BEE 5530 - Computer-Aided Engineering: Applications to Biological Processes

(crosslisted) MAE 5530

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only.

Prerequisite: BEE 3500, MAE 3240, CHEME 3240 or equivalent. Co-meets with BEE 4530/MAE 4530.

A. Datta.

Introduction to simulation-based design as an alternative to prototype-based design; modeling and optimization of complex real-life processes for design and research, using industry-standard physics-based computational software. Emphasis is on problem formulation, starting from a real process and developing its computer model. Modeling application (project) can be biomedical (thermal therapy and drug delivery) or broader biological and bioenvironmental applications that involve heat transfer, mass transfer, and fluid flow. Computational topics introduce the finite-element method, model validation, pre- and post-processing, and pitfalls of using computational software. Students choose their own semester-long project, which is a major part of the course (no final exam).

Students in BEE 5530 will expand the developed model as an individual effort separate from the group effort and include this as an individual report that is an extension of the group report. Such an extension of the mathematical model can include additional and substantial computational work approved by the instructor in any (but not all) of the areas—physics, geometry, properties, and validation.