---
title: "History of computational techniques"
subject: "Computational Techniques in Civil Engineering"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_8/computational_techniques_in_civil_engineering:history-computational-techniques"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/computational_techniques_in_civil_engineering/history-computational-techniques
site: BCT Engineering
---

# History of computational techniques

Computational Techniques in Civil Engineering · Chapter 1: Introduction

- Asked in: 2078 Kartik, 2 marks
- Video: [What is Computational Engineering?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gGSWfrmZgc) — Engineering Gone Wild
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_8/computational_techniques_in_civil_engineering/history-computational-techniques
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_8/computational_techniques_in_civil_engineering/chapter-1

## Question

Give a brief history about the evolution of computational techniques in civil engineering problems.

## Short answer

Numerical methods evolved from early finite differences and moment distribution, through matrix methods and the direct stiffness method, to the named finite element method in 1960. BEM and DEM emerged in the 1970s, and since the 1980s commercial packages and parallel computing made computational analysis routine.

## Answer

Numerical computation in civil engineering grew with the available tools:
- **Before 1900:** hand analysis; Euler, Lagrange and Navier created the analytical basis. Graphical and relaxation ideas appeared.
- **Early 20th century:** Richardson (1910) introduced finite differences; Southwell's relaxation method and Cross's moment distribution (1930) allowed hand analysis of frames.
- **1940s:** Hrennikoff and Courant proposed lattice and variational discretisation ideas; electronic computers appeared.
- **1950s-60s:** matrix methods of structural analysis; Turner, Clough, Martin and Topp (1956) developed the direct stiffness method for aircraft structures; Clough named the "finite element method" (1960).
- **1960s-70s:** Zienkiewicz and Cheung extended FEM to general field problems; boundary element method (Brebbia) and Cundall's discrete element method (1971) were developed.
- **1980s onward:** personal computers, graphical pre- and post-processors, commercial packages (SAP, STAAD, ANSYS, ABAQUS, PLAXIS, MODFLOW) made computational analysis routine in design offices.
- **Today:** non-linear, dynamic, 3D and mesh-free analysis (SPH), parallel computing.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. What was developed by Cundall in 1971?
   A. The boundary element method
   B. The discrete element method
   C. The moment distribution method
   D. The finite difference method
   Answer: B. Cundall introduced the discrete element method in 1971; Brebbia developed the BEM. (Key point: Cundall DEM)

2. What made computational analysis routine in design offices from the 1980s?
   A. Personal computers, graphical processors and commercial packages
   B. Relaxation methods by hand
   C. Graphical analysis
   D. Lattice analogies
   Answer: A. PCs and commercial packages like SAP, STAAD and ANSYS made analysis routine. (Key point: Computer era)

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