CAL packages for civil engineering hydraulics and structural design

Abstract

The paper describes CAL packages developed for use in a degree course in civil engineering; all are used in the interactive mode through a terminal with a keyboard and visual display unit. They relate to the subjects of hydraulics and structures, although the application of CAL is being extended more widely. Common features in their development are emphasized; each is described in outline and an indication is given of ways in which they may be employed. The hydraulics packages are arranged both to explain methods of calculation and to permit rapid computation of otherwise lengthy examples. The first open channel package covers uniform flow and, so, the calculation of normal depths; the second non-uniform flow and surface profiles. The surge shaft package deals with oscillations of level in a surge shaft on a pipeline supplying a turbine to which the flow is abruptly changed. The structural design packages cover the topic of steel beams. They emphasize principles and concepts and the construction of bending moment and shear force diagrams. Moreover they are so devised as to give the student concentrated design experience enabling him rapidly to establish what section is appropriate to meet the requirements of deflection, shear and bending for given lengths, loading and grade of steel. Both rolled and welded beams are covered. All programs are written in FORTRAN IV with routines to provide for such matters as free-format input/output and data range-testing. Graphical displays are made possible by the use of a microprocessor-based graphics-option controller used in conjunction with a standard alphanuneric terminal and VDU.