Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Curricula and Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Allan T. Kirkpatrick P.E., Colorado State University; Scott Danielson P.E., Arizona State University, Polytechnic; Thomas Perry P.E., American Society of Mechanical Engineers

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Vision 2030 Task Force investigated the currentstate of mechanical engineering education and practice within industry through assessment ofrecent literature addressing the shape and content of engineering and engineering technologyeducation, through conducting workshops among stakeholders at key conferences andgatherings, and by extensive surveys of industry supervisors and early career engineers. As aresult, the Task Force has formally recommended, and begun to advocate for, specific actions tostrengthen the following seven aspects of undergraduate mechanical engineering educationcurricula: creating curricula that inspire innovation and creativity, increasing curricularflexibility, offering more authentic practice-based engineering experiences

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Onursal Onen, University of South Florida; Rasim Guldiken, University of South Florida

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

c American Society for Engineering Education, 2012INTRODUCTION OF “MICROFLUIDICS” TO UNDERGRADUATE FLUID MECHANICS COURSE Page 25.850.2AbstractUndergraduate level fluid mechanics course is traditionally taught as a math-intensive coursewith the content remaining fairly similar for decades. The course content is usually challengingfor students with significant amount of theory and numerous new concepts introduced. In a fluidmechanics course, only a limited amount of state-of-the-art technologies and real-lifeapplications can be included, given the limited time and the material that should be covered.Information on market and career opportunities are often not mentioned in fluid

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Curricula and Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Timothy M. Hodges P.E., Virginia Military Institute; Elizabeth White Baker, Wake Forest University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

promotestudents to choose to pursue graduate education. This paper outlines a new program thatintroduces cadets to the world of graduate education. The core of the program is to partner withexisting graduate schools to germinate the seed of future work in graduate engineering education.The goal is to foster the benefits of graduate education and the career enhancement that obtainingthe education affords. We also believe that participation in the program makes theundergraduate student a better communicator and logical thinker with the ultimate goal ofintroducing the students to graduate studies in engineering. In this paper we introduce theconceptual framework of the program and the results of its early implementation. We will alsoaddress the future

Conference Session

Outreach, Engagement, and Undergraduate Research

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Karinna M. Vernaza, Gannon University; Mahesh C. Aggarwal, Gannon University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

young minds of the middle school students to give a thought to how theycan impact and change their lives and the society in a positive way.The objectives of the “Mechanical Engineering Day” were to establish an effective program toincrease middle school student’s exposure to engineering, to inspire middle school students toconsider mechanical engineering/engineering as a future career, and to provide the undergraduatestudents opportunities for leadership and professional development. Middle school studentslearned about engineering and mechanical engineering careers, how engineers impact everydaylife, and according to the survey, that engineering is fun. The event will be discussed from aproject-based perspective in a classroom setting. The

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Curricula and Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Lisa Abrams, Ohio State University; James William Altschuld, Ohio State University; Blaine W. Lilly, Ohio State University; Daniel A. Mendelsohn, Ohio State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

been Efforts in this area areAttitudes toward in program to see what prepared along the just beginningMechanical the attitudes are but lines of work done atEngineering also if they are the University ofSurvey predictive of Pittsburgh12 persistenceTable 2: Overview of the Evaluation Strategy as of December 2011Methods of Assessment Page 25.852.6The students were asked to develop a Power Point assignment assuming they were presenting toa group of 9th and 10th graders at their high schools’ career day. They were to describe (notproselytize) Mechanical

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Trends and Tools

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Timothy A. Doughty, University of Portland; Steven O'Halloran, University of Portland

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

careers. The results of this study prove useful in designing an effectivecross-curricular approach to the topic and in tutorial development.IntroductionPlug and play data acquisition has made experiment design and analysis much more accessible toundergraduate students. Where in the past typical lab experiences involved pre-establishedinstrumentation and cookbook exercises, a wealth of software demonstrations and librariescouple with flexible and easy-to-use hardware to allow for a relatively straightforwardintroduction to the fundamentals of the craft of taking meaningful data. As a result, the numberof publications regarding implementation in case-specific applications is staggering. See, forexample, McDonald1, Zhang et al.2, Lohani et al.3, and

Conference Session

Capstone Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Martin Edin Grimheden, Royal Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

perspective. Secondly, findings fromthe case study are described with an analysis of their importance for the learning process.Firstly, three tables are presented that shows the relevance of the course and content ingeneral. In table 1 the students rank this course among the approximately 50 other coursesthat constitutes their curricula. More than half of the students rank this course as the most oramong one of the three most valuable for their future career. Only one student, 3% of thepopulation, rank the course as not being one of the five most valuable.Table 2 and 3 shows how the students responded to the combination of Scrum andmechatronics product development. In Table 2, when the students respond to the question“did Scrum make it easier or

Conference Session

Laboratory Innovations

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas R. Consi, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

willlikely result in: 1. Confusion that could lead to uncertainty in knowledge gained from the lectures and formal lab exercises. 2. An inability to work with complex systems that cross disciplines. If the initial hands-on challenge is too hard, then skills like project planning and troubleshooting will not be properly developed. 3. Lack of confidence, especially in a student’s ability to understand areas that are not in the students' major. For example, a mechanical engineering student’s understanding of programming and/or electronics. 4. Discouraging students from either careers in mechatronics or applying for jobs with a mechatronic component. In other words, narrowing a student’s perceived career options.The

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment III

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Tom Spendlove, Baker College, Flint; Anca L. Sala, Baker College, Flint; James Riddell, Baker College, Flint

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

one project from a first or secondyear class and one from a third, fourth or fifth year class that demonstrates we are meeting theoutcome. This also fits in well with our learning centered instruction initiative at the college sowe can not only show the school what we’re doing but show them how it fits into the confines ofour accrediting body. Page 25.880.5The Program Educational Objectives are to prepare graduates who: 1. demonstrate competencein engineering practice in local and global industry environments, or in related careers ingovernment or academia. 2. exhibit effective communication, team work, and readiness forleadership while

Conference Session

Simulations and Visualizations

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Koenraad E. Gieskes, Binghamton University; Roy T.R. McGrann, Binghamton University; Charles Gazeley DeRusso, Binghamton University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

specificinformation needed in that subject. These representations used in engineering education not onlyinfluence the learning of the students, but also affect the analytical methods used by studentswhen they encounter similar concepts in their work. This investigation of the role of visualrepresentations in engineering and the students’ understanding thereof consists of several parts.First, an overview of such representations in mechanical engineering education is provided. Thena comparison of the different types of visual representations is presented. This paper culminatesin a discussion and comparison of the results of this investigation of student learning at variousstages in their educational careers. Data is collected from a first-year introductory

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment III

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

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

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

might notbe reflected in their grade. Taking a look at the student motivation survey indicates that studentshad value motivation for doing homework. They did understand the significance of the coursesubject and its relevance to their future career. Furthermore, they also believe in the benefits ofdoing homework in helping them understand the course material. Nevertheless, theyacknowledged that difficulty of the assignments and the associated frustration acted as anobstacle to the successful completion of homework, see results for Question 7. Faced by thisfrustration with assignments, students take shortcuts in order to obtain the grade reward if this ispossible as in the traditional homework practice. As well-known from cognitive theories

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment II

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Craig J. Hoff, Kettering University; Gregory W. Davis, Kettering University; Kathryn L. Hoff

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

of the students.This paper will review the tutoring experience from the perspectives of the peer tutor, thestudents involved in the study sessions, and the professors teaching the Thermodynamicscourses. The ultimate goal of these tutoring exercises was to identify ways to effectivelyimprove student outcomes without expending additional resources. Page 25.85.3Results from the peer tutor’s perspectiveThe peer tutor selected for this study was uniquely qualified for the position due to herexperience studying the subject of Thermodynamics. During her college career, she has studiedThermodynamics in CHEM-361: Physical Chemistry, MECH-320

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

David B. Benson, Kettering University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

determine the dotproduct of two vectors or the ability to compute the partial derivative of a function with respectto one variable. Regardless of how these concepts and skills are ranked, they form the building Page 25.1160.2blocks of the language of a discipline: they smooth introduction, facilitate deeper understandingand provide anchor points for extension in to unfamiliar or new territory. An incomplete understanding in any of one of these concepts or skills at an early stage ina student’s education can lead to a cascade of failures or difficulties that resonate throughouttheir academic career. Students who experience major gaps in their

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Curricula and Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Benita M. Comeau, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Rohit Karnik, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Sang-Gook Kim, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Engineering at MIT in 2007 as Assistant Professor. His research focuses on the physics of micro- and nanofluidic flows and design of micro- and nanofluidic devices for applications in healthcare, energy systems, and biochemical separation and analysis. Among other honors, he is a recipient of the NSF Career Award (2010), Institute Silver Medal (IIT Bombay, 2002), and Keenan Award for Innovation in Undergraduate Education (2011).Prof. Sang-Gook Kim, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sang-Gook Kim received his B.S. degree from Seoul National University, Korea, M.S. from KAIST, and Ph.D. from MIT. He held positions at Axiomatics Co. and Korea Institute of Science and Technology from 1986-1991. He joined Daewoo Corporation

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment III

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jenna L. Gorlewicz, Vanderbilt University; Robert James Webster III, Vanderbilt University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

B.S. degree in electrical engineering from Clemson University in 2002 and the M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in mechanical engineering from the Johns Hopkins University in 2004 and 2007, respectively. In 2008, he joined the faculty of Vanderbilt University as an Assistant Professor of mechanical engineering, where he currently directs the Medical & Electromechanical Design Laboratory. His current research interests include medical robotics, image-guided surgery, continuum robotics, and engineering education. Webster received the NSF CAREER Award in 2011, and the IEEE Volz award for Ph.D. thesis impact in 2011

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

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

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

terms ofthe cognitive and affective development of the student3. The main method used to assess astudent’s knowledge is through examination under a controlled environment. Assessment inengineering courses often boils down to seeing if the student can apply mathematical andphysical principles to solve a given problem. This method of grading students is retained in thispaper.Consistency in class coverage, rigor and assessment from semester-to-semester, regardless of theinstructor, is critical to consistent preparation of students for careers in engineering. As such thisis often demonstrated in the ABET accreditation process4. Abnormalities in grade distributionsare often an indicator that the preparation of students is being affected by the

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering: Trends and Tools

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Amanie N. Abdelmessih, Saint Martin's University; Irina Gendelman, Saint Martin's University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

AC 2012-4064: SYNCHRONOUS DISTANCE LEARNING FOR UNDER-GRADUATE THERMAL ENGINEERING COURSES: TRIALS AND IM-PROVEMENTSDr. Amanie N. Abdelmessih, Saint Martin’s University Amanie Abdelmessih is professor and Chair, Mechanical Engineering Department, and Director of the Thermal Engineering Laboratory, Saint Martin’s University. Abdelmessih has industrial, teaching, and research experience. Abdelmessih started her career in the paper industry, then she taught in several higher education institutions, with the last 15 years at Saint Martin’s University. Abdelmessih has per- formed research at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Marshall Space Flight Research Center, Ar- gonne National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest

Conference Session

Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John K. Estell, Ohio Northern University; John-David S. Yoder, Ohio Northern University; Briana B. Morrison, Southern Polytechnic State University; Fong K. Mak, Gannon University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering