Conference Session

Innovations in Solid Mechanics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Irina Nicoleta Ciobanescu Husanu, Drexel University; Yalcin Ertekin, Drexel University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

AC 2012-4828: EMBEDDING LABORATORY ACTIVITIES IN ”APPLIEDMECHANICS” COURSEDr. Irina Nicoleta Ciobanescu Husanu, Drexel University Irina Ciobanescu Husanu (Co-PI) is Assistant Professor in applied engineering at Drexel University. She received her Ph.D. degree in mechanical engineering from Drexel University and also a M.S. degree in aeronautical engineering. Her research interest is in thermo-fluid sciences with applications in micro- combustion, fuel cells, green fuels, and plasma assisted combustion. Husanu has prior industrial experi- ence in aerospace engineering that encompasses both theoretical analysis and experimental investigations such as designing and testing of propulsion systems including design and

Conference Session

Evaluation of Teaching Methods for Mechanics Courses

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Somnath Chattopadhyay, Georgia Southern University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

tool in its ability to determine the principalstresses and the associated principal directions. The features of proportional and non-proportional loadings have been exemplified in this paper by studying the stresses in a shaftunder combined bending and torsion using Mohr’s circle.INTRODUCTIONThis study constitutes a laboratory component of the Mechanics of Materials courses taught toengineering students at the sophomore or junior levels. It is important that the students learn howthe external loads combine to produce stresses in a critical location of a structure or acomponent. This is fundamental to the understanding of the response of a structural componentto a combined system of loads that result in normal and shear stresses. Mohr’s circle

Conference Session

Mechanics Concepts II

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Sinead C. Mac Namara, Syracuse University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

and Dollár argue for introducing new material bygrounding it in existing knowledge, being open to multiple modes of learning, and havingstudents begin to learn about forces, couples etc by working with those examples thatthey can perceive either by manipulating with their own hands or by viewing resultingdeformation or motion.9 They also argue for significant interaction and discussion in theclassroom. Williams and Howard discuss the value of a laboratory experience orclassroom demonstration in helping students learn the elementary statics concepts andfurther advise that students estimate and evaluate expected outcomes in advance.10O’Neill et al report on a successful lab lecture hybrid interdisciplinary mechanics coursethat uses longer

Conference Session

Mechanics Concepts I

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Shawn P. Gross, Villanova University; David W. Dinehart, Villanova University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

effort in recent years focused on implementing newtechniques to the teaching of engineering mechanics. This work has included combiningtraditional statics topics in a heavily design oriented backdrop (Russell 7, Condoor 8, Klosky etal. 9), focusing on application to real artifacts (Seif and Dollar 10), and combining statics conceptswith those from mechanics of solids and machine design (Chaphalkar 11). Recent effortsdocument successes with utilizing an inverted classroom (Papadopoulos et al.12) and otherinnovative pedagogies. The goal of improving educational outcomes via a highly interactiveclassroom has been shown to be successful in formats where lectures and laboratories arecombined and problem-based active learning techniques are

Conference Session

Innovations in Solid Mechanics

Collection

2012 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Authors

Charles Birdsong, California Polytechnic State University

Tagged Divisions

Mechanics

description of their methods, assumptions andresults. The initial assignments were paper studies and the final assignment was an experimentaltest and analysis.Week 1 - Rectilinear Kinematics – Position, Velocity and AccelerationStudents were asked to use Excel to graph the position, velocity and acceleration for a car(Figure 1) in a laboratory crash test where the car starts from rest, is accelerated until it hits abarrier and then comes to rest. This required students to consider the relationship betweenposition, velocity and acceleration, to consider the desired maximum dimensions of the track,and maximum velocities and accelerations and to use Excel to plot the results. Figure 1. Position, velocity and acceleration of theoretical crash