TM

Engineering
Worksheets
for Maple™

Discover the many ways engineers use Maple to solve problems, with over
70 engineering worksheets you can use in Maple straight away.

Download all the worksheets from www.maplesoft.com/engineeringapplications.zip

PDF versions are included so you can view the worksheets even if Maple is not installed.
Table of Contents

1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................. 5
2 Electrical Engineering ................................................................................................................................................. 9
2.1 Radiation Pattern and Directivity of an Antenna Array ............................................................................ 9
2.2 Single Stub Matching of a Transmission Line .............................................................................................. 9
2.3 Pyramidal Horn Design ................................................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Coaxial Cable Transmission Line Design .................................................................................................... 10
2.5 Half-Wave and Full-Wave Diode Rectifiers .............................................................................................. 11
2.6 Worst Case Circuit Analysis with Monte Carlo Simulation .................................................................... 11
2.7 Gain of an Amplifier Circuit ........................................................................................................................... 12
2.8 Parameter Estimation for a Photovoltaic Diode ....................................................................................... 12
2.9 Extreme Value Analysis of an Electrical Circuit ........................................................................................ 12
3 Signal Processing ....................................................................................................................................................... 13
3.1 Spectrograms of Audio Files .......................................................................................................................... 13
3.2 Signal Denoising ............................................................................................................................................... 13
3.3 Interaural Time Delay ...................................................................................................................................... 14
3.4 Fundamental Frequency of a Human Voice .............................................................................................. 14
3.5 Fundamental Frequency and Harmonics of a Violin Note ..................................................................... 14
3.6 FIR and IIR Filters ............................................................................................................................................. 15
3.7 Locate a Signal in Audio in the Presence of Noise ................................................................................... 15
3.8 Pricing Options with FFTs .............................................................................................................................. 16
3.9 Detecting the Orbital Period of Exoplanets by Analysing the Wobble of Stars................................ 16
3.10 Removing Echo from Audio ........................................................................................................................... 17
3.11 Compressing Audio .......................................................................................................................................... 17
3.12 Compression of a Brain MRI Image ............................................................................................................. 18
3.13 Blurring an Image in the Spatial Frequency Domain................................................................................ 18
3.14 MUSIC Method for Spectral Estimation ..................................................................................................... 18
4 Mechanical Engineering ........................................................................................................................................... 19
4.1 Forces in a 4 Member Frame ........................................................................................................................ 19
4.2 Gas Orifice Flow Meter Calculator .............................................................................................................. 19
4.3 Kinematic Analysis of a Quick Return Device ........................................................................................... 20
4.4 Optimizing the Design of a Helical Spring .................................................................................................. 20
4.5 Tuned Mass Damper Design ......................................................................................................................... 21
4.6 Welded Beam Design Optimization ............................................................................................................ 21
4.7 LQR Controller for an Inverted Pendulum on a Cart ............................................................................... 22
4.8 Vehicle Ride and Handling Analysis ............................................................................................................. 22
 4.9 System Identification for a Mass Spring Damper ..................................................................................... 23
5 Hydraulics ................................................................................................................................................................... 24
5.1 Water Hammer ................................................................................................................................................. 24
5.2 Three Reservoir Problem................................................................................................................................ 24
5.3 Pump Power for Flow between Two Reservoirs ...................................................................................... 25
5.4 Maximum Pressure Surge Generated by Valve Shutoff ......................................................................... 25
5.5 Maximum Flow Rate in Open-Channel Flow for a Circular Pipe .......................................................... 26
5.6 Interacting Tanks .............................................................................................................................................. 26
5.7 Calculating the Bulk Modulus of a Fluid ..................................................................................................... 27
5.8 Measurement Error in a Venturi Flowmeter.............................................................................................. 27
6 Earth and Building Science ...................................................................................................................................... 28
6.1 DOE-2 Parameter Estimation........................................................................................................................ 28
6.2 Cost of Heating a Home with Natural Gas................................................................................................. 28
6.3 Live Earthquake Data ...................................................................................................................................... 28
6.4 Sunspot Periodicity .......................................................................................................................................... 29
6.5 Human Comfort Zone ..................................................................................................................................... 29
7 Chemistry .................................................................................................................................................................... 30
7.1 Enthalpy Change of Combustion of Methane ........................................................................................... 30
7.2 Gibbs Energy of Formation of Ethanol........................................................................................................ 30
7.3 Parameter Estimation for a Chemical Reaction ........................................................................................ 30
7.4 Spontaneity of the Reaction of Nitrogen and Oxygen to form Nitrogen Monoxide ....................... 31
7.5 Calibrating Response Curves for the Concentration of Melatonin Sulfate in Human Urine .......... 31
8 Chemical Engineering ............................................................................................................................................... 32
8.1 Catalytic Cracking of Ethane ......................................................................................................................... 32
8.2 Terminal Settling Velocity of a Solid Particle in Fluid .............................................................................. 32
8.3 Binary Distillation with the McCabe-Thiele Method ............................................................................... 32
8.4 Physical Properties of Natural Gas .............................................................................................................. 33
8.5 Economic Pipe Sizing....................................................................................................................................... 33
8.6 Countercurrent Double-Pipe Heat Exchanger .......................................................................................... 33
8.7 Colour of Gold-Silver-Copper Alloys ........................................................................................................... 34
8.8 Heat Transfer Coefficient of Air Flowing across a Flat Plate ................................................................ 35
9 Aerospace Engineering ............................................................................................................................................ 36
9.1 Performance of a Monomethylhydrazine-Dinitrogen Tetroxide Rocket Engine .............................. 36
9.2 Unpowered Glide Analysis of a Baron 58 Light Aircraft ......................................................................... 36
9.3 US Standard Atmosphere 1976 .................................................................................................................... 37
9.4 Compressor Power for Supersonic Wind Tunnel ..................................................................................... 37
10 Structural Engineering ......................................................................................................................................... 38
 10.1 Simply Supported Beam Design with Torsional Loading ........................................................................ 38
10.2 Parabolic Suspension Cable ........................................................................................................................... 38
10.3 El Centro Earthquake Data Analysis ............................................................................................................ 38
10.4 Deflection of a Beam with Distributed and Point Load .......................................................................... 39
10.5 Bolt Group Coefficient .................................................................................................................................... 39
11 Thermal Engineering and Thermodynamics ................................................................................................... 40
11.1 Vapour-Compression Refrigeration Cycle.................................................................................................. 40
11.2 Adiabatic Flame Temperature of Octane as a Function of Fraction of Air......................................... 40
11.3 Constant Volume Flame Temperature of the Combustion of Methane in Air .................................. 40
11.4 Isothermal Compression of Methane .......................................................................................................... 41
11.5 Organic Rankine Cycle .................................................................................................................................... 41
11.6 Adiabatic Flame Temperature and Equilibrium Composition of the Combustion of Carbon
Monoxide ......................................................................................................................................................................... 41
12 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................................................. 42
1 Introduction

Engineers and scientists across all sectors of industry and academia use Maple for mathematics, data
analysis, programming, and visualization.

They use Maple to solve real-world problems, derive equations from first-principles physics, make
technical concepts come alive in the classroom, and explore the design space.

This guide introduces over 70 worksheets that demonstrate how Maple can be used across many
engineering disciplines. The worksheets can be downloaded from:
www.maplesoft.com/engineeringapplications.zip
PDF versions of these worksheets are also included.

You can use worksheets for your own analyses, modify them to suit your own needs, and learn to apply
the techniques shown in these examples to completely different problems.

Before we describe the worksheets, let’s first explore why engineers use Maple for their calculations and
analyses.

Symbolic and Numeric Mathematics Engine

Maple offers practical high-level tools for numeric and symbolic math, data analysis, and programming.
These tools are designed for both simple and complex engineering problems.

Stiff differential equation from an LRC circuit with an imposed voltage

The symbolic and numeric mathematics engines are seamlessly connected; parameters, equations and
calculations flow fluidly between the two. This means you can derive and numerically evaluate your
equations in a single cohesive workflow.

Moreover, Maple’s programming language benefits from an interactive development environment and
can use any of Maple’s high-level mathematical tools, making the code:

• Faster to develop, debug and verify

• Able to use Maple’s high level mathematical functions
• Easier to read by humans

Technical Documentation Environment

A Maple worksheet combines live math, text, images, tables and plots. In effect, Maple captures the
inherent assumptions and thought process behind an analysis, as well as the calculations. This turns
calculations into reusable and easily understood documents.

Document Interface
Units

Units are fully integrated into the Maple environment, and can be used in simple calculations as well as
numeric solving and optimization.

Calculations with Units

Using units in calculations removes the risk of manual unit conversion errors, and also acts as a check on
the physical validity of the equation.

Import Data and Connect to Other Tools

You can import and export data to and from spreadsheets, text files, audio data and many other file
formats.

Importing audio and generating a spectrograms

Maple can also call externally defined code (for example external solvers or proprietary data sources
®
defined in a DLL) and provides full two-way connectivity with MATLAB .
Visualizations

Maple boasts a broad range of built in plots. These visualizations are fully customizable, and new plot
types can be programmatically generated.

Psychrometric chart and humid air properties

Deployment

Work done in Maple can be deployed in many different ways, including:

• Documents can be exported as PDF, HTML, and more

• Mathematical expressions and user-developed programs can be exported to C, Python®,
Java and several other languages.
• Plots can be exported to JPEG, GIF, SVG, and more
• Interactive applications can be shared with non-Maple users with the free Maple Player™
or over the web

Worksheets can be password protected. This means live applications can be distributed while the
intellectual property is securely locked away.

The remainder of this document provides an overview of over 70 Maple applications that solve
problems electrical engineering, signal processing, mechanical engineering, hydraulics, earth and
building science, chemistry, chemical engineering, aerospace engineering, structural engineering,
and thermal engineering and thermodynamics. To see the full problem and solution, download the
worksheets described here from:
www.maplesoft.com/engineeringapplications.zip
PDF versions are included so you can view the work even if Maple is not installed.
2 Electrical Engineering

2.1 Radiation Pattern and Directivity of an Antenna Array

The application calculates the array factor and directivity for a uniform linear antenna array, and then
plots the radiation pattern.

2.2 Single Stub Matching of a Transmission Line

Given required characteristic impedance, this application will calculate the position of a stub on a
transmission line.
2.3 Pyramidal Horn Design
This application calculates the optimum design parameters for an X-band pyramidal horn. Additionally,
the E-plane radiation pattern is visualized on a polar plot.

2.4 Coaxial Cable Transmission Line Design

This application will calculate the outer radius of a coaxial transmission line, given a characteristic
impedance and phase velocity.
2.5 Half-Wave and Full-Wave Diode Rectifiers
Rectifiers convert alternating current to direct current. This worksheet calculates the response of both a
half-and full-wave diode rectifier with a single capacitor filter, given a sinusoidal input.

Differential equations that describe the response of half- and full-wave rectifiers are derived
symbolically, and then solved numerically.

2.6 Worst Case Circuit Analysis with Monte Carlo Simulation

Worst Case Circuit Analysis is a set of techniques used to analyse how variations in parameters
influence the performance of an electrical circuit.

This application analyses the performance of a photodiode circuit using a Monte Carlo approach.
2.7 Gain of an Amplifier Circuit
Here, we plot the gain of an amplifier circuit, for both the ideal and non-ideal response.

2.8 Parameter Estimation for a Photovoltaic Diode

The behaviour of a photovoltaic diode is described by this equation.

This application will:

• Rearrange this equation to give the current I in terms of the LambertW equation (this cannot be
done with standard mathematical functions, but requires a symbolic solver that understands
advanced mathematical functions)
• Find the best-fit parameters for a set of experimental data

2.9 Extreme Value Analysis of an Electrical Circuit

Extreme Value Analysis is a process in which the behaviour of a circuit is simulated for every
permutation of extreme component parameters - that is, a resistor of 5 Ω ± 5% is simulated at 4.75 Ω
and 5.25 Ω, in combination with every permutation of extreme values for all other components

This application performs an extreme value analysis of a photodiode circuit (the principles, however, can
be extended to any circuit). Light hits a photodiode and generates a current. A non-inverting op-amp
then produces a linearly-proportional voltage from the photodiode current. Capacitors are ignored -
hence this is a DC analysis.
3 Signal Processing

3.1 Spectrograms of Audio Files

A spectrogram illustrates how the frequencies in a signal vary over time. This application generates the
spectrogram of several audio files.

Some electronic musicians hide images in their music; you can only view these images with a
spectrogram of the appropriate part of the audio. This includes the track “My Violent Heart” by the Nine
Inch Nails.

3.2 Signal Denoising

This application filters noise from a noisy signal using thresholding with discrete Fourier transforms and
Haar wavelets.
3.3 Interaural Time Delay
This application modifies a single-channel audio file so that the sound appears to originate at an angle
from the observer. It does this by introducing an extra channel of sound. The new channel is equivalent
to the old channel, but is delayed.

The delayed sound channel reflects the phenomenon that sound travels further to reach one ear than
the other.

3.4 Fundamental Frequency of a Human Voice

Using cepstrum analysis, this application predicts the fundamental frequency of a human voice.

3.5 Fundamental Frequency and Harmonics of a Violin Note

In this application, we find the fundamental frequency and harmonics of a violin note by locating the
peak points in its amplitude spectrum. Then, we generate a sinusoidal signal with the same frequency-
amplitude characteristics of the violin note, and play the resulting sound.
3.6 FIR and IIR Filters
In this application, audio is filtered with a range of FIR and IIR filters. The pre- and post-filtered results
are viewed with periodograms and spectrograms.

3.7 Locate a Signal in Audio in the Presence of Noise

This application demonstrates how you can estimate the location of a signal that might exist in a larger
signal.

First, an audio file is loaded, a small segment is extracted, and random Gaussian noise is added to both.

Then, the cross-correlation of the full audio and the extract is computed. The maximum lag of the cross-
correlation is the index at which the extract is predicted to be found in the full audio.
3.8 Pricing Options with FFTs
This application calculates the price of a European call option with FFTs, and compares the result to the
analytical solution.

3.9 Detecting the Orbital Period of Exoplanets by Analysing the Wobble of

Stars
Stars are pulled in a circle or ellipse in response to the gravity of orbiting plants. By analysing the
"wobble" (or radial velocity) of a star, astronomers can predict the presence and orbital period of
exoplanets.

Radial velocity is recorded, often over months or years, with a spectrograph connected to a telescope.
This data is used to generate a periodogram, in which a strong peak is evidence of an exoplanet.

However data is generally not regularly sampled. This means that discrete Fourier transforms cannot be
used to generate a periodogram, and other approaches are needed.

A common method for the frequency analysis of irregularly sampled data is the Lomb-Scargle approach.

This application uses a Lomb-Scargle approach to analyse the radial velocity of the star HD 3651, and
generate a periodogram. The periodogram predicts the presence of an exoplanet.
3.10 Removing Echo from Audio
This application will:

• Import an audio file that has an echo

• Identify the start of the echo with cepstrum analysis
• Use this information to generate and apply an IIR filter to remove the echo

It will then write the de-echoed audio back to a sound file.

3.11 Compressing Audio

This application demonstrates how you can compress audio by discarding low-energy parts of its
discrete cosine transform. The audio, before and after compression, is played to illustrate the loss of
legibility at higher compression ratios.
3.12 Compression of a Brain MRI
Image
This application reduces the size of a brain MRI
image by removing low-level components by
wavelet thresholding.

3.13 Blurring an Image in the Spatial Frequency Domain

This application applies a 2D Fourier transform to a black and white image.
A low pass filter is applied to the image in the spatial frequency domain.
Inverting the spatial frequencies back to the image domain demonstrates
that the image is blurred.

3.14 MUSIC Method for Spectral Estimation

The Multiple Signal Classifier (MUSIC) method for spectral estimation offers higher frequency resolution
than Fourier based approaches. This technique is particularly appropriate for signals that consist of
multiple sinusoids polluted with white (i.e. Gaussian) noise.

This application generates a noisy sinusoidal data set, and then applies the MUSIC method to identify
the frequencies used to generate the signal. Two closely spaced peaks are clearly identified; this would
not be possible with a discrete Fourier transform because the distance between the peaks is smaller
than the sampling time.
4 Mechanical Engineering

4.1 Forces in a 4 Member Frame

This application determines the forces in a frame. Since the frame is in equilibrium, the sum of horizontal
forces, sum of vertical forces, and sum of momentum about a point is zero. This allows us to identify the
unknown forces in a system.

4.2 Gas Orifice Flow Meter Calculator

This application calculates the flow rate through a large-diameter orifice using the approach outlined in
ISO 5167 2:2003.
4.3 Kinematic Analysis of a Quick Return Device
This application will:

• Determine the range of motion of a quick return device

• Determine its behaviour if the crank driven at (i) a constant angular velocity, and (ii) a constant
angular acceleration

The latter involves numerically solving differential equations. These are symbolically derived by
differentiating the geometric relationships with respect to time.

4.4 Optimizing the Design of a Helical Spring

This application minimizes the mass of a helical spring. The constraints include the minimum deflection,
the minimum surge wave frequency, the maximum stress, and a loading condition.
4.5 Tuned Mass Damper Design
A mass-spring-damper is disturbed by a force that resonates at the natural frequency of the system. This
application calculates the optimum spring and damping constant of a parasitic tuned-mass damper that
minimizes the vibration of the system.

4.6 Welded Beam Design Optimization

The diagram illustrates a rigid member welded onto a beam. A load is applied to the end of the member.

The total cost of production is equal to the labour costs for welding, plus the cost of the weld
and beam material.

This application minimizes the total cost by varying the weld and member dimensions, subject to
constraints on the shear stress, bending stress, buckling load, and end deflection.
4.7 LQR Controller for an Inverted Pendulum on a Cart
This worksheet derives the equations that describe the dynamics of an inverted pendulum on a cart,
creates a linear quadratic state (LQR) controller that stabilizes the position of the pendulum, and
animates the motion of the controlled cart.

4.8 Vehicle Ride and Handling Analysis

This tool lets you experiment with the steer- and camber-by-roll coefficients of a 3-DOF vehicle model,
and simulate the effect on the yaw gain curve and the understeer coefficient.
4.9 System Identification for a Mass Spring Damper
A mass spring damper is disturbed by an input force, with its response recorded in a spreadsheet.

This application will:

• Import the time-based experimental data from the spreadsheet

• Translate the experimental data to the frequency domain
• Identify the mass, damping coefficient and spring constant via
system identification of a model transfer function
5 Hydraulics

5.1 Water Hammer

When a valve at the end of a pipeline suddenly closes, a pressure surge hits the valve and travels along
the pipeline. This is known as water hammer. This process is modelled by two partial differential
equations (PDEs).

The PDEs can be discretized along the spatial dimension to give a set of ordinary differential equations,
ODEs. For a given set of parameters, this application solves the resulting ODEs numerically and plots the
pressure dynamics at the valve.

5.2 Three Reservoir Problem

Three reservoirs at different elevations are connected through a piping network at a single point, with an
outflow from the common junction. This application will calculate the flow rates, flow directions, and
head at the common junction.
5.3 Pump Power for Flow between Two Reservoirs
A pump transfers liquid from one tank to another, with check valves placed on either side of the pump. Each
tank is open to the atmosphere. This worksheet calculates the flow rate in the pipe by solving the Bernoulli
equation for the system, taking into account the head added by the pump, and the head loss due to friction
and pipe fittings.

5.4 Maximum Pressure Surge Generated by Valve Shutoff

This application calculates the excess pressure generated by water hammer when a valve at the end
of a pipeline instantaneously closes.
5.5 Maximum Flow Rate in
Open-Channel Flow for a
Circular Pipe
This application determines the greatest
attainable water flow rate in a partially filled
circular pipe. It uses the Manning formula to
determine the flow rate in the open-channel
flow of water.

An equation that represents the hydraulic

radius of a partially filled circular pipe is derived
and substituted into the Manning formula. The
resulting equation is then optimized to find the
maximum flow rate.

5.6 Interacting Tanks

This worksheet models liquid flow between
three tanks connected in series.

This involves solving the differential equations that describe the momentum balance between
each pair of connected tanks.
5.7 Calculating the Bulk Modulus of a Fluid
Maple has the thermodynamic and transport properties of many fluids built-in. Derived quantities, such
as the bulk modulus can be computed from this data.

Hence to compute the bulk modulus we need (i) the fluid density, and (ii) the numeric derivative of
pressure with respect to density (at constant temperature). These properties can be extracted from
Maple’s fluid properties database.

5.8 Measurement Error in a Venturi Flowmeter

Venturi flowmeters use the height of a liquid column to measure the pressure drop (and hence the
flowrate) of fluid in a pipe. However, errors in reading the column height will affect the calculated value
of the flowrate.

Methane (at 1 bar and 40°C) enters a venturi meter with a water manometer (with a measurement error
2 2
of ±1 mm). The upstream pipe area is 0.05 m and the venturi throat diameter is 0.025 m .

The water displacement across the manometer is 3 cm. Given the measurement error, this application
calculates the potential range of flowrates.
6 Earth and Building Science

6.1 DOE-2 Parameter Estimation

This application finds the parameters for a DOE-2 model of a chiller from its data sheet.

The DOE-2 model is then used to find the compressor power, COP and condenser heat flow rate for a
specific heat load.

6.2 Cost of Heating a Home with Natural Gas

This application calculates the cost of heating a house with natural gas, assuming:

• Heat losses through four side walls (each with windows), a roof, and air
exchanges with the environment
• Heat gains through a furnace

Historical heating degree day data for

Kitchener, Ontario, will be used.

6.3 Live Earthquake Data

This application downloads live earthquake data from the USGS website, and plots the location and
magnitude on a world map.
6.4 Sunspot Periodicity
This application finds the periodicity of sunspots with two approaches – discrete Fourier transforms
and autocorrelation.

6.5 Human Comfort Zone

Humans generally feel comfortable between temperatures of 22°C to 27°C and a relative humidity
of 40% to 60%.

In this application, air at 35°C and 60% relative humidity will be conditioned into the human comfort
zone, with the thermodynamic process plotted on a psychrometric chart.
7 Chemistry

7.1 Enthalpy Change of Combustion of Methane

This application calculates the enthalpy change of combustion of methane at standard conditions,
given the reaction:

CH4 (g) + 2 O2 (g) → CO2 (g) + 2 H2O (g)

The enthalpy of methane, oxygen, carbon dioxide and water are computed using the empirical
correlations in Maple’s built-in thermophysical properties database.

7.2 Gibbs Energy of Formation of Ethanol

This chemical reaction describes how ethanol is formed from carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in their
stable states.

2 C (gr) + 3 H2 (g) + 0.5 O2 (g) → C2H5OH (g)

This application will calculate the Gibbs energy of formation of ethanol at any temperature, employing
Maple’s built-in thermodynamic data. The results are compared with values from the literature.

Values of the Gibbs energy of formation found in the literature are normally only given at standard
temperature, or for tabulated at a few temperatures. However, Maple contains built-in thermodynamic
data, correlated against temperature. This means you can calculate the Gibbs energy of formation
at any temperature.

7.3 Parameter Estimation for a Chemical Reaction

This application estimates the rate parameters for a reversible reaction with dimerization
of an intermediate.

It does this by:

• Parameterizing (with respect to the rate constant) the numerical solution of the different
equations that describe the reaction kinetics
• Calculating the sum of the square of the errors between the model predictions and
experimental data
• Minimizing the sum of the square of the errors to find the best fit values of the rate constants
7.4 Spontaneity of the Reaction of Nitrogen and Oxygen to form
Nitrogen Monoxide
This application will calculate the temperature at which nitrogen reacts spontaneously with oxygen.

The application first defines a temperature-dependent function that describes the Gibbs Energy
of the reaction.

This function is then numerically solved for the temperature at which the Gibbs Energy is zero.
The reaction is spontaneous at or above this temperature.

7.5 Calibrating Response Curves for the Concentration of Melatonin Sulfate

in Human Urine
This application calibrates response curves using data from an immunoassay. Both a four parameter
logistic and five parameter logistic equation are fit to the data.
8 Chemical Engineering

8.1 Catalytic Cracking of Ethane

Ethylene and hydrogen are generated by a steam cracker using ethane as a feedstock.

C2H6 (g) ⇌ C2H4 (g) + H2 (g)

The products contain CH4, C2H4, C2H2, CO2, CO, O2, H2, H2O, and C2H6.

This application calculates the composition of the reaction products by:

• Calculating the Gibbs energy of formation of the individual species in the products
• Constructing a function that describes Gibbs Energy of the products as a function of composition
• Minimizing the Gibbs Energy of the products, subject to constraints

8.2 Terminal Settling Velocity of a Solid Particle in Fluid

This application calculates the terminal velocity of a solid particle settling in a fluid.

First, the settling velocity equation is derived symbolically. Then, the governing equations
are solved numerically for a given set of parameters.

8.3 Binary Distillation with the McCabe-Thiele Method

This application calculates the required number of theoretical stages for a distillation column via the
McCabe-Thiele method. It also plots the classic McCabe-Thiele diagram and evaluates the minimum
and actual reflux ratio, and the thermodynamic state of the feed.
8.4 Physical Properties of Natural Gas
Here, we compute the transport properties of several standard natural gas mixes (Gulf Coast,
Amarillo, Ekofisk, High N2 and High N2/O2), and demonstrate how you can calculate the properties
of your own custom blend.

8.5 Economic Pipe Sizing

Pipework is a large part of the cost of a process plant. Plant designers need to minimize the total cost of
this pipework across the lifetime of the plant. The total overall cost is a combination of costs for the pipe
material, installation costs, energy costs for pumping, flowrates, and more.

This application finds the pipe diameter that minimizes the total overall cost (given a method outlined in
a literature reference). The method involves the iterative solution of an empirical equation.

Bear in mind that the empirical parameters vary as economic conditions change. Those used in this
application are correct for 1998 and 2008.

8.6 Countercurrent Double-Pipe Heat Exchanger

This application models the temperature dynamics of a countercurrent double pipe heat exchanger.
Three partial differential equations describe:

• Heat balances across the tube- and shell-side liquids,

• Heat balance across the tube-wall (taking into account the heat flow from the shell- and tube-
side liquids, and conduction along the length of the tube)

The equations are solved numerically, and the temperature profiles plotted.

8.7 Colour of Gold-Silver-Copper Alloys

This application plots the colour of gold-silver-copper
alloys on a ternary diagram.

Experimental data contains the CIE xyY colorspace

coordinates of gold-silver-copper alloys under a C
illuminant with a 2° observer. The colour data is
translated into the CIE Lab colorspace and plotted
on a ternary diagram.
8.8 Heat Transfer Coefficient of Air Flowing across a Flat Plate
This application calculates the heat transfer coefficient of air flowing across a flat plate.
9 Aerospace Engineering

9.1 Performance of a Monomethylhydrazine-Dinitrogen

Tetroxide Rocket Engine
Liquid Monomethylhydrazine (CH6N2) and Dinitrogen Tetroxide (N2O4) are burned in the combustion
chamber of a rocket engine.

This application will calculate:

• The adiabatic flame temperature and composition of the combustion products

(i.e. in the combustion chamber)
• The pressures and temperatures in the throat and exit
• The theoretical rocket performance, including the ideal specific impulse,
characteristic velocity, and sonic velocity

Monomethylhydrazine and Dinitrogen Tetroxide are commonly used in spacecraft rocket

engines as a fuel and oxidizer (for example, in SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft).

9.2 Unpowered Glide Analysis of a Baron 58 Light Aircraft

This application presents an unpowered glide analysis of a Baron 58 aircraft.

An aircraft with no engine power will glide to the ground. The best glide angle is the flight angle at
which the airplane will travel the greatest distance, and occurs at the maximum lift-to-drag ratio.
9.3 US Standard Atmosphere 1976
This application implements the 1976 US Standard Atmosphere model for the lower atmosphere.

The model gives the pressure, temperature, density and viscosity of air as a function of geopotential
altitude, and is valid from a geopotential altitude of 0 m to 84852 m.

9.4 Compressor Power for Supersonic Wind Tunnel

Given a supersonic wind tunnel, this application will calculate the compressor power at start-up
and at steady-state
10 Structural Engineering

10.1 Simply Supported Beam Design with

Torsional Loading
This application performs a design analysis on a simply
supported beam with torsional loading for a W10X54
steel beam (as defined by the AISC Steel Shapes
Database).

10.2 Parabolic Suspension Cable

A cable is suspended between two supports.

This application first derives an expression (using symbolic

integration) that describes the relationship between the cable
length, span and sag. Then, given values for the length and sag,
this application will calculate the span.

10.3 El Centro Earthquake Data Analysis

This application analyses the response of a SDOF to the 1940 El Centro earthquake
using acceleration data recorded from a seismograph located near the fault line.
10.4 Deflection of a Beam with Distributed and Point Load
This application will derive an explicit expression for the deflection of a beam with
a distributed load and a point load by solving the Euler-Bernoulli equation.

10.5 Bolt Group Coefficient

This application calculates the bolt coefficient for
eccentrically loaded bolt groups using the
Instantaneous Center of Rotation method (also known
as the Ultimate Strength method).

Traditionally, bolt group coefficients are extracted by

using tabulated values in the AISC Steel Construction
Manual. However, these tables are limited to common
bolt patterns, and specific load eccentricities and
angles. Non-tabulated values must be extracted by
using linear interpolation.

This Maple worksheet, however, calculates the bolt

group coefficient for any bolt and load configuration
by implementing the theory used to generate the
tables.
11 Thermal Engineering and Thermodynamics

11.1 Vapour-Compression Refrigeration Cycle

This application calculates the coefficient of performance of a vapour-compression refrigeration cycle.
Additionally, the thermodynamic cycle is plotted on a pressure-enthalpy-temperature chart.

11.2 Adiabatic Flame Temperature of Octane as a Function of Fraction of Air

This application will
calculate the flame
temperature of octane for
a varying amount of air.
Temperature-dependent
thermodynamic properties
are computed using
Maple’s thermophysical
properties engine.

11.3 Constant Volume Flame Temperature of the Combustion of Methane in Air

This application calculates the constant volume adiabatic flame temperature of the combustion of
methane in air.
11.4 Isothermal Compression of
Methane
Methane is compressed in a piston. This application
calculates the work done and heat transferred by:

• Defining an equation that gives the pressure

of methane at a specific volume V and a fixed
temperature; then
• Numerically integrating this equation to
calculate the work done

11.5 Organic Rankine Cycle

This application lets you experiment
with the parameters that affect the
performance of an organic Rankine
cycle.

11.6 Adiabatic Flame Temperature and Equilibrium Composition of the

Combustion of Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide and oxygen are ignited, with the combustion products undergoing dissociation.
Two groups of equations are defined:

• Equations that give the total Gibbs energy of the combustion products
• Equations that equate the enthalpy of the reactants and the enthalpy of the products

These equations are solved numerically.

12 Conclusion

This guide has described many engineering use cases for Maple. The worksheets demonstrate many
Maple features, from symbolic and numeric mathematics to programming, visualization and more.

Many software tools will help with your calculations and analyses. Few, if any, support calculations in
the same way Maple does with its document interface, units support, computation engine and
connectivity.

Maple also gives you many worksheets you can use as a resource you can explore, experiment,
and have fun with.

Get the worksheets from www.maplesoft.com/engineeringapplications.zip

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