Conference Session

Delivery Methods in Mechanical Engineering Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Raghu Echempati, Kettering University; Anca L. Sala, Baker College, Flint

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

that are basedon student survey conducted via e-mail. These issues, together with the authors‟ limitedexperiences in this field are presented in this paper.IntroductionA lot of research has been done that deals with blended teaching and learning. However,there is no general consensus as to what is blended learning and what does it constitute.Figure 1 [Wikipedia1] shows one method of blended learning that comprise the formalclassroom learning and online learning using a stationary computer or a mobile devicesuch as a tablet or. With the advent of more technology, the cell phone can also be used.This form of learning already exists for example in a social atmosphere such as finding afavorite restaurant in a new city and navigating to reach its

Conference Session

Computing in the classroom

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Zahra Shahbazi, Manhattan College; sina Shahbazmohamadi, University of Connecticut

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

universities.IntroductionThrough the long history of teaching and learning, the medium of the interaction between theeducator and learner has evolved from merely oral interaction between teacher and students tothe recent tablets and smart devices. Advances in technology have played a significant role indeveloping new methods and devices for interaction. Table 1 1 summarizes a handful of devicesused during such an evolution since 1650 and a brief description of how they work.The advent of computers is by far one of the most important turning points in this field.Computers and subsequently internet provided the educators with a treasure trove of materials,images and already developed media to be used in their classrooms. Several softwares began todevelop to enhance the

Conference Session

Hands-on/Experiential Learning

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Daria A Kotys-Schwartz, University of Colorado Boulder; Chiang Shih, Florida A&M University/Florida State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, we highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the FIPSE-SEAEP, withrespect to international capstone design project courses, and give recommendations forimproving the program, which center on project-based courses.BackgroundPrevious studies have shown that international experiences for students can promotecross-cultural understanding, enhanced knowledge and skills, as well as globalpreparedness.1-3 Additionally, research in engineering education has demonstrated thatproject-based courses can increase student retention, motivation, problem-solving ability,communication skills, knowledge retention, teamwork skills and the capacity for self-directed learning. 4-8 The FIPSE-Sustainable Energy and Aeronautical EngineeringProgram (SEAEP) places a

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering (ME) Poster Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sanjay Jayaram, Saint Louis University, Parks College of Eng.

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

courses to understand the material.IntroductionActive learning has several facets, including, collaborative learning, cooperative learning,problem-based learning, project-based learning, case-based learning, discovery learning, andjust-in-time teaching. Active learning has been defined as any instructional method that engagesstudents, whereas collaborative learning involves students working in small groups to reach acommon goal [1, 2]. When student groups are more structured, the term “cooperative learning”has been used [3]. As opposed to traditional lecture-based instruction, active learning methodsactively engage students in the educational process. These instructional methods invite studentsto become engaged, and therefore responsible for

Conference Session

Thermal Sciences

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Evan C. Lemley, University of Central Oklahoma; Baha Jassemnejad, University of Central Oklahoma; Eric Judd EIT, University of Central Oklahoma; Brock Philip Ring; Andrew Wayne Henderson, University of Central Oklahoma; Grant M Armstrong

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

to employ high-impact learning practices in the classroom.Why Flipping?This class was operated in “blended” fashion [1] where there was an online component (instructionalmedia) and regular class meetings. The regular meetings did not include lectures, but instead involvedone-on-one and group problem solving. The instructor’s role in these meetings was to guide students,explain difficult and confusing concepts, and interact with each student individually or in small groupsduring each class meeting. The flipped format for this class was inspired by others that have takenthis approach [2-4] and reported success. Although this idea is not necessarily new - to do somethingbesides lecturing in the classroom - the idea has been recently

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering (ME) Poster Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Randall D. Manteufel, University of Texas, San Antonio; Amir Karimi, University of Texas, San Antonio

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

digits, a reasonable estimate of the uncertainty isplus or minus half the least significant increment. For example, consider the number 4.54. Thisnumber is show to three significant digits. As such, the “true” value can be interpreted to bebetween 4.535 and 4.545 with 95% confidence. This represents an uncertainty of about0.01/4.54 or ~1/500 or 0.2% uncertainty. This is a fractional uncertainty which is oftenoptimistically small, given the uncertainty in the other inputs and physical parameters. It is oftenmisleading when answers are represented to five or more significant digits. Continuing thisexample, the final answer may be reported by some students as 4.5455 (to 5 significant digits)which is the same as stating the answer is known to about

Conference Session

Mechatronics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anca L. Sala, Baker College of Flint

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Mechatronics and Robotics concepts in the curriculum of severalengineering and technology programs. The Jewell Educational Grants for Teaching and LearningInnovation provide winning proposals with up to $20,000 in funding for projects that must becompleted in one academic year. The proposals are due by April 15 of each year, with theselected projects running September 1 through August 31 of the following year. A Final Reportdetailing the materials developed as well as the assessment results from projects’ implementationis due by October 31.One of the goals of the project was to reach students from multiple programs in the Division ofEngineering and Technology at Baker College. The Division offers 4-year engineering programs

Conference Session

Mechatronics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Horacio Vasquez, University of Texas, Pan American; Arturo A Fuentes, University of Texas, Pan American

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

understanding about sensors, calibration, graphing and data presentation, and curve fitting. • Learn about units and conversions.A group of students helping with the project suggested creating a box for the microcontroller andsensors kit to be covered and organized and to carry and use it in the lab and at home. Figure 1presents the proposed model of the box for the kit. This model also shows three different holesthat will be used to connect the Arduino to the external power supply, computer, and sensors. Figure 1. Box for the microcontroller and sensors kit.Challenge-Based Instruction (CBI)Challenge-based instruction was selected as the pedagogy to be used in this project to promotestudent engagement and adaptive

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Innovations

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Goodarz Ahmadi, Clarkson University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

first course is also offeredon-line simultaneously.PARTICLE TRANSPORT COURSE MODULES These combined research and curriculum development (CRCD) courses arecomposed of four modules. The models are:  Fundamental of particle transport, dispersion, deposition and removal.  Computational modeling of particle transport, deposition and removal.  Experimental study of particle transport, deposition and removal.  Industrial applications of particle transport, deposition and removal.The front page of the course web is shown in Figure 1. The lecture notes and thecalculations models are uploaded into the course web and are available in both pdf formas well as html form.Module I: Fundamental concepts: In Module I, the

Conference Session

Delivery Methods in Mechanical Engineering Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gregory Mason, Seattle University; Teodora Rutar Shuman, Seattle University; Kathleen E. Cook, Seattle University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

course content.This paper describes the implementation of an IC in a senior-level Control Systems course. Twoofferings of these courses with 20-25 students each have been entirely taught as inverted. Thispaper describes best practices in offering these courses, including suggestions for instructors onpreparing video lectures and structuring the course to provide a safe environment for students tolearn in this unique format. Three years of assessment data are presented in this paper, includingstudent exam performance, and instructor and student observations and perceptions of theinverted classroom format collected through surveys and interviews. Key results fromassessments are: 1) although there was some initial resistance from the students to

Conference Session

Computing in the classroom

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ryan R. Goyings, Civil & Mechanical Engineering Department at The United States Military Academy; James Ledlie Klosky, United States Military Academy, West Point; Bobby G Crawford, U.S. Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Education, 2013 iPads in the Engineering Classroom – Boon or Bane?Introduction As iPads and similar touch-screen devices continue to flood the market, engineeringprograms are seeking to integrate these platforms into student education. With total marketpenetration of perhaps 125 million iPads sold to date and nearly half a billion smartphones (allbrands) shipped in 2011 alone1 for a total of just over 1 billion smartphone users currentlyholding active accounts worldwide2, the transition to highly-mobile touch screen computing isupon us. Further, the Pew Internet and American Life Project estimates that 66% of thosebetween 18 and 29 years old own smartphones, with the likelihood of ownership increasing withhigher incomes3

Conference Session

Hands-on/Experiential Learning

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael J Benson P.E., United States Military Academy; Hans J Thomas, United States Military Academy; Shad A Reed, United States Air Force Academy; Bruce Floersheim, U.S. Military Academy; Steven J. Condly, United States Military Academy

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

event thatusually happens during the 2nd undergraduate year. Figure 1 illustrates the numbers of years ofschooling completed by each participant prior to attending their internship. The majority of thestudents attended their internship after completing three years of academic study.Approximately 2/3 of the survey participants were enrolled in the USMA MechanicalEngineering program, the remainder were enrolled in the USAFA Aerospace Engineeringprogram. 6% 32% 3 yrs 2 yrs

Conference Session

Materials

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John M Mativo, University of Georgia; Siddharth Savadatti, University of Georgia

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

suggests a mechanism design to achieve higher deflection. The paper will discuss thefirst two models. In conclusion, the paper points out how engineering education could benefitfrom exposure and participation in such a design process even though students were not involvedin this study originally.IntroductionThermoelectric generators convert heat to electricity. Current geometry and materials used indesigns shown in figures 1 and 2 result to rigid devices. The geometry ensures no moving partswhile the materials provide a high figure of merit (ZT). ZT=S2σ/k, where k is thermalconductivity, σ is the electrical conductivity, and S is the Seebeck coefficient. The figure ofmerit, ZT, is dimensionless and is formed by multiplying Z with the average

Conference Session

Thermal Sciences

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lin Lin, University of Southern Maine; James W. Smith, University of Southern Maine; Stephen Knittweis

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

rely on principles ofthermodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat transfer. To demonstrate these principles and theirapplications, a system was designed and constructed to study the operating characteristicsand system design theory of an air conditioner/heat pump unit. The theoretical cycle can beillustrated in figure 1 with four basic components: compressor, condenser, expansion valveand evaporator. The refrigerant flows counter-clockwise through the cycle. The compressorraises the pressure of the refrigerant, which exits as superheated vapor. Ideally, thesuperheated vapor condenses to liquid at constant pressure in the condenser by rejecting heat.The expansion valve throttles the refrigerant’s pressure down, so it leaves as a two phasemixture in

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering (ME) Poster Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Firas Akasheh, Tuskegee University; Kenneth D Dawson, Tuskegee University; Jonathan Rocha, Tuskegee University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

and nuts in a simple and fast manner withoutconsideration to other functionality aspects.The participants in this study were 11 students taking the course Theory of Machines in fall2012. The new approach was packaged in the form of a term-long class project which startedearly on in the semester and was completed in stages as the semester progressed and necessarybackground covered. Each group consisted on 2-3 members. The project statement is as follows:Part 1: Design and test a system for constructing four bar mechanisms for the purpose of Page 23.315.4studying their kinematics. To the extent possible, the design should be cost effective

Conference Session

Thermodynamics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amir Karimi, University of Texas, San Antonio; Randall D. Manteufel, University of Texas, San Antonio

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

students tograduate schools, and considering graduates for employment in the industry. Since the overallGPA is based on the average of the grades received in a collection of courses taken by a student,it might be a valid tool for measuring the acquisition of knowledge and skills of that student.However, studies [1, 7] have shown that grade distributions vary significantly among the facultymembers teaching the same course at the same institution. Therefore, a grade received in asingle course might not necessarily signify the level of student knowledge and competency in thetopics covered in that course.One way to gage the depth of knowledge gained by students completing a particular course is totrack their performance in the follow up courses in

Conference Session

Materials

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohammad Kamal Hossain, Tuskegee University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

project criteria was an emphasis on compactness. Therefore, itwas important that our SUT be smaller yet practical. The height, length, and width of our SUTwere 1109.78 mm, 1959.76 mm, and 1270 mm, respectively. Overall dimensions are shown inFigures 1 through 4, respectively. 2000 N 1109.78 mm 1430.26 mm 1028.7 mm 1959.76 1270 mm mm Figure 1: Frame Dimensions

Conference Session

Mechatronics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John G. Cherng P.E., University of Michigan-Dearborn; Ben Q. Li, University of Michigan, Dearborn; Narasimhamurthi Natarajan, University of Michigan, Dearborn

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Page 23.424.2content for ME472 Principles and Applications of Mechatronic Systems Designs was approvedby the college curriculum committee in April 2012 and was offered in the fall semester of 2012.Undergraduate mechatronics courses have been implemented in many universities with variouscourse structures. For example, Dr. Vladimir Vantsevich, Professor and Director of MechatronicSystems Engineering Program at Lawrence Technological University, teaches an undergraduatemechatronics course [1] which replaces the conventional engineering controls course. ProfessorsBrent Gillespie and Shorya Awtar in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Universityof Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan taught the graduate level Mechatronic Systems Design(ME552

Conference Session

Thermodynamics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Stephen R. Turns, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Peggy Noel Van Meter, Pennsylvania State University; Thomas A. Litzinger, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Carla M Firetto, The Pennsylvania State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

and understanding. In applying all of this to problem solving, many assumptionsand approximations are often invoked, yielding special cases of general principles. Furthermore,students must become proficient with the use of extensive tabular data and/or software to obtainthermodynamic properties. Pitfalls abound as students struggle to consolidate conceptualunderstanding and develop procedural knowledge. Students are introduced to some of the basic concepts of thermodynamics in pre-college andintroductory college chemistry and physics courses. There is a broad literature describing thedifficulties encountered and the misconceptions students develop in these courses.1-6 Meltzer,1, 2for example, has recently reported “that 20% or fewer

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Innovations

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mark Nagurka, Marquette University; Fernando Rodriguez Anton, Marquette University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

college teaching most class time is spent with a professor lecturing and studentswatching, listening, and writing. Students work individually and cooperation is generally dis-couraged. In contrast, in student-centered pedagogical methods the focus of activity is shiftedfrom the teacher to the learners. Student-centered learning methods have been shown to have advantages relative to the clas-sical teacher-centered approach in terms of a range of outcome metrics: short-term mastery,long-term retention, depth of understanding, critical thinking, creative problem-solving skills,positive attitudes toward the subject, and level of confidence in knowledge or skills.1 Student-centered learning methods include active, cooperative, collaborative, and

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering (ME) Poster Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jacob Lee Finley; Mehrdaad Ghorashi P.E., University of Southern Maine

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. In thisway, students gain necessary hands-on and real-world experience about concepts that wouldotherwise be abstract and intangible. The received feedback from students has been positive andmost of them have expressed that they enjoy learning the course material much more if it is Page 23.465.2accompanied with such activities.Keywords: Mechanical properties, Undergraduate Research Fellow, hands-on experience, stressanalysis, Maxwell’s reciprocity theorem 1. IntroductionThis paper summarizes the activities of an Undergraduate Research Fellow (URF) during thesummer of 2012. He (the first author) designed and built a few experimental setups

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratory Innovations

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nicholas Langhoff, San Francisco State University; Sergey Dusheyko, San Francisco State University; McKenzie Suzanne Campagna, San Francisco State University; Ozkan Celik, San Francisco State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

caliber. To this end, we have developed a low-costdynamic plant and data acquisition Haptic Paddle system for control systems and mechatronicslaboratory courses. A Haptic Paddle is a single degree-of-freedom force-feedback joystick that iswell-suited to be used as a test bed for both basic and advanced concepts in system dynamics,control theory, mechatronics, haptics and enables students to physically interact with simulateddynamic systems. Our novel hardware design offers a robust solution to repeated laboratory useat a cost that greatly facilitates the number of lab setups available for student use to significantlyenhance the opportunity for hands-on learning.1. IntroductionIt is largely agreed on1-8 that engineering education is greatly aided

Conference Session

Delivery Methods in Mechanical Engineering Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Zahra Shahbazi, Manhattan College; sina Shahbazmohamadi, University of Connecticut

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

classroom or out of the classroom. Active andcooperative learning, learning communities, service learning, problem-based learning and teamprojects are some instances of such efforts. In spite of all the support and emphasis on engagingstudents, it is not widely practiced in engineering courses. Engineering education community Page 23.85.2similar to other teaching and learning communities needs pedagogies of engagement that canhelp to develop a new generation of engineers who are resourceful, engaged workers and citizensthat America now requires 1.In this paper, considering the new generation of students’ interests, a new engagement methodfor

Conference Session

Thermodynamics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John R. Reisel, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

time and effort learning that material even after the course has progressed to moreadvanced topics – as a result, the students will not be learning the more advanced topics as theyare taught and will need to further catch up on that material later.As a concrete example of this, consider a typical Basic Engineering Thermodynamics course,built around a textbook such as Moran et al.1 or Cengel and Boles2. In such a course, studentsare often first taught basic thermodynamic definitions and concepts, followed by fundamentalproperty relations, concepts of heat and work, the First Law of Thermodynamics, and then theSecond Law of Thermodynamics. While additional topics may also be covered, this sequencewill suffice for this illustration. If students

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering (ME) Poster Session

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nina Robson, California State University, Fullerton, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

constantlychanging demands of our society is inductive teaching [1]. In this approach, the studentsare first presented with a challenge and they attempt to solve it. Learning takes placewhile students are trying to understand what they need to know to address that challenge.Students tackling these challenges quickly recognize the need for facts, skills, and aconceptual understanding of the task at hand. At that point, the faculty provides minimalinstruction to help students learn on their own. Bransford, Brown, and Cocking [2] surveyextensive neurological and psychological research that provides strong support forinductive teaching methods. Ramsden [3], Norman and Schmidt [4] and Coles [5] alsodemonstrate that inductive methods encourage students to adopt a

Conference Session

Mechatronics

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Noah Salzman, Purdue University, West Lafayette; Peter H. Meckl, Purdue University School of Mechanical Engineering

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Microprocessors and Microcontrollers; Number Systems, Binary 1 Arithmetic 2 Digital Logic; Memory and Memory Addressing Microprocessor Architecture and Internal 3 Operations PC Familiarization, Software 4 Instruction Set Overview, Addressing Modes Development Environment 5 Assembler Directives; Branching and Looping 6 Subroutines & the Stack, Passing Parameters Assembly Language Programming, 7 Peripherals, I/O Interfaces Digital I/O 8 Parallel I/O Ports 9 Serial Communications, UART, ASCII Conversion 10 Interrupts 11 Interrupts

Conference Session

Delivery Methods in Mechanical Engineering Courses

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David J. Dimas, The University of California, Irvine; Faryar Jabbari, University of California, Irvine; Jia Frydenberg, University of California, Irvine

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

: A Public Research University PerspectiveAbstractThis paper describes an experiment at the University of California, Irvine (UCI)that uses a combination of technology and pedagogical approaches to improvelearning outcomes for engineering students while reducing course delivery costs.Like most public research universities, UCI faces the challenge of improvinglearning outcomes in the face of declining State and Federal funding. Thischallenge has many elements; 1) As class sizes increase, student participation ishindered and class enrollments often exceed classroom capacities; 2) A lack ofimmediate feedback on student learning hinders timely interventions that wouldotherwise help students succeed; 3) Operation of classes is burdened

Conference Session

Thermal Sciences

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John Jackman, Iowa State University; Stephen B. Gilbert, Iowa State University; Gloria Starns, Iowa State University; Mathew Hagge, Iowa State University; LeAnn E Faidley, Wartburg College

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

student performance.MethodsProblem ComplexityAs problem complexity increases, students’ ability to frame a problem decreases. Therefore, weneed a method for assessing problem complexity so that we can create problems in a controlledfashion that achieve the appropriate level of difficulty. Students and instructors were surveyed onproblem complexity for problem sets based on the following simple survey instrument based ona Likert scale. This provided a means of calibrating our results in terms of the level of difficultythat students will experience during problem framing. Please rate how complex (i.e., difficult) you think this problem is. □ □ □ □ □ 1 2 3 4 5Least complex

Conference Session

Hands-on/Experiential Learning

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Gavin T. Garner, University of Virginia

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

-year Mechanical Engineering majors at the University of Virginia. A fleet of 2Dball-point-pen plotters, called “HooPrints,” were designed and constructed out of plastic partsformed using state-of-the-art 3D printers. Students were then given blank 3 x 5 index cards andtwo design objectives: 1) Develop a manual, fly-by-wire “etch-a-sketch” mode through whicheach member of their team must write out his or her initials as quickly and neatly as possible and2) Program their HooPrint to automatically/autonomously draw something interesting (andsophisticated in terms of programming technique) in under two minutes.Background According to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and IEEE,Mechatronics is defined as “the synergistic

Conference Session

Materials

Collection

2013 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Mohamad Dyab, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Payam Matin, University of Maryland Eastern Shore; Yuanwei Jin, University of Maryland, Eastern Shore

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

engineeringstudents to design a small size low cost split Hopkinson pressure bar in a form of senior designproject. The objectives of this project are to engage a student: 1) to design a well-structuredHopkinson bar by means of fundamentals of mechanics and finite element simulation 2) to builda working prototype of the apparatus for future research activities; and 3) to develop high speeddeformation experiments for instructional purposes. The designed Split Hopkinson bar consistsof two metallic bars with a specimen placing in between, a striker assembly, an air compressor,an instrumentation and data acquisition system. The experiments for using the split Hopkinspressure bar are conducted as an impact is made by the striker on one of the bars, whichgenerates