Mathcad Enabling of Engineering e-Content on Knovel ASEE 2009 Annual Conference Austin, TX Sasha Gurke SVP & Co-Founder, Knovel Corp.

2 What is Knovel Math? For Mathcad users, Knovel Math provides fully documented Mathcad worksheets for engineering calculations from trusted reference works, reducing the time it takes to find, solve and document equations. Introductory Package: –Roark’s Formulas for Stress and Strain (7 th Edition) 79 examples → 157 Mathcad files → ~896 Mathcad pages – Handbook of Civil Engineering Calculations (Hicks) 419 examples → 736 Mathcad files → ~4282 Mathcad pages RELEASED June 8

3 Knovel Math Features FeatureValue Fully documented and validated Mathcad worksheets Don’t need to spend hours creating the sheet Don’t need to spend time validating transcription Web-basedImmediate access wherever you are Access to current editions of trusted engineering reference books Results can be used for critical work with confidence Powerful search toolsFind the formulas you need quickly Includes complete text of reference booksUnderstand how to select correctly equation Understand proper application (less experienced engineers) Download formulas, enter own values and solve using Mathcad Get immediate and reliable results Simplifies use of Mathcad (learning curve) Examples and cases expanded to show full working Reduces level of math skill required Support for US customary and metric unitsGlobally usable Store worksheet and resultsAudit trail for checking and future reference Designed to work with future Mathcad releasesTake advantage of new Mathcad features in future releases

4 Mathcad-Enabled Roark’s

5 Mathcad Worksheet

6 In the Works Civil/Structural Engineering Package: –Roark’s Formulas for Stress and Strain (7 th Edition) Examples PLUS 1504 Table cases → 3008 Mathcad files → ~17,000 Mathcad pages –Handbook of Civil Engineering Calculations (2 nd Edition) 25% New and updated content –Foundation Engineering Handbook - Design and Construction with the 2006 International Building Code 63 Examples → 126 Mathcad files → ~730 Mathcad pages

7 Addressing Quality of Mathcad Worksheets Documentation –Specification –Templates –Samples –Best practices –Workflow QC Procedures Training Inherent Soundness of Algorithms Verification of Calculations Comparing Numeric Solutions Multiple Algorithms Validation using 3 rd Party Software (FEA) Customizing Validation

8 Example: Correction of Source Errors

9 Challenges and Lessons Learned Principle challenges encountered during the development of Knovel Math: –selection of appropriate content –finding engineers with adequate skill set –ensuring high quality Although foolproof QC does not exist, we are confident that our process resulted in quality product. Users play a very important role in testing and improving the quality of the products.