Spring 2015 Course Syllabus - Mathematics 9200.001

Course: Mathematics 9200.001.
Course Title: Topics in Numerical Analysis I: Computational Methods for Flow Problems.
Time: MW 1:00-2:40.
Place: Wachman Hall 527.
Instructor: Seibold, Benjamin.
Instructor Office: Wachman Hall 518.
Instructor Email: benjamin.seibold@temple.edu
Instructor Phone: 215-204-1656.
Course Web Page: https://math.temple.edu/~seibold/teaching/2015_9200/
Office Hours: M 2:20-3:20 or W 12:00-1:00.
Prerequisites: Solid familiarity with multivariable calculus; knowledge of numerical analysis; knowledge of ordinary differential equations. Moreover, some familiarity with partial differential equations and numerical methods for them is helpful but not required.
Textbook: There is no single textbook for this course. The materials come from a variety of books and other sources. The sources are announced in class.
Course Goals: Provide students knowledge and a solid big picture perspective about important flow problems that arise in many fields of science and engineering applications, and in particular effective computational methods to approximate their solutions.
Topics Covered: This course provides an overview of many important flow problems, ranging from incompressible fluids (Navier-Stokes equations), over shock problems (such as the compressible Euler equations) and front propagation problems, to kinetic equations (Boltzmann equation, radiative transfer) and network flows (traffic flow). One third of the course will be devoted to the modeling, derivation, and mathematical/physical properties of the equations and their solutions; and two thirds to the design of efficient and robust numerical approaches for their solution on compute infrastructures. The computational approaches include: finite volume methods, finite difference methods, particle methods, spectral methods, level set methods, moment methods. The purpose of this course is provide a broad perspective on these important types of flow problems, their connections, and how to tackle them computationally. Participants will be provided with sufficient familiarity with each topic to enable them to engage into further studies via literature.
Course Grading: Homework problems sets and final examination.
Exam Dates: To be announced in class.
Attendance Policy: Students are expected to attend every class. If a student cannot attend a class for some justifiable reason, he or she is expected to contact the instructor before class (if possible).

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact me privately to discuss the specific situation as soon as possible. Contact Disability Resources and Services at (215) 204-1280, 100 Ritter Annex, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities.

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has adopted a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy # 03.70.02) which can be accessed here.

Students will be charged for a course unless dropped by the Drop/Add deadline date given below.

During the first two weeks of the fall or spring semester or summer sessions, students may withdraw from a course with no record of the class appearing on the transcript. In weeks three through nine of the fall or spring semester, or during weeks three and four of summer sessions, the student may withdraw with the advisor's permission. The course will be recorded on the transcript with the instructor's notation of "W," indicating that the student withdrew. After week nine of the fall or spring semester, or week four of summer sessions, students may not withdraw from courses. No student may withdraw from more than five courses during the duration of his/her studies to earn a bachelor's degree. A student may not withdraw from the same course more than once. Students who miss the final exam and do not make alternative arrangements before the grades are turned in will be graded F.

The grade I (an "incomplete") is reserved for extreme circumstances. It is necessary to have completed almost all of the course with a passing average and to file an incomplete contract specifying what is left for you to do. To be eligible for an I grade you need a good reason and you should have missed not more than 25% of the first nine weeks of classes. If approved by the Mathematics Department chair and the CST Dean's office, the incomplete contract must include a default grade that will be used in case the I grade is not resolved within 12 months.