CIV514

Course Description

A course that in the first part concentrates on the elements of writing and presenting a research topic and in the second part on engineering research methods. The first part of the course concentrates on how to investigate, develop, write and present a research topic and assigns time for discussion with the students in order to arrive at their research project for the course. The second part concentrates on engineering research methods. Topics include: models’ approximation to reality, assumptions and limitations of theoretical solutions, 1-, 2-, and 3-dimensional examples and criteria for selection of appropriate model. Uncertainty in engineering systems, linearity assumption, examples of non-linear and chaotic systems. Data collection, instrument precision, human errors, incomplete data sets, hypothesis testing, discrepancy between laboratory and field experiments; examples. Soft information, and incorporation of soft and hard data in the technical analysis; examples and application

Course Details