Use of Symbolic Manipulator Software in Teaching Classical Elasticity

Abstract

The use of a symbolic manipulator in the graduate level Theory of Elasticity course is presented in this paper. A symbolic manipulator is capable of conducting mathematical procedures (integration, differentiation and solution of equations) which are used in solving elasticity problems. It is shown in this paper that a symbolic manipulator is a powerful tool to solve lengthy and mathematically tedious problems. This is illustrated by three examples which are solved using MACSYMA