Building a theoretical understanding of various optimization schemes and methods. Numerical simulation of physical design problems with a goal to optimize the design of a system and an emphasis on using COMSOL Multiphysics software package. Gradient-based and gradient-free minimization/maximization of objective functions; parameter optimization, shape optimization; topology optimization; inverse problem-solving.
3
UnitsLetter
Grading1, 2, 3
PasstimeUpper division only
Level LimitEngineering
CollegeLecture
Prof Meinhart is awesome. Knows a lot about the material and very nice and funny. There were 5 simple homework assignments and a midterm. Sometimes a final or final project, but we didn't have one. Very cool guy!
Meinhart will just guide you through COMSOL examples the whole time in class which is helpful but not totally necessary to attend. Class was completing Comsol tutorials and a final report. He'll also help you if you start your final project early! Pretty easy class
Nice guy. Easy midterm. Hard final. I liked his teaching style. He mostly did problems during class.
Meinhart is a really good professor and a cool guy. He goes thoroughly through the material in class and his midterm is pretty in line with what you have in the homework. Final was a little out of left field but he curves and overall it is a good class.
Best teacher you can ask for by far. Tests correspond directly to what he covers and what he says will be on them. Final is harder than the midterm but still doable. Practice problems from the textbook and you'll succeed.
The best teacher you can ask for.