Table Of ContentAn Introduction to
EXCEL
for
Civil Engineers
From engineering theory
to Excel practice
Gunthar Pangaribuan
1
- This book is intended to introduce a beginner level of using Microsoft Excel in civil
engineering practices
- A direct translation
Copyright © Gunthar Pangaribuan 2016. No part of the book may be translated, reproduced or transmitted
by any form or by any means without permission in writing from the author. Unless for private use, sharing,
distributing and modifying the associated files for any purpose are prohibited.
i
PREFACE
Microsoft Excel learning is perceived as more attractive from time to time and it is
probably the most widely software‐learning topic written into books, websites, courses,
tutorial videos, groups, etc. Favored by many people because Excel is relatively easy to
operate and giving "completely" results by showing spreadsheet form (rows and columns),
images, text, tables, charts, and so on. Talking about Excel for applied engineering
calculation cannot be separated from the discussion on Visual Basic for Application (VBA)
macro, which is the programming language of Microsoft Visual Basic for the automation of
certain tasks. This is due to macro like any other programming language capable of doing
iterative calculation or repeating the calculation process with ease. There is a unique
combination between worksheet as user‐interface and VBA, which turned out to be a lot
makes it easy for users to create a program.
This book also discussed the depiction in AutoCAD software. Why? Because the drawing
creation process can be done through Excel formulas or macros, and this will enhance a
series of producing program. The advantage of an AutoCAD drawing creation is no doubt
that relies on high image accuracy with a myriad of features it will certainly be a challenge
to create drawings. With the ease of working with Excel, coupled with a lot of given
examples in this book, it is expected to increase the interest of the reader to create new
original application programs. Thus, each model or even a specific model of calculation will
be an exciting challenge for a programming job is already enjoyable.
Happy Excel programming!
Jakarta, November, 2015
Gunthar Pangaribuan
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CONTENTS
PREFACE ................................................................................................................................................... ii
Chapter 1: BASICS OF EXCEL ...............................................................................................................1
1.1 Worksheet and Workbook ............................................................................................................ 1
1.2 Data Type .............................................................................................................................................. 2
1.3 Formula.................................................................................................................................................. 5
1.4 Built‐In Function ................................................................................................................................ 7
1.5 Array Formula ..................................................................................................................................... 9
1.6 Data Formatting .............................................................................................................................. 11
1.7 Error Message .................................................................................................................................. 11
1.8 Printing ............................................................................................................................................... 12
1.9 Making Charts .................................................................................................................................. 13
1.10 Engineering Drawing .................................................................................................................... 15
1.11 Visual Basic for Application ....................................................................................................... 24
1.11.1 Creating Macro ............................................................................................................ 25
1.11.2 Recording Macro ........................................................................................................ 27
1.11.3 Procedure ...................................................................................................................... 29
1.11.4 Running Macro ............................................................................................................ 31
1.11.5 VBA Dictionary ............................................................................................................ 32
Chapter 2: EXCEL FUNCTIONS ......................................................................................................... 33
2.1 Math and Trigonometry Functions ......................................................................................... 33
2.2 Logical Functions ............................................................................................................................ 36
2.3 Lookup Functions ........................................................................................................................... 38
2.4 Text Functions ................................................................................................................................. 40
2.5 Data Analysis Functions .............................................................................................................. 43
2.5.1 Linear Regression ...................................................................................................... 43
2.5.2 Polynomial Regression ............................................................................................ 52
2.5.3 Interpolation ................................................................................................................ 53
2.5.4 Statistical Data ............................................................................................................. 59
2.5.5 Circular Reference ..................................................................................................... 65
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Chapter 3: CREATING MACRO ......................................................................................................... 69
3.1 Function Procedure ....................................................................................................................... 69
3.2 Sub Procedure .................................................................................................................................. 74
3.3 Control Structures .......................................................................................................................... 76
3.3.1 Looping ........................................................................................................................... 76
3.3.2 Branching ....................................................................................................................... 79
3.4 User Defined Function Problems ............................................................................................. 83
3.5 Structure of Program .................................................................................................................... 97
3.5.1 Input Output Form ..................................................................................................... 97
3.5.2 Work With Modules .................................................................................................. 98
3.5.3 Tips ................................................................................................................................. 100
3.6 Chart Macro..................................................................................................................................... 102
3.7 Manipulation on Program Steps ............................................................................................ 108
Chapter 4: MATRIX PROGRAM ..................................................................................................... 112
4.1 Matrix Definition ........................................................................................................................... 112
4.1.1 Types of Matrix.......................................................................................................... 112
4.1.2 Matrix Operation ...................................................................................................... 115
4.2 Program for Matrix Operations .............................................................................................. 124
4.3 Matrix Method for Structural Analysis ................................................................................ 132
4.3.1 Upper Structure ........................................................................................................ 132
4.3.2 Sub Structure ............................................................................................................. 134
Chapter 5: NUMERICAL METHOD ............................................................................................... 135
5.1 Numerical Integration ................................................................................................................ 135
5.2 Numerical Differentiation ......................................................................................................... 138
Chapter 6: PROGRAM FOR 2D FRAME STRUCTURE ANALYSIS ......................................... 144
6.1 Case Example.................................................................................................................................. 144
6.2 Sign Convention for Diagram .................................................................................................. 160
6.3 Application ...................................................................................................................................... 162
Chapter 7: PROGRAM FOR 2D TRUSS STRUCTURE ANALYSIS .......................................... 163
7.1 Case Example.................................................................................................................................. 164
7.2 Application ...................................................................................................................................... 176
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Chapter 8: BEAM ON ELASTIC FOUNDATION .......................................................................... 180
8.1 Case Example.................................................................................................................................. 182
8.1 Application ...................................................................................................................................... 187
Chapter 9: LATERALLY LOADED STRUCTURE ........................................................................ 189
9.1 Case Example.................................................................................................................................. 189
9.2 Application ...................................................................................................................................... 196
Chapter 10: ONE DIMENSIONAL CONSOLIDATION ............................................................... 199
10.1 Application 1 .................................................................................................................................. 205
10.2 Application 2 .................................................................................................................................. 207
Chapter 11: AUTOCAD SCRIPT FILE ........................................................................................... 210
11.1 Creating Scripts in Worksheet ................................................................................................ 210
11.2 Creating Scripts in VBA .............................................................................................................. 231
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................................... 240
ATTACHMENT: PROGRAM CODE ................................................................................................. 241
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Gunthar Pangaribuan
Graduated from Indonesia Institute of Technology and earned a bachelor degree in Civil
Engineering. Getting started with a career in geotechnical engineering services and became
his major work which he has spent over 10 years. During the time, he has created numerous
computer programs especially for completion of geotechnical problems using ExcelVBA
AutoCAD the magic trio he relies on. Some of the programs are presented in this book. In
2012, he joined the oil and gas company as a facility engineer. The current activities and
interests include, traveling, social media, tea, music, band, and rock guitar solo.
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C 1
HAPTER
BASICS OF EXCEL
The work performed by Excel is basically the job of entering data which is then processed
to obtain the desired results. It is, in principle, the same as entering data into an electronic
calculator. However, the data entered here consists of various types and coupled with
existing Excel facilities makes it possible to present the appearance of numbers, text,
associated tables, graphs and a database. This makes Excel becomes well integrated to
create a reporting text and the problem analysis as well.
Each version of Excel to be developed to always make changes and additions of new
facilities, while is still maintaining compatibility with previous versions. But the changes do
not alter the basic features of this software as a worksheet for computing applications. In
this book, we will be working with Microsoft Excel 2007.
1.1 W W
ORKSHEET AND ORKBOOK
When opening Excel, by default Book1 is the name of the first workbook. This workbook
consists of 3 worksheets named Sheet1, Sheet2 and Sheet3. Excel worksheet is also
referred to as a spreadsheet that is the sheet for processing text and numbers.
Figure 1.1 shows the elements of a workbook. At the top of the page there is a title bar
displays the workbook name. Underneath, there is a Ribbon, new interface intoduced in
Excel 2007, which is a navigation tool replaces the menu and tool bars in earlier Excel
version as a tool of access to Excel commands. All commands are grouped and placed into
tabs for particular purposes, thus a tab contains groups of commands.
Worksheet is divided into rows and columns. In Excel 2007, the number of columns and
rows have been improved from previous versions. Columns are from A to Z, then AA, AB to
XFD (16,384 columns), while the rows start from 1 to 1,048,576. The intersection point of
column and row forms a cell as a place to fill data. Each cell has an address referred to by a
column and a row, for example cell B4 is a cell in column B and 4th row. The address of
selected cell can be seen in the Name Box below the Ribbon.
1
A collection of cells is called a cell range, forming an array extending horizontally or
vertically. For example range A1: A5 is a collection of cells from A1 to A5, forming an array
of 5 x 1 or the range A1: C5 form a 5 x 3 array, and so on.
The name of the worksheet can be replaced by other names, by clicking twice on the sheet
tab, press Delete to clear the name, then write the new name; or by right‐clicking on the
tab and then on the shortcut menu click Rename to change its name.
1.2 D T
ATA YPE
The input data in the spreadsheet can be divided into some types that are:
a. Text: alphabet characters and text: A, B, ‐Z, AB, A2, Computers ...
b. Numbers: numerical data: 1,2,3,0, ‐1, ‐2,4,5.85...
c. Date: the date data typically refers to the setting of a computer calendar or
formulated in the calculation.
d. Hours: Data of hours generally are referred to computer time setting or formulated
in the calculation.
e. Formula: mathematical expressions that calculate two or more values produce a new
value.
f. Function: a function that is used for various applications such as calculations, finance,
mathematics and trigonometry, statistics, database, logic and others.
An Introduction to Excel for Civil Engineers 2
Quick Access Toolbar Tittle Bar Closee
CCommand Tab Close Window
Commandds related to the tab
Ribboon
Formulla Bar
Name Box
Active Cell
Scroll Bar
Sheet Tab
Figgure 1.1: Exxcel 2007 WWorksheet
Taable 1.1: Exccel Basic Coommands
Shhortcut
Name Descriiption
oor Icon
Offiice Button Icon to basicc commands below:
SSave a file wwith the naame of the workbookk
Savve
tthat is beingg done
SStore the filee with anotther name innto a folderr
aand directoory, or to aa disc. By default filee
eextension oof .xlsx is given (free macros). Iff
Savve As Alt+FA
tthe file conttains macroo (VBA) annd needs to
aactivate eacch time it is opened, ann extensionn
oof .xlsm exteension mustt be given.
Neww OOpen a new workbook
Opeen OOpen an exissting workbbook
Prinnt PPrint a workksheet throuugh the prinnter device
Closse CClose the woorkbook (Cllose Windoww icon)
An Introdduction to EExcel for Civiil Engineerss 3
