Ordinary differential equations are the mathematical formulation for a great variety of problems in science and engineering, and frequently, two different problems are equivalent from a mathematical point of view when they are formulated by the same equations. Students acquire the knowledge of how to solve these equations (at least some types of them) using protocols and strict algorithms of mathematical calculation without thinking about the meaning of the equation. The aim of this work is that students learn to design network models or circuits in this way; with simple knowledge of them, students can establish the association of electric circuits and differential equations and their equivalences, from a formal point of view, that allows them to associate knowledge of two disciplines and promote the use of this interdisciplinary approach to address complex problems. Therefore, they learn to use a multidisciplinary tool that allows them to solve these kinds of equations, even students of first course of engineering, whatever the order, grade or type of non-linearity. This methodology has been implemented in numerous final degree projects in engineering and science, e.g., chemical engineering, building engineering, industrial engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture, etc. Applications are presented to illustrate the subject of this manuscript.

Purpose: – Natural convection with heat transfer in porous media has been subject of extensive study in engineering due to its numerous applications. A case of particular interest is the Bénard-type flow.The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach: – Based on the network simulation method in order to solve this problem, a numerical model is proposed. Findings: – Nusselt-Rayleigh correlation is determined for a broad range of Rayleigh, the dimensionless number that influences the solution, above and below the threshold which separates the conduction and convection pure mechanisms. Originality/value: – Based on the network simulation method.

The nondimensionalization of the equations governing a given problem is a direct, relatively easy, and low‐cost way to provide interesting information, the dimensionless groups that rule the problem and define its final patterns of solution. In complex problems, however, this technique frequently does not provide the precise and complete set of monomials we are looking for. The use of discrimination in the process of nondimensionalization, the detailed application of which is explained in this paper, always leads to a minimum set of parameters, which, separately, determine the solution of the problems. In addition, the physical meaning and order of magnitude of these discriminated monomials are also provided by the discrimination. The technique is applied to the coupled problem of natural convection between horizontal plates heated from below, containing an anisotropic porous medium.