Advanced Computational Methods I

Learning Outcomes

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Develop makefiles and test programs.
• Decompose a computational problem into small parts. - analyse the computational bottleneck.
• Use strategies to effectively address computational bottlenecks with Python and C code.

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply software engineering techniques for science and engineering.
• Use a computer to perform computational modelling studies.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Connect to the Linux server.
• Check error messages generated by the compiler.
• Learn the steps in the C-program development cycle.
• Write, compile and run C-programs.

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• The C-programming language.
• Remote and local use of Linux computers.
• Shell commands.
• Symbolic methods and code generation.
• Combining C-code with Python.
• Version control and one version control tool.
• Complied versus interpreted language.

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• C1/M1 As part of the individual assignment, the student must use a computer to perform computational modelling studies and demonstrate comprehensive understanding of software engineering techniques for science and engineering. C2/M2 As part of the individual assignment students must use data files and decompose a computational problem into small parts-analyse the computational bottleneck using first principles of numerical methods and programming language. C3/M3 As part of the individual assignment, the student must demonstrate understanding of C-programming language, combining C-code and Python, use numerical and analytical techniques to address complex engineering problems. C4/M4 As part of the individual assignment, write compile and run C-programmes to find solutions for advanced software engineering problems using relevant technical literature. C5/M5 As part of the individual assignment students must discuss modern computational software techniques and apply C-programme language with code of practice to solve complex engineering problems. C6/M6 As part of the individual assignment students must use strategies to effectively address computational bottlenecks with C-programming codes, decompose a computational problem into small parts. - analyse the computational bottleneck for complex problems. C12/M12 As part of the laboratory assignment students must write, compile and run C-programmes for computational modelling problems. C15/M15 As part of the individual assignment students must apply knowledge of software engineering tools and computer programme languages to solve advanced engineering problems with commercial context. C16/M16 As part of the individual assignment the student must demonstrate knowledge and understanding of software engineering techniques for science and engineering.

Programming:

• Introduction to operating systems, shells.
• Introduction compiled and interpreted languages, with examples C, Python, Matlab.

C-Programming:

• Data types and number representation
• Data output.
• Loops and conditionals.
• Special operators.
• Integer division and casting.
• Functions.
• Arrays.
• Pointers and memory allocation.
• Examples.

Software engineering for computational science and engineering:

• Efficient program design and implementation: linking high level (Python) code with C code,
• Cython, ctypes,
• Tests and Test Driven Development,
• Makefiles.
• Version control (git).
• Linux terminal and shell scripting.
• Remote working with SSH.

Computational Methods:

• Applied Computational Methods – examples.
• Symbolic methods and auto generation of code.

Teaching methods include

• Lectures and computer programme lab sessions.

Learning activities include

• Individual programming practice to enhance breadth of understanding.
• Problem solving in supervised lab sessions and through assignments.
• Informal help session.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.