70 What Every Engineer Should Know About Excel
FIGURE 4.9
FIGURE 4.10
Line Drawings, Embedded Objects, Equations, and Symbols in Excel 71
4.5 Construction of Line Drawings from Plotted Coordinates
A closed gure may be constructed in Excel by plotting a sequence of data points that
returns to the initial coordinate set. An initial sketch on ordinary graph paper may form
the basis for generating a smoothed line drawing when combined with the editing fea-
tures of Excel graphs. We illustrate this technique with an airfoil shape. The airfoil shape
has been hand-sketched on a sheet of graph paper graduated in increments of 0.1 in. The
x- and y-coordinates of the shape are then tabulated in sequence, starting with the trailing
edge of the airfoil, proceeding along the bottom surface of the section, and then around
the top surface back to the trailing edge. The resulting data are shown in columns A and B
of Figure 4.10, with the dimensions given in inches. A type 3 scatter chart is plotted and
appears in Figure 4.10, without editing of the chart proportions. Note that the tted com-
puter curve for the tabulated data is not as smooth as one would expect for an airfoil
section. This unevenness results from either a poor sketch (by the author) or inaccurate
readings of the coordinates of the sketch.
The unevenness may be smoothed by rst adjusting the chart proportions to the dis-
torted form shown in Figure 4.11, which emphasizes the imperfections in the plot. Next,
FIGURE 4.11
72 What Every Engineer Should Know About Excel
the data series is activated and the data points are double-clicked at points along the
curve that appear to need adjustment. These points are then gently dragged to new
positions to smooth out the curve. Two overcorrections are shown in Figure 4.12 to
illustrate the action. The results of gentle smoothing are shown in Figure 4.13. Note that
the results of the smoothing (or overcorrecting) also appear in the tabulated values for
x and y.
Once the surface curve has been smoothed, the chart proportions are adjusted by drag-
ging the side handles until the increments in x- and y-coordinates have the same chart
measurements. The results are shown in Figure 4.14.
FIGURE 4.12
Line Drawings, Embedded Objects, Equations, and Symbols in Excel 73
FIGURE 4.13
FIGURE 4.14
74 What Every Engineer Should Know About Excel
Problems
4.1 Plot the function y = 3.25 xe−0.1x over the range 0 < x < 5 using a type 3 scat-
ter chart (Section 3.3). Create appropriate labels for the axes using the INSERT/
SYMBOLS/Symbol menu Include the function on the appropriate axis label.
4.2 Construct the asymmetric circles shown. Then, ll the areas as indicated (or
with a ll pattern of your choice), and engage the 3-D effects shown.
4.3 Create the text box shown with an inserted equation. Then, modify with the
ll and shadow effects indicated. Note that activating the text box followed by
FORMAT/ARRANGE/Rotate will allow you to orient the text box vertically.
y = ΣCnsin(nπx/L)
y = ΣCnsin(nπx/L) y = ΣCnsin(nπx/L) y = ΣCnsin(nπx/L)
y = ΣCnsin(nπx/L) y = ΣCnsin(nπx/L)
4.4 Create Figure 4.8 by rst creating the resistor elements as described in Section 4.3.
Then, create the small circles. The resistor elements may be rotated by clicking
FORMAT/ARRANGE/Rotate. Assemble the drawing in Excel and group with
FORMAT/ARRANGE/GROUP/Group. Create and insert all the labels using text
boxes without line borders. Also, construct the equations in text boxes below the
diagram and position them appropriately with respect to the drawing.
4.5 If you have not already done so, work through the exercises in Section 4.3.
