Activity 2
Pablo Rivera
80717735
MATH 2313 CRN: 32428
Partial derivatives come up frequently within the field of structural engineering as it’s used to
help determine how structures will change given that a weight is added. The stress an object is
subjected to can sometimes rely on position giving an equation,
with the partial derivatives being
The partial derivatives represent how the stress will change over time exposing where the safety
issues may arise. An innovative tool Finite Element Analysis, FEA, utilizes partial derivatives
driving the engineering realm out of hand calculations and constant testing. With FEA engineers
can test their models analytically cutting costs and time immensely. This tool would calculate the
position millions of elements to see how they move given within each element is a stiffness
matrix which relates forces to displacements (ChatGPT). In the 1950s the stiffness matrix
method was born which led to the creation of FEA. This ultimately drove all of engineering to
simulations.