Heat Diffusion Modeling at the Terminal of a Triac

Abstract

The growing demand for technological advancement highlights the increasing importance of a solid foundation in applied mathematics within engineering education. In particular, the teaching of differential equations and numerical methods in the Mechatronics Engineering programme plays a key role, as it provides essential tools for addressing complex problems related to the control of automated systems and the optimization of mechatronic devices. This work presents a project-based teaching and learning approach, in which real-world problems serve as the starting point for introducing and developing the mathematical concepts required for modelling and solving the system. As part of the process, matrix-oriented computing software such as GNU Octave is employed to implement finite difference methods, encouraging the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical applications. The incorporation of numerical techniques and computational tools promotes the development of applied skills, such as real-time model simulation and calibration, thereby strengthening the comprehensive training of engineering students.