Title :
Educational computer program for simulating behavior of structures under dynamic loads
Author :
Al-Maghrabi, Mohammed-Noor N. ; El-Abbasy, Ahmed A. Abdou
Author_Institution :
Min. Eng. Dept., King Abdulaziz Univ., Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Abstract :
Saudi Arabia has constructed many universities in the last decade. Civil, mechanical, and mining engineering departments have courses deal with dynamics and vibrations. Dynamics and vibrations are yet extremely complex subjects and demand costly laboratory resources. Since the faculties of engineering in these universities are new, there are no laboratories for dynamics and vibrations yet. It was obvious that, without laboratory work, the students were not able to understand the nature of dynamic behavior. Therefore, students´ results were frustrating in the first semester when these courses were taught. The authors suggested another facility to be replaced instead of the laboratory. The idea was to simulate the performance of elements under dynamic loads, virtually, using computer software. Hence, this software was developed to demonstrate the response of structures subjected to dynamic loads and earthquakes. This software helped students to understand the nature of dynamic loads and their effects on bodies. The final results of students and their grades were improved comparing with their results without this suggested software. Dynamics topics covered by the software and its components are illustrated in the paper. This software has proved its capability to improve teaching of dynamics and earthquake engineering. The software is also a helpful tool for making any parametric studies consuming long times of repetitive calculations.
Keywords :
courseware; digital simulation; earthquake engineering; educational courses; educational institutions; engineering education; structural engineering computing; teaching; vibrations; Saudi Arabia; behavior simulation; civil engineering departments; computer software; courses; dynamic behavior; dynamic loads; earthquake engineering; educational computer program; engineering faculties; laboratory resources; mechanical engineering departments; mining engineering departments; structure response; teaching; universities; vibration; Dynamics; Earthquake engineering; Educational institutions; Software; Vibrations; Dynamics of structures; education; simulation; software;
Conference_Titel :
American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE Zone 1), 2014 Zone 1 Conference of the
Conference_Location :
Bridgeport, CT
Print_ISBN :
978-1-4799-5232-8
DOI :
10.1109/ASEEZone1.2014.6820630