Computational Engineering - M.S. and Ph.D. Programs
What is Computational Engineering?
Computational Engineering is the development and application of computational models and high-performance scientific supercomputing to solve complex physical problems arising in engineering analysis and design. Computational Engineering encompasses both development and application of software tools and systems, including physical, mathematical, and geometric modeling, solution algorithms, computer simulations, and visualization, analysis, interpretation, synthesis and use of computed results to solve practical problems.
Why Computational Engineering?
Computational Engineering is a multidisciplinary engineering specialty motivated by an emerging revolutionary impact of supercomputing on engineering analysis and design. Computational modeling, simulation and design are becoming critically important for future engineering products in a competitive global marketplace, and this is transforming engineering for high-technology products. The UTC Computational Engineering program prepares graduates to both develop and apply advanced computational simulation and design software for real-world engineering analysis and design problems. Graduates are also prepared to contribute their expertise in a multidisciplinary team work environment.
UTC offers an innovative multidisciplinary program in Computational Engineering, with outstanding facilities and a unique educational environment in which students can participate in multidisciplinary team research at the UTC's SimCenter: National Center for Computational Engineering, with opportunities for interactions with multiple researchers. The Graduate School of Computational Engineering has over 20 Faculty and Staff dedicated to graduate education and research in Computational Engineering. The SimCenter has a 1300-core, 7.705 Teraflop diskless cluster ranked 6th among U.S. universities in the Southeast according to www.TOP500.org.
The National SimCenter research team is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in computational fluid dynamics and has multidisciplinary expertise in computational engineering and scientific supercomputing. It has established, within academia, a culture of team research and real-world problem solving. Computational Design is a central part of its research and education programs. The National SimCenter has broad capabilities applicable to many computational engineering application areas, especially in solving field conservation equations modeling the physical behavior of solution variables that depend on geometry, space and time.
Programs of StudyEach student’s program of study is individually tailored to his or her educational background, research interests, and career goals. Programs of study include course work in three core areas of computational engineering: 1) an engineering application area, 2) scientific supercomputing, and 3) mathematics of computation. Some example courses include Grid Generation, Grid Adaptation, Computational Fluid Dynamics, Computational Design, Introduction to Parallel Algorithms, Parallel Scientific Supercomputing, Viscous Flow Computation, Numerical Analysis, and Numerical Solution of Partial Differential Equations.
Application and Admission to the ProgramThe Computational Engineering program is multidisciplinary and open to qualified students with undergraduate degrees in engineering, mathematics, computer science, or a natural science. Prospective students must have a strong interest and aptitude for engineering problem solving, numerical methods, and scientific computer programming.
Prospective students should notify the Computational Engineering Program Director immediately upon becoming interested in the program. Application to the Graduate School and to the Program is made by following the application procedures of the UTC Graduate School (See How to Apply).
