Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions - Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Willis, Southern Methodist University; Paul Krueger, Southern Methodist University; Alice Kendrick, Southern Methodist University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

is a recipient of the Rolf D. Buhler Memorial Award in Aeronautics and the Richard Bruce Chapman Memorial Award for distinguished research in Hydrodynamics. In 2004 he received the Faculty Early Career Development Award (CAREER) from the National Science Foundation and in 2009 he received the ASME North Texas Section Young Engineer of the Year award. His research interests are unsteady hydrodynamics and aerodynamics, vortex dynamics, bio-fluid mechanics, and pulsed-jet propulsion.Alice Kendrick, Southern Methodist University Alice Kendrick is professor of advertising in the Temerlin Advertising Institute at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Her research in advertising account

Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions - Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Matthew Green, LeTourneau University; Carolyn Conner Seepersad, University of Texas, Austin; Katja Holtta-Otto, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

engineering career” suggests the interviews did not increase or decrease interest inengineering careers on average. One of the most significant responses is C7=4.0 indicatingstudents believe the extreme experience interviews “inspired ideas that are better for averageusers as well.” The extreme experience interviews occurred immediately after the normalcustomer interviews, and therefore student ratings are based to some extent on the additionalvalue added by the extreme interviews. Page 15.571.9 Table 6: Student Survey Results (FA’08 and SP’09 Cumulative; n=103) Scale: 1) Strongly disagree, 3) Neutral, 5) Strongly

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanical Systems: What's New

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Arun Chintalapati, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Hong Sheng, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Richard Hall, Missouri University of Science and Technology; Robert Landers, Missouri University of Science and Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

wasused in two of the tasks to provide both qualitative and quantitative data. Eye tracking is aninnovative method that is increasingly being used in the field of human-computer interaction forusability studies, as it can provide useful insight into the cognitive aspect of the users. Based onthe data analysis, a significant improvement was noticed in users interest after using RDS.Statistical analysis showed significant increase in career interest in science followed closely byenjoyment. Results from the analysis on learning outcomes suggest the RDS was perceived tohave high real world applicability. Results also showed an increase in knowledge gained afterusing the system. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) constructs such as perceived easeof

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hui Shen, Ohio Northern University; Richard F. Miller, Ohio Northern University; David Sawyers, Ohio Northern University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. This paper describes research activities conducted primarily in the mechanicalengineering department by undergraduate students. Projects in biomechanics and biomaterialsintegrate engineering mechanics and materials science with the life sciences to enableundergraduate engineering students to participate in cutting-edge research. These activities areexpected to attract more students, especially female students, to engineering and to expand thefuture career options of mechanical engineering students.There are a number of special circumstances that must be considered when developing researchprojects that are appropriate for undergraduate students. The undergraduate research activitiesare carefully designed to recruit suitable students and to

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ivana Milanovic, University of Hartford; Tom Eppes, University of Hartford

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Page 15.1271.3The same templates are used by all departments with exhibits posted online so faculty and staffcan view what has been prepared across the College. Department Chairs and Program Directorsserve as prime movers for much of the work and maintain consistency in style and content toharmonize efforts and facilitate communication. We were aided by a wide range of ABETmaterials published on the web by other institutions, making it easy to find best practices1,3,5.Figure 1 shows the CIP flowchart for the Mechanical Engineering (ME) program, and illustrateshow the multiple missions and strategic plan support the PEOs and POs.Program Educational ObjectivesPEOs, developed based on input from the constituencies, describe the 3-5 year career

Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions - Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rajesh Bhaskaran, Cornell University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

AC 2010-965: SIMCAFE: A WIKI-BASED REPOSITORY OF LEARNINGMODULES FOR DEPLOYING SIMULATION TECHNOLOGY IN MECHANICALENGINEERING EDUCATIONRajesh Bhaskaran, Cornell University Page 15.1065.1© American Society for Engineering Education, 2010 SimCafe: A Wiki-Based Repository of Learning Modules for Deploying Simulation Technology in Mechanical Engineering EducationAbstractComputer-based simulation technology has rapidly become a key component of mechanicalengineering (ME) practice. Commerical simulation packages are used by leading companies todesign, analyze and understand complex engineering systems. To help modernize the curriculumand better prepare students for their careers

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brian Vuksanovich, Youngstown State University; Darrell Wallace, Youngstown State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

for the successfulcompletion of this course. When combined with an appropriate semester co-op, an ET electivecan be replaced with these credits.The Art student learns the logical approach to solving a technical problem that is very relevant totheir careers: being able to efficiently make multiples of their work with standard manufacturingpractices. The Arts student’s credit for participation is determined by the Arts department and istypically equal to the ET student’s credit.IV. Project ProfileThe first group that went through this program was initiated in November, 2008. The studentsmet and they decided that they could work together. The Arts student present two proposals forconsideration, and after deliberation, they picked a project to

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer-Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Chasnov

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

than a comparable solar power plant. Money isn’t everything, though. The shift in thinking towards environmentally friendly power plays to solar power’s strength over coal.8ConclusionA mechanical engineering (ME) education includes many topics which are essential to theproblem-solving career MEs are known for. The ABET requirement for “design of componentsor processes of thermal systems” might be satisfied by a course or other experience during whichall students design and fabricate a pump or compressor or heat exchanger. We have chosen tointegrate energy production and policy into a project through which students are encouraged tobecome more active as citizens. Our hope is that future generations of MEs will be

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brandon Field, University of Southern Indiana; David Ellert, University of Southern Indiana

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

methods were needed in both thecomputer and hand calculations of the building loads.The purpose to running the classes without textbooks was to familiarize the students with themultiple real-world references that would be needed in their engineering careers. The lack of anassigned textbook was not seen to be a hinder on the student ability to use the referencesprovided. At the end of each semester the University administers evaluations, and one of thequestions on this evaluation is: “The course materials used, such as visuals, texts, handouts andon-line items, helped me learn.” The students respond on a scale of 5 to 1 with 5 being“Significantly Agree” and 1 being “Significantly Disagree.” In all of these semesters, theaverage for this question

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Peter Baumann, Central Connecticut State University; Nidal Al-Masoud, Central Connecticut State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

indispensible ingredients of a successful career in engineering, thusfulfilling some of the program educational objectives.Bibliography 1. Schuster, P., Davol, A. and J. Mello, “Student Competitions - The Benefits and Challenges,” Proceedings, 2006 ASEE Annual Conference (Washington, DC: American Society for Engineering Education, 2006). 2. Pierrakos, O., Borrego, M. and J. Lo, “Assessing Learning Outcomes of Senior Mechanical Engineers in a Capstone Design Experience,” Proceedings, 2007 ASEE Annual Conference (Washington, DC: American Society for Engineering Education, 2007). 3. Davis, D. C., Crain Jr., R. W., Calkins, D. E., Gentili, K. L., and M. S. Trevisan, “Competency-Based Engineering Design Projects

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David Benson, Kettering University; Ada Cheng, Kettering University; Odesma Dalrymple, ASU Polytechnic

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

failure” will be developed.In this way an institutional profile of student competency in selected background skills across thecurriculum can be developed. Student responses on pre- and post- assessments can also becompared both within a class and as students progress through the curriculum over the two yearsof the study. Aggregate data from this longitudinal study will permit assessment of studentgrowth in these areas and it is anticipated that insights will be gained in the solidification ofstudent knowledge as they progress through their academic career. Long term goals related tothis research are the development of tools that will permit an institution to: profile studentcompetency in key content and skills, identify and develop targeted

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Garrett Clayton, Villanova University; James O'Brien, Villanova University; Kenneth Kroos, Villanova University; Amy Fleischer, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

general skills needed to be successful ME students, 3) to introduce students to design, 4)to emphasize the role that engineering plays in contemporary society, 5) to impart a sense of thecreativity and innovation inherent in ME, and 6) to improve professional skills necessary forsuccessful engineering careers. A secondary objective is to excite students about the MEprofession, and motivate them to continue with the arduous degree process. These objectives areachieved through a hands-on (in some cases open-ended) project-based laboratory, whichemphasizes the engineering design process, coupled with complementary lectures that providejust-in-time information required for the laboratory. Figure 1: Chart showing the topics covered in MEA&D

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Angkee Sripakagorn, Chulalongkorn University; Kuntinee Maneeratana, Chulalongkorn University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

the pressure from the framework andpeers. This trend is good for students in the view of their career placement or graduate schoolapplications.After the initial period, features of best projects start to emerge and can be divided into threeareas. The first is the industry related projects, especially with co-funding or sponsorship. With awell-defined and well-scheduled proposal from industry as well as strong financial and othersupports, this kind of project usually excels. Similarly, the research-oriented projects initiatedfrom an established research laboratories also usually succeed. Lastly, many projects areinvolved in major, and in many cases, international competitions. Faced with major challenges,many of these projects are successful

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanical Systems: What's New

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ashok Kumar Manoharan, Auburn University; P.K. Raju, Auburn University; Chetan Sankar, Auburn University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

instructor and students in the experimental section at Auburn Universityincluded the following:≠ The case studies show the students that engineering requires judgment despite limited knowledge, conflicting information, and uncertainty. They show that the livelihoods, even the lives, of people are daily engineering responsibilities. These case studies reveal the importance of ethics and professionalism in engineering. The students see that engineering is not only a technical career but has a very high “human” component.≠ Seven out of eight African-American students in the class preferred an interactive learning environment. The students indicated that the case studies were a very positive experience in their learning of

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nicholas Harlow, Western Kentucky University; Robert Choate, Western Kentucky University; H. Joel Lenoir, Western Kentucky University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

laboratory courses. Moreover,the adaptability of the test bed makes it possible to use in a variety of laboratory experimentsbased on the specific needs and desired outcomes of the specific course.On the part of the student worker, this extracurricular activity has provided learning experiencesthat no one course can provide. As a result, the student worker has been able to add value to hisundergraduate education by applying and refining a variety of engineering skills. Moreover, therewards personally witnessed by the student have inspired him to continue to seek out ways toadd value to future engineering education and career endeavors.Using this experiment in the junior level Engineering Experimentation and Instrumentationcourse brought value to the

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer-Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Simin Hall, College of Engineering at Virginia Tech; Catherine Amelink, Virginia Tech; Sam Conn, Virginia Tech

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Systems at Regis University in Denver, Colorado from 1999 to 2008. In this position he led the university's move to online education in graduate and undergraduate programs. Sam also served as co-director of the online joint-degree program with the National University of Ireland in Galway, Director of the Center for Database Research, and Co-Director for the National Security Agency Center of Academic Excellence. Sam has worked in higher education since 1999 after completing a 23 year career in the field of information systems and technology. Sam maintains a publishing track in Information Systems and eLearning research