packages have been developed and utilized: 1. Multi-purpose general mathematical packages such as POLYMATH[1], MAPLE[2], MATLAB[3], and Mathematica[4], 2. Spreadsheet programs, such as Excel[5], 3. Process Simulators, such as Aspen and HYSIS, 4. Computational Fluid Dynamics Packages and 5. Molecular Modeling.