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Application Of Maths In Civil Engineering
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  • Application Of Maths In Civil Engineering

Application Of Maths In Civil Engineering

#Civil Engineering
Updated on 25 Oct 2022, 10:31 AM IST

Do you know which engineering is used most in building a tunnel, a bridge, or a new multi-story building? Why are most bridges constructed in a parabolic form? Parabola is an ideal catenary shape or “U” shape. In view of mathematics, it is defined as a curve formed by a point that is equal in distance from a fixed point and a fixed line.

Application Of Maths In Civil Engineering
Civil Engineering(Image: Shutterstock)

Civil engineering is one of the most important branches of engineering. It is used in creating industrial plants, buildings, and transportation infrastructure like roads, bridges, etc. Nowadays it is often combined with environmental engineering to create sustainable buildings and to protect infrastructure from damage caused by natural disasters.

Civil engineering applies physical science and mathematical principles to develop and design new infrastructure. In structural analysis, the design of multistory buildings, roads, or bridges is analysed under various kinds of forces like wind force, seismic force, fluid force, etc. In the analysis of the type of flow, type of motion of the fluid particles, energy equation, velocity potential, stream function, continuity equation, etc. all are defined by using the application of mathematics.

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Also, mathematics plays a vital role in determining various properties of a structure like an area, centroid, volume, moment of inertia, radius of gyration, etc. of different sections like triangles, rectangles, circles, etc. here in this article we will discuss the application of maths in civil engineering

Maths Concepts That Are Applied In Civil Engineering

Civil engineering deals with real-world problems using the application of mathematical principles like trigonometry, geometry, linear algebra, differential equations, calculus, probability, statistics, etc. These mathematical principles are used to understand the effect of natural disasters on civil infrastructures. Also, the application of mathematics in engineering is used to make these buildings stronger so that they can sustain during natural disasters. Let's discuss the application of mathematics in civil engineering.

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Trigonometry

Trigonometry is a branch of mathematics that studies angles and sides of a triangle. Civil engineers use trigonometry to calculate elevation and angles while constructing a bridge. They also use trigonometry in surveying to deal with land elevations as well as the various angles of structures. Trigonometry is helpful to make a building sun shading and make the best light angle so that less electricity is required during day time.

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Geometry

Geometry, a combination of two words “Geo” and “Metry” which mean "to measure the earth". Geometry involves the analysis of shapes and the relationships among them. Civil engineers must know how to design, develop, and assemble shapes to construct highway systems, buildings, bridges, dams, tunnels, etc. The geometry of those shapes determines their functionality. Most suspended bridges are constructed in a parabolic shape because the stress on cables is most efficiently distributed and thus helps to remain stable against the external force. The parabolic shape ensures that cables sustain the weight of hundreds of cars and trucks. For the shapes used, Civil engineers must have a command to compute mathematical quantities such as lengths, volumes, curvatures, centroids, areas, and moments of inertia. They must be able to determine the spatial relationship among these shapes and use the most efficient shape to create any civil structure.

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Probability and Statistics

Measuring and analysing risk is a key skill in engineering and hence, civil engineers must understand the concepts of statistics and probability to quantify risk and safety in their designs. Understanding statistics is useful for analysis and getting insights into big data. It is also important for hypothesis testing which helps in decision-making during designing an infrastructure.

Calculus

The rate of change of a function is studied using the concepts of calculus. It consists of derivatives and integrals of functions in one, two, and three dimensions. It also includes concepts like surface and volume integrals and partial derivatives. Calculus is useful to calculate heat loss in buildings, structural analysis in seismic design, and forces in complex structural configurations.

Linear Algebra And Differential Equations

Civil engineers should also have command of the concepts of linear algebra and differential equations. Matrix algebra or linear algebra concerns the analysis of solutions to systems of equations, vector spaces, and determinants. Differential equations include topics like first-order differential equations, systems of linear differential equations, and undetermined coefficients. These concepts are useful for civil engineers to create sustainable buildings.

Hope this article helps students understand the application of maths in civil engineering.

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Questions related to Civil Engineering

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to Civil Engineering ?
best college for ece my category is B CE male

For B.Tech in Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) for a male candidate from the B category, several top-ranked colleges are highly recommended. The best options include IITs like Kharagpur, Roorkee, Delhi, and Madras, along with NITs such as Trichy, Warangal, and Rourkela. Also, consider colleges like VIT Vellore, BITS Pilani, and DTU.

Detailed Recommendations:

IITs:

IIT Kharagpur: Ranked 6th by NIRF, known for strong ECE programs.

IIT Roorkee: Ranked 5th by NIRF, offering a robust ECE program.

IIT Delhi: Ranked 2nd by NIRF, a prestigious institution with a strong ECE department.

IIT Madras: Ranked 1st by NIRF, a top-tier institution with excellent ECE programs.

NITs:

NIT Trichy: A well-regarded NIT known for its engineering programs.

NIT Warangal: Another strong NIT with a good reputation in ECE.

NIT Rourkela: A popular NIT offering a strong ECE program.

Other Top Colleges:

VIT Vellore: A highly regarded private engineering institution.

BITS Pilani: A renowned institution known for its strong engineering programs.

DTU (Delhi Technological University): A public university with a strong focus on engineering.

Factors to Consider:

NIRF Ranking:

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings can be a good indicator of the quality of a college's programs.

Placement Records:

Consider the placement records of the colleges, particularly for ECE graduates.

Location:

Choose a college that is geographically accessible and suits your preferences.

Fees and Scholarships:

Research the course fees and scholarship opportunities available for B category students.

Note: Admission to these colleges is typically based on entrance exams like JEE Main and JEE Advanced, followed by counseling.

Read Complete Answer
S
sadafreen356
24 May'25
Place this dates chronolopically on timeline: 323 CE, 323 BCE, 100 CE, 1900 BCE, 1090 CE, 2024 CE

Here's the chronological order of the dates from earliest to latest, placing BCE before CE:

  1. 1900 BCE

  2. 323 BCE

  3. 100 CE

  4. 323 CE

  5. 1090 CE

  6. 2024 CE

Read Complete Answer
M
Mayumi DAS
17 Apr'25
Place this dates chronolopically on timeline: 323 CE, 323 BCE, 100 CE, 1900 BCE, 1090 CE, 2024 CE

Here are the dates placed in chronological order on a timeline (from oldest to most recent):

1. 1900 BCE

2. 323 BCE

3. 100 CE

4. 323 CE

5. 1090 CE

6. 2024 CE

Read Complete Answer
H
harsh singh
16 Apr'25
i have 325 gate score in 2025 from CE. i am from SC category so which nit, new iits and state university i shell get for mtech . i am from delhi.

Hello Seema,

With a GATE score of 325 in Civil Engineering (CE) and being from the SC category, you have good chances of getting into various reputed institutes. Here's a breakdown of potential options for M.Tech admission:

1. Top NITs (National Institutes of Technology):

  • NIT Delhi : As you're from Delhi, NIT Delhi could be a strong option, considering your category and GATE score.

  • NIT Trichy (NIT Tiruchirappalli) : It might be slightly competitive, but you can get into branches other than the top ones in Civil Engineering.

  • NIT Warangal, NIT Calicut, NIT Surathkal : While your chances in these institutes will depend on the branch preference, your score places you in a good position for several Civil Engineering specializations.

    2. New IITs:

  • IIT (ISM) Dhanbad : A decent chance to get Civil Engineering specialization.

  • IIT Patna, IIT Roorkee : These newer IITs have good infrastructure and a growing reputation for Civil Engineering.

  • IIT Gandhinagar : A potential option, though the competition might be high.

    3. State Universities:

  • Delhi Technological University (DTU) : As you're from Delhi, DTU could be an option for your M.Tech in Civil Engineering.

  • Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), Delhi : Offers M.Tech courses in various branches, including Civil Engineering, and has a fair chance with your score.

  • University of Delhi (DU) : They also offer M.Tech courses in collaboration with various departments.

    4. Other Universities (in Delhi/NCR):

  • Indraprastha University (IPU) : They may offer M.Tech courses through GATE scores, and you can consider applying there.

  • Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) : Also another option in Delhi NCR.

I would recommend you to use GATE Predictor Tool by Careers360 to get the list of possible colleges you can get with your rank or percentile.


I hope this answer helps you. If you have more queries, then feel free to share your questions with us, we will be happy to assist you.

Thank you, and I wish you all the best in your bright future.

Read Complete Answer
K
kumardurgesh1802
12 Apr'25
Mam what about CE or Electrical ?

Hello ,

I am assuming that you are asking about comparison between both the branches of engineering. See , CE branch is a subset of electrical branch in which you will study about software more. But in electrical branch you have to deal with the networks, power system, software and hardware both. Both branches have good scope in jobs.

I hope this helps you !!

Revert for further query!!

Read Complete Answer
S
Sakshi Sharma
19 Mar'25
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