Comp Mech LAB 01

A introduction to MATLAB
Computational Mechanics
Civil Engineering master course

School of Engineering and Architecture
University of Bologna
A introduction to MATLAB 1 / 61
Outline I
1 Introduction
Key Features
Desktop Basics
2 Language Fundamentals
Matrices and Arrays
Expressions
Entering Commands
Indexing
Types of Arrays
3 Mathematics
Linear Algebra
Data Analysis
4 Graphics
Basic Plotting Functions
Mesh and Surface plots
Outline II
5 Programming
Control Flow
Scripts and Functions
Introduction Key Features
MATLAB Product description
The "MATrix LABoratory" software was created at the end of 70’s by

Cleve Moler, the director of the Department of Computer Science of
the New Mexico University. Since 1984 Mathworks distributes, sup-
ports and develops the software. Nowadays MATLAB counts millions
of user world wide from both academy and industry.
Introduction Key Features
Key Features
High-level scripting language for numerical computation and

visualization.
Interactive environment for iterative exploration, design and
problem solving.
Mathematical functions for linear algebra, statistics, Fourier
analysis, optimization, numerical integration and ordinary
differential equations.
Built-in graphics for visualizing data and tools for creating custom
plots.
Tools for buildins applications with a custom user interface.
Functions for integrating MATLAB with external languages as C
and Java.
Introduction Desktop Basics
Default Layout
Current Folder:
Access your files.
Command Window:
Enter commands (»).
Workspace: Explore
data (variables, arrays,
matrices, strings, ecc. )
Command History:
View or rerun
commands entered in
the command line.
Ice Breaking: some dummy commands
a=1
b=2
c =a+b
d = sin(a)
e = c ∗ b;
Digit clear all to cancel all the workspace

Digit clc to clear the command window.
Ice Breaking: file types
.m Files .mat Files .p Files
.m Files: files containing scripts and functions.

.mat Files: files containing variables of a workspace.
.p Files: protected files containing not editable code.
Language Fundamentals
In this section...
Main Topics
Matrices and Arrays
Expressions
Entering Commands
Indexing
Types of Arrays
Language Fundamentals Matrices and Arrays
Entering Matrices
In the MATLAB environment a matrix is a rectangular array of num-

bers. It is possible to enter a matrix in different ways:
Enter an explicit list of elements.
Load matrices from external data files.
Generate matrices from built-in functions.
Create matrices with your own functions.
Enter an explicit list of elements
Once the user enters the

matrix, it is saved in the
workspace, so it is possi-
ble to refer it simply as "A".
Sum, Transpose and Diag
sum(A) returns a row array

whose elements are the
sum of each column of the
matrix A.
sum(A,2) returns a row
array whose elements are
the sum of each row of the
matrix A.
A’ returns the transpose of
the matrix A.
diag returns a column array
whose elements are in the
diagonal of A.
Generate Matrices
zeros(n,m) returns a nxm

matrix zero-filled.
ones(n,m) returns a nxm
matrix one-filled.
eye(n) returns the nxn
identity matrix.
randn(n,m) returns a nxn
matrix of random numbers
normally distributed.
Language Fundamentals Expressions
Variables
MATLAB does not require

any type of declaration or
dimension statement. When
it encounters a variable
name, it automatically
creates the variable and
allocates the appropriate
amount of memory.
MATLAB is case sensitive.
Numbers
MATLAB uses conventional decimal notation. Scientific notation uses

th letter e to specify a power of ten factor. Imaginary numbers use
both i or j letter.
Numbers notation
MATLAB stores all numbers internally using the long format (15 sig-
nificant digits) and it is able to represent number from about 10−308 to
10+308 .
Numbers precision
Matrix & Arrays Operators
Matrices Arrays
Building tables
Built-in Functions
Functions Constants
Special Values
Language Fundamentals Entering Commands
The Format Function
The format function controls how the number are displayed, not how
they are computed.
Language Fundamentals Entering Commands
Suppressing Output & Long Statements
Long Statements
Suppressing Output
Language Fundamentals Indexing
Indices
The element in row i and column j of a matrix A is denoted by A(i, j).
The Colon Operator
The colon operator is widely used in MATLAB scripts.
start : step : end syntax Matrix slicing
Concatenation
The concatenation is the process of joining small matrices to make bigger ones.
Deleting Rows and Columns
Delete Columns Delete Rows
Scalar Expansion
Matrices and scalars can be combined in several ways. A scalar can be added to or
subtracted from a matrix, or assigned to a portion of it.
The Find Function
Language Fundamentals Types of Arrays
Multidimensional Arrays
MATLAB allows to work with n-dimensional arrays.
In the case of a 3D array, the generic element of the matrix A is denoted by A(i, j, k ).
Charaters and Text
MATLAB manages string as arrays of characters (’char’). A string is identified with

apices
s is a matrix 1x5 of
char .
’s’ is handled as
arrays of numbers.
It is possible to
concatenate strings
both horizontally or
vertically.
It is possible to
manipulate
multi-lines text
Structures
Structures in MATLAB are multidimensional arrays with elements accessed by a tex-

tual field designator.
Mathematics
In this section...
Main Topics
Linear Algebra
Data Analysis
Mathematics Linear Algebra
A review of Matrices Products
MATLAB uses a sign ’*’ to

denote matrix multiplication.
If the multiplication can not
be done, MATLAB returns
an error ’Matrix dimensions
must agree’.
Inverses and Determinants
det(A) returns the

determinant of the square
matrix A.
If A is nonsingular, inv(A)
returns the inverse of the
square matrix A.
Cholesky Factorization
Matrix A has to be
symmetric and
positive definite.
AX = B Matrix R is upper
triangular.
The backslash
A = R0R
operator recognizes
triangular matrices,
therefore the
X = R(R 0 B)
system solution can
be easily obtained.
LU Factorization
AX = B A is a generic square
matrix.
P is a permutation
PA = LU matrix.
L is a lower triangular
matrix with ones on its
A = P −1 LU diagonal.
U is an upper triangular
matrix.
X = U(P −1 LB)
Systems of Linear Equations
Computational Cosiderations
Although it is not standard mathematical notation, MATLAB uses the
division terminology familiar in the scalar case to describe the solution
of a general system of equations.
Denotes the solution of the

X = B/A system XA = B
Denotes the solution of the

X = AB system AX = B
Systems of Linear Equations
The backslash in MATLAB is a "clever" operator that performs a check

on the matrix and solve the system by using the most suitable algo-
rithm.
Square Matrices
If A is symmetric and has real, positive diagonal element,
MATLAB performs a Cholesky factorization.
If A is upper Hessemberg, MATLAB uses Gaussian elimination.
In general, MATLAB uses the LU factorization algorithm.
Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors
A is a square
matrix.
Av = λv V is the matrix
whose columns are
the eigenvectors.
A = V ΛV −1 Λ is the matrix
containing
eigenvalues on its
diagonal.
Graphics
In this section...
Main Topics
Basic Plotting Functions
Mesh and Surface Plots
Graphics Basic Plotting Functions
A simple plot
It is possible to save
figures and to plot them.
Commands below the
menu bar allow the user to
zoom and pan the view.
Multiple plots
Line Styles and Markers
MATLAB allows the user to specify the line style and the marker shape.
Adding Plots to an Existing Graph
The hold command enables the user to add plots on the active figure.
Figures
Graphic functions (like plot) automatically create a new figure. If different figures are
open, MATLAB plots on the last one (i.e. the active figure).
Open and Reset Figures

To make the desired figure active, just type:
figure(n)
where ’n’ is the number of the figure to make active.

To clear a figure and restore defaults properties, make it active and type:
clf reset
Subplotting
The subplot command enables

the user to display multiple plots
in the same window (figure).
The plots are numbered along
rows.
Setting Axes Limits and their Aspect Ratio
Limits
The axis command allow the user to specify custom plotting limits.
axis([xmin xmax ymin ymax])
To restore automatic axes dimensions, digit:
axis auto
Aspect Ratio
The command:
axis square
makes x and y axis of the same length, while:
axis equal
makes the increments of the same length.

Setting Axes Visibility and the Grid
Axes Visibility
The command
axis off
makes axes invisible. To turn they

on, digit axis on.
Grid
The command:
grid on
turns on the grid. To turn it off,

digit grid off.
Graphics Mesh and Surface plots
Mesh and Surface Plots
Mesh Command
The mesh command produces a wireframe that color only the lines
connecting the points.
Surf Command
The surf command displays both connecting lines and faces of the
surface in color.
Visualizing Functions of 2 Variables
Meshgrid
Transparent Surfaces
Illuminating Surface Plots with Lights
Programming Control Flow
The editor
The text editor of MATLAB is the tool used for coding. To open it, digit edit in the com-
mand window. Differently from the command window, the editor environment is not
interactive. Therefore the user can write some lines of code and then execute them by
clicking the run button.
Conditional Controls: if - else
The conditional statements work also with arrays and matrices.

Conditional Controls: switch
Loop Controls: for
Loop Controls: while
The simple script below find a root of the equation x 3 − 2x − 5 with the bisection
method.
Loop Controls: continue, while, return
Continue
The continue statement passes control to the next iteration inside a
for or a while loop, skipping everything appears in the lines below it.
Break
The break statement exit from the loop. In nested loops, it exit form
the inner loop only.
Return
The return statement terminates the sequence of commands.
Everything after is not executed.
Programming Scripts and Functions
Scripts and Functions
Scripts
Scripts program do not accept input arguments and do not return
anything. They operate in data present in the workspace.
Functions
Functions accept input arguments and return output arguments.
Internal variables are local, therefore they are not stored in the
workspace.
Functions
The simple function below write a ’.txt’ file containing values from a matrix.
Functions
Once the function is saved in the working directory with its name in a ’.m’ file, it is
callable from another functions/scripts or from the command window.
Functions
When using functions, the user has to pay attention to the

arguments order and their type.
It is worth to notice that the variables employed only internally are
not stored in the workspace.

Comp Mech LAB 01

Enviado por

Dados do documento

Direitos autorais

Formatos disponíveis

Compartilhar este documento

Compartilhar ou incorporar documento

Opções de compartilhamento

Você considera este documento útil?

Este conteúdo é inapropriado?

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

Comp Mech LAB 01

Enviado por

Direitos autorais:

Formatos disponíveis

A introduction to MATLAB

Civil Engineering master course

MATLAB Product description

The "MATrix LABoratory" software was created at the end of 70’s by

High-level scripting language for numerical computation and

Ice Breaking: some dummy commands

Digit clear all to cancel all the workspace

Ice Breaking: file types

.m Files .mat Files .p Files

.m Files: files containing scripts and functions.

In the MATLAB environment a matrix is a rectangular array of num-

Enter an explicit list of elements

Once the user enters the

Sum, Transpose and Diag

sum(A) returns a row array

zeros(n,m) returns a nxm

MATLAB does not require

MATLAB uses conventional decimal notation. Scientific notation uses

Matrix & Arrays Operators

The Format Function

Suppressing Output & Long Statements

The element in row i and column j of a matrix A is denoted by A(i, j).

The Colon Operator

The colon operator is widely used in MATLAB scripts.

start : step : end syntax Matrix slicing

Deleting Rows and Columns

Delete Columns Delete Rows

The Find Function

MATLAB allows to work with n-dimensional arrays.

Charaters and Text

MATLAB manages string as arrays of characters (’char’). A string is identified with

Structures in MATLAB are multidimensional arrays with elements accessed by a tex-

A review of Matrices Products

MATLAB uses a sign ’*’ to

Inverses and Determinants

det(A) returns the

Systems of Linear Equations

Denotes the solution of the

Denotes the solution of the

Systems of Linear Equations

The backslash in MATLAB is a "clever" operator that performs a check

Eigenvalues and Eigenvectors

Line Styles and Markers

Adding Plots to an Existing Graph

Open and Reset Figures

where ’n’ is the number of the figure to make active.

The subplot command enables

Setting Axes Limits and their Aspect Ratio

axis([xmin xmax ymin ymax])

To restore automatic axes dimensions, digit:

makes x and y axis of the same length, while:

makes the increments of the same length.

Setting Axes Visibility and the Grid

makes axes invisible. To turn they

turns on the grid. To turn it off,

Mesh and Surface Plots

Visualizing Functions of 2 Variables

Illuminating Surface Plots with Lights

Conditional Controls: if - else

The conditional statements work also with arrays and matrices.

Conditional Controls: switch

Loop Controls: for

Loop Controls: while

Loop Controls: continue, while, return