AE 230: Modeling and Simulation Lab

Introduction:
Modeling and Simulation Lab is a quintessential course, for it imparts a way of "seeing" (visualizing, modeling) various phenomenon from a systems level. Major emphasis is on engineering systems and how they are/can be represented as first and second order system. Also, how to quantify and represent various physical phenomena in equations. This course, in many ways, is a primer to the control theory course, for it lets you look into the black box (the plant) which is often assumed to be known in the control theory course.

Credits: 5 (1.5L-0T-2P-5C)

Prerequisites: Nil

Course Contents: The course being a lab course has a lot of hands on component, with weekly lab sessions. Also, there is usually a course project at the end of the term which lets you "model" and "simulate" a system (any system - physical/technical/biological/social) of your choice. Lastly, there are also weekly lectures to enhance the understanding of basic concepts of modeling and the mathematics behind it. The formal course contents are as follows :-

Introduction	Objectives, concepts and types of models
Modeling	Analytical and experimental modeling of simple mechanical, hydraulic, thermal and structural systems
Modeling	Transfer function and block diagram representation
Time Response	First and second order systems
Time Response	System representation and simulation using MATLAB, SIMULINK and AMESim tools
Quantifying Uncertainty	Use of simulation to quantify the uncertainty in system response and performance
Special Topic	Software simulation of stiff systems and impact of integration time step on methodology and response
Lab project	Application of modelling and simulation methodologies to a complex engineering system

Text Books:
1. Ogata, K., System Dynamics, 4th Ed. Pearson Education LPE, 2004.
2. Doebelin, E. O., System Dynamics: modeling, analysis, simulation, designs New York: Marcel Dekker, 1998.
3. User Manuals for the Setups and AMESim Engg. System Modelling & Simulation Software Tool

Internet Links Right from the equation of a spring to that of an aircraft, everything the way we understand can be termed as a model. Hence, online resources can be plenty. Here, are a few that you would enjoy: