Introduction to MATLAB for Engineers

Course Description:

The Introduction to MATLAB for Engineers course is designed to provide students with a basic understanding of MATLAB, a powerful programming language used in various fields such as engineering, science, and mathematics. This course is suitable for beginners as it covers the basics of MATLAB programming, including syntax, data types, and plotting, without any prerequisites. Additionally, the course includes more advanced topics such as the Symbolic Math Toolbox, Curve Fitting, and Simulink. Students will learn how to perform symbolic computations, analyze data with curve fitting techniques, and utilize Simulink for designing and simulating dynamic systems. Through practical exercises and demonstrations, students will develop proficiency in these advanced MATLAB functionalities, enhancing their ability to solve computational problems.

Course Schedule:

This course is held by the Scientific Association of Mechanical Engineering Department at Amirkabir University of Technology and is scheduled to commence on April 18th, 2024 and will span over 5 weeks, with classes held every Thursday and Friday from 12:00 to 14:00, totaling 20 hours of instruction.

Course Format:

The course will be taught through a combination of lectures and hands-on projects. Students will have access to MATLAB and Simulink software for the duration of the course and will be expected to complete assignments and projects outside of class time.

Grading Policy: Students will be assessed through a combination of a final project and a final exam. Grades will be based on the quality of the work submitted.

  • Attendance: 10 Points
  • Final Project: 50 points
  • Final Exam: 40 points

The certificate of attendance will be awarded to all registered students. However, the certificate of achievement will only be granted to those who attain a minimum of 70 points.

Text Books:

  1. Magrab, Edward B.; Azarm, Shapour. An engineer's guide to MATLAB: With Applications from Mechanical, Aerospace, Electrical, Civil and Biological Systems Engineering. Prentice Hall PTR, 2010.‏
  2. Yakimenko, Oleg A. Engineering computations and modeling in MATLAB®/Simulink®. American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2011.‏‏
  3. Item Attaway, Dorothy C. Matlab: a practical introduction to programming and problem-solving. Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013.‏
  4. Hossain, Eklas. MATLAB and Simulink Crash Course for Engineers. Springer Nature, 2022.‏
  5. Chapman, Stephen J. MATLAB programming for engineers. Brooks/Cole Publishing Co., 2015.‏

Syllabus:

  • MATLAB Basics
    • Variables, Arrays and Matrices
    • Data Types
    • MATLAB Help
    • Commonly Used Built-in Functions
    • M-file and Live Script
  • Loops and Conditional Statements
  • Cells and Structures
  • Functions
  • Plots
    • 2D and 3D Plots
    • Subplots
    • Creating Plots Using for Loop
    • Add Special Texts to Plots
    • Animated Plots
  • Numerical Analysis
    • MATLAB Solvers
    • Numerical Solution of System of Nonlinear Algebraic Equations
    • Numerical Solution of System of Differential Equations
  • Symbolic Math Toolbox
    • Symbolic Variables, Symbolic Functions, and Symbolic Plots
    • Analytical Derivation and Integration
    • Analytical Solution of Equations
    • Laplace Transform and Fourier Transform
  • Working with Files
  • Supplementary Topics
    • Curve Fitting Toolbox
    • Introduction to the Simulink Environment, Tabs and Settings
    • Familiarity with Commonly Used Libraries and Simulink blocks
    • Import Input Data from MATLAB Workspace and Files
    • Saving Data from Simulink to the MATLAB Workspace and Files
    • Simulation of Linear and Nonlinear System Models