#Excel formulas for civil engineering how to
#Excel formulas for civil engineering plus
#Excel formulas for civil engineering professional

01 ksi difference in E therefore, 12601.01 contains an inappropriate number of significant figures. Right: Young’s modulus, E, for aluminum was found to be 12600 ksi.

Wrong: Young’s modulus, E, for aluminum was found to be 12601.01 ksi. The number of significant figures (non-zero numbers) used to report results should be appropriate to the sensitivity of the measurement.Often putting a number in scientific notation makes it clearer the number of significant figures. Using too many digits implies a higher level of precision than was actually obtained in the lab procedure. It is very important that numerical results be reported using an appropriate number of significant figures.

#Excel formulas for civil engineering plus

Significant digits of a number are those that can be used with confidence, e.g., the number of certain digits plus one estimated digit. Number of significant figures indicates precision. Pay attention to the number of significant figures in your data. When presenting data, it is important to have the number formatted correctly as well. Spread out and make the calculations look good. There is no need to cram all your calculations in as small a space as possible. “acceleration due to gravity (g) = 9.81 m/s”)

Provide the name, symbol, and value for all variables used.

Double check your work to make sure the math is correct.

Use the correct number of significant figures for each calculation.

This greatly helps the reader (or professor) follow the work and helps you not make silly unit conversion errors.

Use units in all your calculations (even went putting numbers into a problem).

This may mean recopying the calculation for a clean result. Do not leave smudges or cross-outs in your final calculation. If you must erase something then make sure it erases completely (use the white drafting erasers). If your calculation exceeds a page then that is fine. If you start a new problem start it on a new page.

There should be no more than one problem on each page.

The following suggestions will help with the creation of effective engineering calculations.

If there is something interesting you want the reader to know about the calculation include it here.

Clearly indicate your solution (draw a box around it).

Make sure that you use units and the correct number of significant figures. Make sure that you provide a numerical example for every formula used.

Write out all the calculations required to get to the solution.

Make sure the sketch is clean and well-drawn (use straight edges to help draw straight lines).

Most engineering is very visual and a sketch of the problem is often very useful.

Always end this section with the goal of the calculation, what you are trying to find. If it is a design problem then you may include the design constraints or other given information. If this is a homework problem then restate the assigned problem. This prevents the reader from the need to go back and try to find that information. It is important that you restate your given information. This can be the homework problem number, or an identifier for the design (i.e.

Each problem or design should be organized in the following manner: The main box of the engineering paper is for well-written, legible, engineering calculations. If you work in a design company often then the company will often provide paper that will have spaces for this information. Many engineering calculations (and your homework problems) are hand written on engineering paper and most engineering paper has handy little boxes to put this information in at the top of the paper. Page number/total pages (let the reader know the total number of pages so they can know if one is missing).

#Excel formulas for civil engineering professional

The class/section for an engineering course homework or the company name for a professional design calculation.

Sometimes there is also space for who checked the calculation.

Your name (or who did the calculation).

Each sheet of calculations should have identifiers about the calculation.

You should already be experienced at communicating effectively using calculations (i.e. They need to be formatted in such a way that a reader can understand the calculation and make sense of the answer. They need to have more than just the right answer. Hand-written CalculationsĮngineering calculations are the heart of any design or analysis of laboratory data.

#Excel formulas for civil engineering how to

When the calculation is shared it becomes communication! Learn how to create calculations that communicate effectively. Often calculations are shared by engineers to other engineers, bosses, even clients.

Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceĬalculations and spreadsheets are a form of technical communication.

Chemical Engineering Academy of Distinguished Alumni.