Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robyn Akemi Nariyoshi; Said Shakerin, University of the Pacific

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

authors have been interested in merging engineering and art.The course provided an opportunity for the student, who is a dancer and choreographer and isspecifically interested in movement studies, to explore the interface of art and fluid dynamics.Some general and review materials are presented below prior to the specific coursedocumentation.Most people consider artists and scientists as dissimilar groups. The latter is associated withmathematics and logic while the former is associated with feelings and emotion. Although theseassociations are true, some people have argued about similarities between the fields of art andscience. Their efforts have been documented in books,1-3 presentations at conferences,4,5 andperformances at exhibitions.6,7 If

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

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

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

awareness of societal and contemporary issues and fulfill community and society’sneeds”.IntroductionThe Mechanical Engineering program at Baker College has recently gone, successfully, throughthe ABET reaccreditation process. While the assessment processes we have been using forProgram Educational Objectives and Program Outcomes are adequate, faculty reevaluated howeffective the assessment was for certain Program Outcomes. As stated in the ABET 2009-2010“Criteria for Accrediting Engineering Programs” 1, “Engineering programs must demonstratethat their students attain” the (a) - (k) Program Outcomes. Out of these outcomes, ProgramOutcome (j) requires that students attain “a knowledge of contemporary issues”. Several paperspresented at the ASEE

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Thomas J. Vasko, Central Connecticut State University; Nidal Al-Masoud, Central Connecticut State University; Peter F. Baumann, Central Connecticut State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

of competencies in effective oral and written communication skills. Thesenior capstone project, which typically assesses teamwork, now requires students to write animpact statement that is used in the assessment of skills such as identification of need and thepositive and negative impacts on humankind, environment, and economy. Rubrics to assess andevaluate these soft-skill learning outcomes, along with findings from the current semester whereavailable are presented in the paper.IntroductionOver the years, the engineering profession and engineering education has changed and evolvedto meet technological, economical, workforce, global, and societal challenges. Several nationalorganizations such as the National Academy of Engineering (NAE)1 and

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Anthony William Duva, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Ali Moazed, Wentworth Institute of Technology; Xiaobin Le, Wentworth Institute of Technology ; Richard L. Roberts, Wentworth Institute of Technology

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

Balancing Theory, Simulation and Physical Experiments in Heat Transfer EducationAbstract: Some big problems for students studying heat transfer are (1) difficulty in visualizingboth basic and complex theoretical concepts, (2) unsure how to design changes effect heat flowor temperature distributions, (3) unclear how to apply theoretical concepts in the development ofcomponents / systems and (4) confusion with how to extend single point experiments to genericapplications. It is impossible for students to solve complex heat transfer problems throughtheoretical hand calculations or execute real experiments when the boundary conditions arecomplicated because of time and laboratory equipment cost constraints. During the

Conference Session

Capstone Courses and Design Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott F. Kiefer, York College of Pennsylvania; Craig W. Somerton, Michigan State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, student assessment wasdone solely with personal interviews.1. Introduction Student design competitions can provide an excellent opportunity for both undergraduatestudents and instructors. While time is usually the most constricting factor in the lives of bothstudents and faculty, teaching independent study courses that involve the completion of projectsto compete in student design competitions is a great way to maximize the results of time spent.Instructors can introduce material necessary to a design project to a small group of studentswithout preparing involved lecture notes and homework sets. The instructor can then getimmediate feedback in the small independent study meetings when the material is presented, andthey can provide more

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer II

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ahmed Cherif Megri, University of Wyoming

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

culminating with administrative topics. We demonstrate thismethodology through the use of a comprehensive design project.We discuss the capstone design program from students’ point of view, and the experience earnedin design, integration, and also in written and oral communication skills. Methodology used toevaluate the effectiveness of the capstone design program in term of learning outcomes is alsodescribed. 1. Introduction:The HVAC Capstone Design course consists of the mechanical systems design for a multi-storybuilding, and utilizes the architectural drawings of an actual project under construction todevelop the mechanical system design. The goals of this course are to gain an overallunderstanding of the mechanical design process, and to

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michele Miller, Michigan Technological University; Anna Pereira, University of California, Berkeley; Benjamin Mitchell, Michigan Technological University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

2the centering of a cylindrical part on a roundness tester. Students were videotaped while doingthe tasks, and two raters coded each video. The rates assigned an expertise rating on a scale of 1-4 using the definitions shown in Table 1. To initiate the test, a lab assistant gave the studentdocumentation that stated the task goal and basic instructions to complete the task. Typically, thelab assistant would only become involved if the student asked a question. However, if the studentdetoured significantly from the lab procedures, the lab assistant intervened. The students werenot given any preparation before they arrived. At the start of the task the only information givento the student outside the documentation was location of equipment and

Conference Session

Engineering Mechanics Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jefferey E. Froyd, Texas A&M University; Christian J. Schwartz P.E., Texas A&M University; Kumbakonam Ramamani Rajagopal, Texas A&M University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

as an indicator of how close a material is to relevant transitions.  Stress versus strain behavior (e.g., elasticity) and stress versus time and strain versus time (e. g. viscoelasticity)  Multi-axial loading behavior  Behavior of specific geometry (e.g., beams, thin wall objects)With the core course ideas and the three levels of student achievement, a 7 x 3 table for thecourse learning outcomes is created (see Table 1). Table 1. Course Learning Outcomes Level 1: Calculate/identify Level 2: Apply/analyze Level 3: Evaluate/design Functional decomposition

Conference Session

Engineering Mechanics Education

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

AnnMarie Thomas, University of Saint Thomas; Keith Berrier, University of Saint Thomas; Andrea Guggenbuehl, University of Saint Thomas, Health and Human Performance Department

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

. Table 1 lists the schedule with the topics for each class (lecture or lab) and theassignment due dates associated with each. The details for each topic and assignment aredescribed in the sections that follow. It should be noted that the course, for the most part, stayedon schedule, but that occasional extra computer lab time was added to give students more time towork on lab analysis.Books and EquipmentThe textbook for the class was Fundamentals of Applied Dynamics1. While this was arecommended, rather than required, textbook, most students in the course purchased it.For the labs in this course, three different motion analysis tools were used.  PASCO2 “Amusement Park Physics Bundle” sets which consist of: o A data-logger

Conference Session

Active and Project-Based Learning

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

John S. Lamancusa, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Laura L. Pauley, Pennsylvania State University, University Park

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

activelearning into MNE courses have been developed, with demonstrated improvements in studentlearning. Motivated by a number of factors including the ABET Engineering Criteria 2000(EC2000), student surveys, and feedback from our industry advisory committee, the department Page 22.469.2is currently working to incorporate and implement these teaching innovations across the curriculum. Although courses and teaching methods are regularly updated and modified, a majorchange in the B.S.M.E. curriculum had not been made since the mid 1980’s.In January 2004, a curriculum improvement effort was launched with the objectives shown inTable 1.Table 1.  Curriculum

Conference Session

Mechatronics in the Curriculum

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Bingen Yang, University of Southern California; Cheng-Yuan Jerry Chen, University of Southern California

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

(60-70 students peryear). The platform will be integrated with Mathworks software, which will allow ourundergraduate students to learn state-of-the art Model-Based Design (MBD) techniques.1. IntroductionDesign of complex dynamic systems requires the development of mathematical models withvarying complexities, extensive simulation studies for validation of the proposed models,synthesis and analysis of control algorithms, verification of the performance the closed-loopsystems via numerical simulation, and “hardware in the loop” simulations. As a modern industrystandard, Model-Based Design (MBD) techniques allow for relatively inexpensive designiterations by manipulating parameters of the simulation model instead of costly and timeconsuming

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Joao Vinhas, Politecnico de Viseu; Joao Paiva, Politecnico de Viseu

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, supposedlymore attractive to students, promoting their participation and interaction.It was considered fundamental that students should understand their role in this new model ofhigher education. Instructors have been aware of the central importance to the students ofbuilding knowledge and acquiring skills in an autonomous meaningful process, a process thatultimately prepares them for an increasingly flexible labour market.1. Introduction Higher education in Portugal is going through a process of deep change as in all countrieswhich subscribed to the Bologna Declaration1. The idea of creating a European HigherEducation Space was formally presented for the first time in the Sorbonne Declaration2. Itrepresented the political wish to go further, beyond a

Conference Session

Improving Mechanics & Structural Modeling Courses

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Praveen Malali, Old Dominion University; Pooja Bais, Old Dominion University; Robert Choate, Western Kentucky University; Sushil Chaturvedi, Old Dominion University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

project, the capstone experimental experience requires thatstudents and their teams demonstrate the application of experimental abilities to set up andanalyze less-defined experimental problems. To assist in the organization of course content andits assessment, the following seven components have been used to define the DOE Plan10, 11. 1. Experimental Planning 2. Methods of Measurement 3. Selection of Instrumentation 4. Prediction of Uncertainty 5. Analysis of Data and Results 6. Estimation of Error 7. Reporting of Experimental ResultsThese components are described more completely in the assessment rubric, shown in Table 1.Student work from experimentation classes in the sophomore, junior and

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

‘real world’ engineeringexperience than they get through their standard course work.” They add that many schoolstackle these projects within senior design classes. Their work acknowledges the constraint ofdevelopment time to be particularly troubling within the management of these projects. Theyalso cited risks associated with a “build-and-test” approach. 1At Virginia Tech, Pierrakos, Borrego and Lo assess EAC of ABET mechanical engineeringprogram learning outcomes through their senior capstone design experience. They have usedBloom’s taxonomy competencies of (1) knowledge, (2) comprehension, (3) application, (4)analysis, (5) synthesis, and (6) evaluation, to establish cognitive skill level, in addition to theirstudent learning outcomes

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

future projects. Surveys also indicate strong agreement that extremeexperience interviews “inspired ideas that are better for average users as well.” An examinationof interview transcripts shows the extreme experience interviews are valuable not only foruncovering a much more comprehensive set of customer needs, especially with respect toproduct-user interactions, but also for obtaining innovative redesign suggestions from customersthemselves. The results collectively show extreme experience interviews are an effective andvaluable addition to the design process in these courses, with additional room for improvementin teaching technique.1 IntroductionIn the last decade the engineering design community has shown tremendous interest in

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer-Part I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Robert Chasnov

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

be written as the product of three contributing factors: 0net = 0thC0fcC0ec (EQ 1)where 0th is the cycle thermal efficiency, 0fc is the fuel conversion efficiency, and 0ec is theelectrical conversion efficiency, students were asked to find at least one of the non-computedvalues on the right-hand-side (RHS) of equation EQ 1 and compute and compare the remainingunknown efficiency.Students were then given an alternative fuel source to research. When the alternative fuel was a“heat producer” (i.e. either a hydrocarbon or nuclear), students were asked to assume that theircoal plant could be simply converted for use of their alternative fuel. Clearly, this approachwould not work for

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Ronald Goulet, University of Tennessee-Chattanooga

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

deflections. Euler columns, repeated loading and connection. Co-requisite Lab: 1 credit hour ENGR 247.The principle learning objective of the course is to develop and refine the student’s problemsolving skills. Therefore the syllabus for ENGR246 states: Course Learning Objective: Problem Solving Skills The principal objective is to learn, develop and refine problem solving skills. Therefore most of the work of the course will involve out-of-class problem solving assignments that require knowing and applying the principles governing (the basic engineering sciences or statics or the mechanics of materials).The method of course delivery generally follows the traditional teacher-centeredlecture/homework/exam format

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Yunfeng Wang, The College of New Jersey; Christopher Ault, The College of New Jersey; Teresa Nakra, The College of New Jersey; Andrea Salgian, The College of New Jersey; Meredith Stone, Independent Evaluator

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

intended to motivatestudents to reach across the boundaries of their own disciplines and advance their criticalthinking, creative problem-solving and computational thinking skills, while learning the relevanttechnical knowledge. The structure, objectives, assessment strategies, results, and studentdeliverables from the first course offering are the focus of this paper. These promising resultsprovide a model with which to evaluate effective approaches for interdisciplinary highereducation.1. IntroductionInterdisciplinary education is becoming increasingly important in preparing undergraduatestudents to be able to participate in the emerging knowledge-based economy and meet complexsocial demands in the modern world1,2,3,4. It has grown at a

Conference Session

Student Learning and Assessment

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Josh Coffman, University of Arkansas; Joseph Rencis, University of Arkansas; Daniel Jensen, United States Air Force Academy; Christina White, Columbia University; Ashland Brown, University of the Pacific; Jiancheng Liu, University of the Pacific; Kristen Kaufman, University of Texas, Austin

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

quizzes. The number of questionshave been condensed and the questions rewritten to remove much of the jargon. Page 15.1110.4Figure 1. Multiple-Choice Quiz Question Checklist Form.7,10-12,14,27,28 Page 15.1110.5 Figure 1. Multiple-Choice Quiz Question Checklist Form.7,10-12,14,27,28 ‘Continued’The Multiple-Choice Quiz Question Checklist Form was divided into four domains based onthe guidelines described in Haladyna.11 Almost all other books were not categorized intodomains. The four checklist domains used in this paper are as follows: • Content. This domain is used

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

complianceare raised; consequently, the effort required to plan, prepare and follow-up on general visitsplaces an increasing burden on programs, departments and colleges. This paper discusses themeans, methods and techniques developed to efficiently deploy departmental and programresources on small undergraduate institutions.Our College maintains nine accreditations with both the Technology and the EngineeringAccreditation Commissions of ABET. The following practices have been put into place tomaximize productivity: (1) prime movers lead, plan and coordinate the process, (2) standardizedtemplates are employed, (3) deliverables are assigned and shared by faculty, (4) useful content issourced from all programs and (5) faculty are supported with ‘how to

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

solving, the role of peers and students‟ use of technology as itrelates to accomplishing course work in order to better understand how to design an onlineversion of the same course. This study reports the baseline data collected from the control grouplearning problem solving in thermodynamics in the traditional learning environment anddiscusses how the data will be used to design the online asynchronous problem-based version ofthe same thermodynamics course using computational and communication technologies.1. IntroductionThere are numerous reasons for online design and delivery of undergraduate engineeringcourses. With the limitations on facility and growth of the student enrollment, online teachingpresents a viable option for institutions to

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Jorge Rodriguez, Western Michigan University; Alamgir Choudhury, Western Michigan University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

proposed design is feasible and validate itsrobustness. The major steps carried out were as follows:1. CAD modeling and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). The initial step is CAD solid modeling and, before FEA can begin, some FBD (free body diagrams – Figure 2) had to be generated and evaluated in order to have proper forces specified in the FEA. The FEA was used to simulate real life operating conditions on the component5. Through this process, the forces calculated in the FBDs, with the corresponding boundary conditions, were applied.2. Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA). FMEA is a process that is used to analyze all the different types of failure that could occur to the product1,6. FMEA improves the product functionality, reduces

Conference Session

Design Projects in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Scott Post, Bradley University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

, butshow a sampling of the work done, with particular relevance to the current work.Brickel et al.1 studied groups of students that were arranged based on five different strategies –heterogeneous and homogenous GPA, heterogeneous and homogenous interests, and self-selected groups. The authors found that the method of group selection had only small effects ongraded performance (with self-selected groups scoring the lowest), but had significant effects onthe students’ perceived quality of experience. While the self-selected teams may be more socialthan the other teams, “This type of group may actually encourage discontent about all aspects ofthe course (including the instructor),” and “Allowing students to select their own groups resultsin the

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanical Systems: What's New

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Nashwan Younis, Indiana University-Purdue University, Fort Wayne

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

factors (SCF), particularly with respect to fatigue, from a chart.Several papers added an instructional prospective to enhance the teaching of mechanicscourses to undergraduate students, the focus of this article. For example, the impact ofdemonstrations to acquaint students with the Statics concepts in the context of a realartifact was articulated in ref.1. A different approach in regard to teaching mechanicscourse came from Philpot et. al 2. They presented examples of instructional mediadeveloped for the Mechanics of Materials Course utilizing computer in novel ways thatoffer the potential for improved instruction.In the field of stress concentrations, the limited established theory does not give aninsight for the understanding of the

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering II

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Michael Foster, George Fox University; Chad Hammerquist, George Fox University; Robert Melendy, George Fox University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

thefollowing three ways: 14 1. Continuous Linear — these systems can be described by linear differential equations, and exact equations can be used to design controllers. 2. Continuous Non-linear — these systems can be described with differential equations that are non-linear, and the controllers can be designed with some effort. In some systems differential equations are not available, forcing reliance on other methods, such as heuristic rules. 3. Non-continuous — these systems have discrete states and are characterized with on/off transitions of inputs and outputs. Logical decisions are required to control the system.Control Systems Engineering is traditionally seen as a “dry” course by students with a

Conference Session

Outstanding Contributions - Mechanical Engineering Education

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Rajesh Bhaskaran, Cornell University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

verification andvalidation. As students encounter the same best-practices approach repeatedly for problemsacross the ME curriculum, they are likely to internalize it and carry it into their careers. AllSimCafe content is licensed under a Creative Commons agreement that allows free sharing andremixing for non-commercial use. At a recent university-industry workshop on the integration ofsimulation into engineering curricula, the idea of a central wiki-based repository of simulationlearning modules was broadly endorsed. We invite community members to contribute content toSimCafe including tutorials, homework problems and quizzes so as to develop it into acomprehensive resource for ME educators.1. IntroductionComputer simulation has emerged as a

Conference Session

Trends in Mechanical Engineering I

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Hakan Gurocak, Washington State University, Vancouver

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

first half of the semester. In the second half, it turnsinto a “studio” setting where the students still meet during the regular weekly lecture hours in therobotics lab.The first half of the course aims to cover introductory concepts found in typical industrialrobotics courses (Table 1). Primarily spatial description of position and orientation in 3D space,transform matrices, manipulator kinematics, position and velocity analysis, manipulator Jacobianand static force analysis are covered. The main goals are to enable the students to understand themathematical methods behind spatial representation of position and orientation and theirapplication to study motion of industrial robots in 3D space

Conference Session

Teaching Mechanical Systems: What's New

Collection

2010 Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Camilla Saviz, University of the Pacific; Said Shakerin, University of the Pacific

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

vortices.Furthermore, the toys can be used a interesting displays for outreach and informal scienceeducation.The paper includes suggestions on how the toys can be incorporated into a class fordemonstrations, group exercises, or assignments and includes discussion of some formativeassessment of student learning. References to the toys and other relevant web sites are providedto assist educators who are interested in using such tools to enhance student learning.IntroductionClassroom demonstrations add to students’ interest and their understanding of the subject matter.Many references are available that describe demonstrations, for example in physics 1-4 andengineering 5-6 courses. Demonstrations can range from simple to complex set ups, inexpensiveand homemade

Conference Session

Mechanical Engineering Laboratories I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles Forsberg, Hofstra University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

design and construct a fluid mechanics experiment to illustrate theconcept and usefulness of dimensional analysis. An accompanying benefit of the effort was theaddition of an experiment to the mechanical engineering laboratories.II. Experimental ApparatusThe experimental apparatus is shown in Figure 1. It has been designed to be low cost, relativelyeasy to construct by lab technicians, and readily transportable from storage location to place ofuse. Page 22.37.3 Figure 1 - The Experimental ApparatusThe copper tubing (1/2" and 3/4" Type L), including valves and fittings, is mounted on a ½"plywood board. Air and water

Conference Session

Thermodynamics, Fluids, and Heat Transfer I

Collection

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Brent A Nelson, Northern Arizona University; Constantin Ciocanel, Northern Arizona University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanical Engineering

on exams. Students will demonstrate an ability to correctly solve numericalproblems while maintaining physical misconceptions about the topics involved in the problemsthey solve.1 To evaluate and address this disconnect, many concept inventories have beendeveloped to evaluate students‟ conceptual understanding of various topics within science andengineering.2-10 Research using these inventories has shown that students in a class willfrequently exhibit no gain, and even regress, in their conceptual understanding of the topicscovered in the class, regardless of their academic performance in the course. Students frequentlyfail to understand how mathematical and physical concepts translate to real systems and viceversa.Another manifestation of