CRUNCH computer program

Analysis of the energy dependent cross sections must explicitly include all sources of energy (internal and kinetic) and their distributions. Consideration of these factors is achieved using the model in Eq. (3) and its derivative forms, Eqs. (4) and (7), and includes convolution over the kinetic energy distributions. A computer program that facilitates this analysis, CRUNCH, is available by contacting the author. 

The next phase for constructing the aluminum E-pH diagram is to consider the equilibria between the four species mentioned earlier. A computer program that would compare all possible interactions and rank them in terms of their thermodynamic stability would typically carry out this work. The steps of this data-crunching process are illustrated in Figs. D.8 to D.IO. 

The use of computers in science is widespread. Without powerful number-crunching facilities at his disposal, the modern scientist would be greatly handicapped, unable to perform the thousands or millions of calculations required to analyze his data or explore the implications of his favorite theory. He (or his assistant) thus requires at least some familiarity with computers, the programming of computers, and the methods which might be used by computers to solve his problems. An entire branch of mathematics, numerical analysis, exists to analyze the behavior of numerical algorithms. 

No excuses. Anyone who has passed a course in physical chemistry should be able to crunch this book for numbers and for equations. Engineers can treat it as a handbook with long explanations whose formulae can be plugged into original programs or packaged software (preferably both so as to understand what is being computed). 

A drawback of the program is the need for very large computational capability. The simulations were performed on a Cray-1 computer, a computer not readily available to most process engineers. Even on this extremely powerful computer, one simulation took as long as several hours. However, considering the dramatic improvement in the number-crunching capability of new computers, the limitations in computational capabilities of computers in 2013 are less of a concern than they were in 1984 when Viriyayuthakorn and Kassahun presented their paper. 

The 1950s marked the beginning of a new era - the time of programmable computers. Apparently, Just another tool for number crunching became available. In fact, however, the idea of programming made a revolution because it... 

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