MSE Master of Science in Engineering

The Swiss engineering master's degree

Each module contains 3 ECTS. You choose a total of 10 modules/30 ECTS in the following module categories: 

  • 12-15 ECTS in technical scientific modules (TSM)
    TSM modules teach profile-specific specialist skills and supplement the decentralised specialisation modules.
  • 9-12 ECTS in fundamental theoretical principles modules (FTP)
    FTP modules deal with theoretical fundamentals such as higher mathematics, physics, information theory, chemistry, etc. They will teach more detailed, abstract scientific knowledge and help you to bridge the gap between abstraction and application that is so important for innovation.
  • 6-9 ECTS in context modules (CM)
    CM modules will impart additional skills in areas such as technology management, business administration, communication, project management, patent law, contract law, etc.

In the module description (download pdf) you find the entire language information per module divided into the following categories:

  • instruction
  • documentation
  • examination 
Numerical methods for building engineering (TSM_NumMeth)

Description of numerical methods and application in building thermodynamics and heat transfer. Modelling complex heat transfer through building construction and for modelling air movement outside and inside the building. Numerical methods for fire simulations. Modeling and solving practical problems in different fields of building engineering.

Prerequisites

Solid knowledge in physics, thermodynamics and mathematics. 

Learning Objectives

  1. Introduce the fundamentals of numerical methods used for the solution of engineering problems.

  2. Improve the competences in modeling practical engineering problems in different fields of building engineering.

  3. Improve the computer skills of the students.

Contents of Module

 

Part 1) Numerical methods in building thermodynamics and heat transfer:

  • Numerical methods for modelling indoor and weather conditions (thermal comfort, indoor air quality, climatic conditions).
  • Heat conduction in building elements - steady state conditions.
  • Heat conduction in building elements - dynamic conditions:
    • Numerical solutions (Finite Differences);
    • Graphical solutions (Binder-Schmidt-Method);
    • Electrical analogy.
  • Models for the thermal balance of a room:
    • Steady state model;
    • Quasi steady state model;
    • Detailed model of the thermal balance of a room;
    • Models based on the thermal response of the room;
    • Boundary conditions on external surfaces.
  • Introduction to MATLAB software, application on test cases in fields of building engineering.
  • Introduction to IDA-ICE software, application on test cases in fields of building engineering.

Part 2) Numerical methods for modelling complex heat transfer through building construction and for modelling air movement outside and inside the building (Ansys CFX / Ansys Fluent / OpenFOAM).

Part 3) Numerical methods for fire simulations (FDS).

 

Teaching and Learning Methods

  • 3 lecture periods per week, with integrated exercise sessions.
  • Teaching: Frontal teaching and storytelling. Discussion of practical cases. Guided learning using lecture notes and textbooks.
  • Exercises: Solving practical problems under the guidance of the tutors (problem solving, modeling and programming in MATLAB, IDA-ICE, Ansys, OpenFOAM, FDS).

Literature

  • Chapra, S. C., Applied Numerical Methods with MATLAB for Engineers and Scientists, McGraw-Hill, 2005.

  • Rao, S. S., Applied Numerical Methods for Engineers and Scientists, Prentice-Hall, 2002.

  • Incropera, F.P., DeWitt, D.P. , Bergman T.L., Lavine, A. S., Incropera's Principles of Heat and Mass Transfer: Global Edition. Wiley, 2017.

Download full module description

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