It is vital that today’s engineers work with computer-based tools and techniques. However, programming courses do not provide engineering students with the skills that are necessary to succeed in their professional career. Here, the authors propose a novel, practical approach that encompasses knowledge assimilation, decision-making capabilities and technical agility, together with concepts in computer-aided engineering that are independent of hardware and software technologies. This book: Outlines general concepts such as fundamental logic, definition of engineering tasks and computational complexity Covers numerous representation frameworks and reasoning strategies such as databases, objects, constraints, knowledge systems, search and optimisation, scientific computation and machine learning Features visualization and distribution of engineering information Presents a range of IT topics that are relevant to all branches of engineering Offers many practical engineering examples and exercises Fundamentals of Computer Aided Engineering provides support for all students involved in computer-aided engineering courses in civil, mechanical, chemical and environmental engineering. This book is also a useful reference for researchers, practising engineers using CAE and educators who wish to increase their knowledge of fundamental concepts.

Computers are ubiquitous throughout all life-cycle stages ofengineering, from conceptual design to manufacturing maintenance,repair and replacement. It is essential for all engineers tobe aware of the knowledge behind computer-based tools andtechniques they are likely to encounter. The computationaltechnology, which allows engineers to carry out design, modelling,visualisation, manufacturing, construction and management ofproducts and infrastructure is known as Computer-Aided Engineering(CAE). Engineering Informatics: Fundamentals of Computer-AidedEngineering, 2nd Edition provides the foundation knowledge ofcomputing that is essential for all engineers. This knowledge isindependent of hardware and software characteristics and thus, itis expected to remain valid throughout an engineering career. ThisSecond Edition is enhanced with treatment of new areas such asnetwork science and the computational complexity of distributedsystems. Key features: Provides extensive coverage of almost all aspects ofComputer-Aided Engineering, outlining general concepts such asfundamental logic, definition of engineering tasks andcomputational complexity Every chapter revised and expanded following more than tenyears of experience teaching courses on the basis of the firstedition Covers numerous representation frameworks and reasoningstrategies Considers the benefits of increased computational power,parallel computing and cloud computing Offers many practical engineering examples and exercises, withlecture notes available for many of the topics/chapters from theASCE Technical Council on Computing and Information Technology,Global Centre of Excellence in Computing(www.asceglobalcenter.org), providing a valuable resource forlecturers. Accompanied by a website hosting updates and solutions Engineering Informatics: Fundamentals of Computer-AidedEngineering, 2nd Edition provides essential knowledge oncomputing theory in engineering contexts for students, researchersand practising engineers.

2 e This book describes principles, methods and tools that are common to computer applications for design tasks. CAD is considered in this book as a discipline that provides the required know-how in computer hardware and software, in systems analysis and in engineering methodology for specifying, designing, implementing, introducing, and using computer based systems for design purposes. The first chapter gives an impression of the book as a whole, and following chapters deal with the history and the components of CAD, the process aspect of CAD, CAD architecture, graphical devices and systems, CAD engineering methods, CAD data transfer, and application examples. The flood of new developments in the field and the success of the first edition of this book have led the authors to prepare this completely revised, updated and extended second edition. Extensive new material is included on computer graphics, implementation methodology and CAD data transfer; the material on graphics standards is updated. The book is aimed primarily at engineers who design or install CAD systems. It is also intended for students who seek a broad fundamental background in CAD.

The book has all the details required for the complete coverage of either undergraduate level or graduate level course on Computer Aided Design for mechanical engineers, design engineers and civil and architectural engineers. Emphasis has been laid on explaining the concepts and techniques more from the practical and implementation standpoint so that the reader can begin hands-on and to enable the reader to write his own programs and design CAD systems for any mechanical element. Each chapter has a large number of solved and unsolved exercise problems. The book is complemented by several open ended projects, topics as well as partial details of solution, in all the chapters. Close knitting among the geometric modeling, computer aided engineering and applications such as rapid prototyping is a special feature of this book. Spread in two parts containing 11 chapters the book broadly covers: " Background of the CAD systems. " Curve, surface and solid modeling techniques " Rapid prototyping technology. " Fundamental techniques of computer aided engineering " Fundamentals of mechanical systems " Numerical techniques for analysis of mechanical systems " Finite difference method and finite element method.

4 lation and optimization. These are essential constituents of the iterative process, leading to a feasible and, one hopes, optimal design. 1.3 Content of the Book In Chapter 2 we present briefly the history of CAD. The main components of CAD systems are identified, and their principal functions described. Economi cal and interdisciplinary aspects are discussed. Chapter 3 starts with a systems analysis of the design process. The notion of a process is introduced as a fundamental tool to describe activities like design as a whole, computer-aided design, program executions, terminal sessions etc. The environment and the resources which the environment must supply for the successful execution of any process are discussed. The problem of modelling the design objects in an abstract schema and the interrelation between the schema and the planning of the individual step in the design are analysed. Chapter 4 concentrates on the interfaces among the components of a CAD system, including the human operator. The problem of mapping an abstract schema onto the capabilities of various programming, command, or data de scription languages is described in detail. Emphasis is laid upon the resource aspect and its influence on the design of CAD systems. The concept of a CAD software machine is introduced, and rules for designing such machines are given.

From little more than a circuit-theoretical concept in 1965, computer-aided circuit simulation developed into an essential and routinely used design tool in less than ten years. In 1965 it was costly and time consuming to analyze circuits consisting of a half-dozen transistors. By 1975 circuits composed of hundreds of transistors were analyzed routinely. Today, simulation capabilities easily extend to thousands of transistors. Circuit designers use simulation as routinely as they used to use a slide rule and almost as easily as they now use hand-held calculators. However, just as with the slide rule or hand-held calculator, some designers are found to use circuit simulation more effectively than others. They ask better questions, do fewer analyses, and get better answers. In general, they are more effective in using circuit simulation as a design tool. Why? Certainly, design experience, skill, intuition, and even luck contribute to a designer's effectiveness. At the same time those who design and develop circuit simulation programs would like to believe that their programs are so easy and straightforward to use, so well debugged and so efficient that even their own grandmother could design effectively using their program.

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