SEEP/W
I'm currently learning another finite-element software, GeoStudio SEEP/W. The first step is to read the manual, which is very educational as the software was developed by an academic team (rather than a design company, which is the usual case). I thought I'd share a couple of gems.
First, it's not a manual: In general, this book* is not a "how to use SEEP/W" manual. It is a book about how to model. It also describes how to engineer seepage problems using a powerful calculator, SEEP/W.
Second, it waxes lyrical, poetic even: The fact that mathematics can be used to simulate real physical processes is one of the great wonders of the universe. Perhaps physical processes follow mathematical rules, or mathematics has evolved to describe physical processes. Obviously, we do not know which came first, nor does it really matter. Regardless of how the relationship developed, the fact that we can use mathematics to simulate physical processes leads to developing a deeper understanding of physical processes. It may even allow for understanding or discovering previously unknown physical processes.
In other news, anyone has any suggestion how to program an Euler spiral into Excel so that I can plot it using AutoCAD with very short straight point-to-point lines? I have start and finish points (E/N), start tangent, start radius (which may be infinite - ie straight), and a parameter 'A'.
*it's definitely a book - cover, frontispiece, 8-page TOC and 290 pages of text/diagrams.
First, it's not a manual: In general, this book* is not a "how to use SEEP/W" manual. It is a book about how to model. It also describes how to engineer seepage problems using a powerful calculator, SEEP/W.
Second, it waxes lyrical, poetic even: The fact that mathematics can be used to simulate real physical processes is one of the great wonders of the universe. Perhaps physical processes follow mathematical rules, or mathematics has evolved to describe physical processes. Obviously, we do not know which came first, nor does it really matter. Regardless of how the relationship developed, the fact that we can use mathematics to simulate physical processes leads to developing a deeper understanding of physical processes. It may even allow for understanding or discovering previously unknown physical processes.
In other news, anyone has any suggestion how to program an Euler spiral into Excel so that I can plot it using AutoCAD with very short straight point-to-point lines? I have start and finish points (E/N), start tangent, start radius (which may be infinite - ie straight), and a parameter 'A'.
*it's definitely a book - cover, frontispiece, 8-page TOC and 290 pages of text/diagrams.