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2005 GSW

Authors

S. Easwaran

Session F1B3 A Visual C++ Based Software Tool for Visually Teaching Discrete Convolution from the Perspective of the Input Signal in Digital Signal Processing S. Easwaran Department of Computer Sciences and Computer Engineering Xavier University of Louisiana AbstractThis paper describes an approach and a novel software tool that was developed and used by theauthor of this paper to visually teach discrete convolution to students encountering it for the firsttime. In order to

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2005 GSW

Authors

Yavuz S. Tunc; Malur N. Srinivasan

Session Number: F2D2 Teaching Mechanical Engineering Undergraduates about Nanomaterials Malur N. Srinivasan and Yavuz S. Tunc Department of Mechanical Engineering Lamar University, Beaumont, TX 77710 ABSTRACTNanomaterials have attracted enormous attention in the recent years. They have small featuresize (crystallite size) in the range of 1-100 nm and are structurally quite distinct from traditionalcrystalline materials whose feature size may extend from several micrometers to severalmillimeters, and traditional amorphous materials, which

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2005 GSW

Authors

Aiman S. Kuzmar, City of Corpus Christi, TX

Session F2A3 Learning by Teaching: an Alternative Teaching Approach in Engineering Education Aiman S. Kuzmar Penn State Fayette, the Eberly Campus Uniontown, Pennsylvania AbstractAn alternative teaching approach was carried out in the Engineering Mechanics-Statics class,which is a second year undergraduate engineering course, at Penn State Fayette, The EberlyCampus. The new approach deviated from the universally followed format of continuouslecturing by the instructor and

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2005 GSW

Authors

S. Ozcelik; R. Sosa; M.A. Faruqi; M. Abudiab

Session T1B2 Design and Comparison of Various Controllers for a Two-Tank Liquid-Level System S. Ozcelik, R. Alvarez, J.R. Sosa Department of Mechanical Engineering Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX sozcelik@tamuk.edu M.A. Faruqi Department of Civil Engineering Texas A&M University-Kingsville, TX M. Abudiab Department of Computational and Mathematical Sciences

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2005 GSW

Authors

S. Ozcelik; M. A. Faruqi; M. A. Abudiab

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2005 GSW

Authors

G. Beate Zimmer; eremy S. Flores; Alexey L. Sadovski

Session F2A4 Research with an Undergraduate Student: Using Entropy to Assess the Training of a Neural Network G. Beate Zimmer, Jeremy S. Flores and Alexey L. Sadovski Department of Computing and Mathematical Sciences Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi Philippe E. Tissot Department of Physical and Life Sciences Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi AbstractThis paper reports on enhancing undergraduate

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2005 GSW

Authors

W. Roy Penney; Nathaniel S. Weston; Megan V. Park; Edgar C. Clausen; Dave C. Marrs; Anthony M. Scalia

Session F1B4 Laboratory/Demonstration Experiments in Heat Transfer: Thermal Conductivity and Absorptivity Measurement Edgar C. Clausen, W. Roy Penney, Dave C. Marrs, Megan V. Park, Anthony M. Scalia, Nathaniel S. Weston Department of Chemical Engineering University of Arkansas AbstractOne excellent method for reinforcing course content is to involve students in laboratoryexercises or demonstrations which are designed to compare experimental data with dataand/or correlations from the literature. As part of the requirements

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2005 GSW

Authors

Wendy Wagster; Robert A. McLauchlan; Ranjeet Agarwal; Christa Ramon; Brett Keener

Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education Neural Network Analysis vs. Actual Output 2.5 2 Predicted Alcohol Consumption 1.5Output Actual Alcohol 1 Consumption 0.5 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 -0.5 Exemplar Figure 3: Testing Network Output(s) for Varied Input

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2005 GSW

Authors

Thomas J. Krueger; Ronald E. Barr

2005, American Society for Engineering Education References1. Boronkay, T. G., and Janak, D. “Introduction of Finite Element Methods in the Lower Division Mechanical Engineering Technology Curriculum.” Proceedings of the ASEE Annual Conference, Milwaukee, WI, 1997. Session 2238.2. Cole, W.: “Graphical Applications: Analysis and Manufacturing”. Engineering Design Graphics Journal, Spring, 1999, pp 43-49.3. Howell, S.: “Finite Element Analysis in a Freshman Graphics Course?” Engineering Design Graphics Journal, Winter, 1993, pp 29-32.4. Juricic, D., Howell, S., Jenison, R., and Barr, R. “Extending Engineering Design Graphics Laboratories to have a CAD/CAM Component – Part II

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2005 GSW

Authors

W.N.P. Hung; H-J. Sue; B.R. Varadharajan

Section T4C2 Fatigue of Epoxy a-Zirconium Phosphate Nanocomposites B.R. Varadharajan, W.N.P. Hung and H-J. Sue Department of Mechanical Engineering Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 AbstractThis study aims at understanding the fatigue behavior and fracture mechanisms ofEpoxy/a-ZrP nanocomposites. Due to size constraints, a new fatigue testing techniquewas implemented. The fatigue stress and fatigue life of different nanocompositespecimens were plotted in a traditional stress-life (S-N) curve. Experimental results showthat fatigue life of

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2005 GSW

Authors

W. Roy Penney; Lauren N. Leach; Jeffrey R. Dorman; Edgar C. Clausen; Daniel E. Fluornoy; Alice K. Keogh

Annual Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering EducationData Reduction (NOTE: tube wall and outside tube resistances were ignored) 1. Calculate the duty of the copper coil: • qout = m Cp (Tout – Tin) (1) 2. Calculate the surface area of heat transfer: As = π di lc (2) 3. Calculate the LMTD: ⎛ ⎞ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ (T − T ) − (T − T ) ⎟ LMTD = ⎜ s in s out

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2005 GSW

Authors

M. M. Darwish; M. H. Akram; B. Green

technology can impact andenhance student learning. Further, this paper will provide information about how to getstudents more involved and be responsible for their education thru the case studyapproach. IntroductionIn the 1980’s, a series of experiments was done on the effectiveness of several teachingmethods in higher education as well as in engineering education. Research shows thattraditional instructor-centered teaching is less effective than student–centered learning inpreparing engineering students. (Buchanan,1991; Khurfiss, 1988; McKeachie et al.,1986;National Research Counsel, 1996; Raju & Sankar 1999; Sankar and Raju, 2003;Tribus, 1992;). Research has also shown that active student based learning

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2005 GSW

Authors

Zhenyu Zhang; Yeshwanth Sampath; Dr. Rita Caso; Amy Collins

influence engineering academic performance for various nontraditional groups andon implementing interventions that optimize learning and success for all engineeringstudents. References1. Bean, A. G., & Covert, R. W. (1973). Prediction of college persistence, withdrawal, and academic dismissal: A discriminant analysis. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 33, 407-411.2. Bean, J. P., & Metzner, B. S. (1985). A conceptual model of nontraditional undergraduate student attrition. Review of Educational Research, 55(4), 485-540.3. Boughan, K. (1998). New Approaches to the Analysis of Academic Outcomes: Modeling Student Performance at a Community College. Paper presented at the 38th

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2005 GSW

Authors

Chandrika Rao; Carol L. Binkerd

. Moore M., Binkerd C., Fant S, 2002, “Teaching web-based database application development: an inexpensive approach”, Journal of Computing in small colleges, 17(4), March 2002 5. Frontier Surveying, 710 Buffalo St. Suite 401, Corpus Christi, TX. Phone: (361) 881-8044; Pyle & Associates INC, 5262 S Staples St, Corpus Christi, TX. Phone: (361)993-4191; Maverick Engineering INC, 2000 SPID, Corpus Christi, TX. Phone: (361) 289-1385. Proceedings of the 2005 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering EducationChandrika RaoDr. Rao is a visiting Assistant Professor of

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2005 GSW

Authors

Tariq A. Khraishi

teaching difficult and abstract technical concepts that, at the same time, havevery real-life applications and implications. It is natural then to expect that the in-depth analysisand study involved in typical PBL experiments or assignments should enhance the understandingof such concepts.PBL typically involves some sort of real problem set-up and execution. In mechanics courses,this usually translates to assigning design project(s) to groups of students11,12,13. Such designprojects are by definition open-ended and have no unique answer or solution. The students thushave to invoke their imagination and try to integrate a host of previous classes (i.e. previousknowledge) in order to solve the problem at hand. This form of learning is considered

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2005 GSW

Authors

Scott Starks; Sally Blake; Eric MacDonald

&pageno=1.7. Starks, S, S. Blake and M. Tshoshanov, “Using Rockets to Stimulate Interest in Science and Mathematics,” Proceedings of IEEE Aerospace Conference, CD-ROM, Big Sky, MT, Feb. 2003.8. Twiggs, B., Getting Started with Space Craft Hardware, Colorado Space Grant Consortium Workshop CD-ROM, Boulder, CO, 2002.9. Blake, S. and S. Starks, Texas PreFreshman Engineering Program, Final Report, 2004.10. El Paso Chapter of Texas PreFreshman Engineering Program website, http://research.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=13328.SCOTT A. STARKSDr. Starks currently serves as Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Director of the Pan AmericanCenter for Earth and Environmental Studies, a NASA-sponsored University Research Center

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2005 GSW

Authors

Terry Creasy; Richard B. Griffin

for their assistance withthe students, and the students from MEEN 360.References1 Griffin, Richard, Terry Creasy, and Jeremy Weinstein, “Laboratory Activity Using Rapid Prototyping and Casting,” ASEE Montreal, Canada, June 2002.2 Griffin, Richard B., Terry S. Creasy “The Development of a Combined Materials/Manufacturing Processes Course at Texas A&M University,”ASEE Albuquerque, NM, June 2001.AuthorsDr. RICHARD B. GRIFFIN has been at Texas A&M University for 27 years. He has taught a variety of materialsrelated courses. His research interests are corrosion and engineering education.Dr. TERRY S. CREASY has been at Texas A&M University for four years. He teaches materials related courses inmaterials science. His research

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2005 GSW

Authors

Ray Bachnak; Mike Englert

. 2. “Measurement Uncertainty and Traceability of PC-Based Data Acquisition Systems,” Fluke Corporation, URL: http://www.fluke.com/Application_Notes/DAQ/A0533b_u.pdf. 3. A. Fanimokun, J. Frolik, “Effects of Natural Propagation Environments on Wireless Sensor Network Coverage Area.” 4. D. Culler, J. Demmel, G. Fenves, T. Oberheim, S. Pakzad, “Structure Monitoring using Wireless Sensor Networks.” 5. D. Maxwell, R. Williamson, “Wireless Temperature Monitoring in Remote Systems,” October 2002. Proceedings of the 2005 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Copyright © 2005

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2005 GSW

Authors

Jim Farison

processing techniques, the second paper was to be selected from anappropriate portion of some peer-reviewed and published research paper. The third paper, near theend of the course, was to be a modest original project by the student involving image processing“research” for some actual image(s). The subject and material for each paper was the student’schoice, subject to instructor’s approval for appropriateness of content, level and length. Theseassignments required student exposure to a variety of sources and types of literature in the field ofimaging systems and applications and image processing techniques, ranging from commercialproducts to research literature. The titles of the three papers presented by each student are shown inTable 1.Depending

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2005 GSW

Authors

Terry Kohutek; Arun Srinivasa; Andrew P. Conkey

recognizable and relevant to the student’s major(s) [12,13]. 2). Students could predict performance of a proposed design with their current level of knowledge [4,14] 3). Prediction of the behavior of the system to be built is within the scope of the course content in concurrent math and science courses. 4). The project lends itself to supporting the engineering process rather than trial and error/guess work. 5). Material presented to the students to help predict behavior of the system to be analyzed must prepare students for follow on courses in the students’ chosen major(s). 6). Success does not rely on the fabrication ability of the students, 7). The project must be conducted within a suitable time period and

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2005 GSW

Authors

Jeffrey Froyd; Donald A. Maxwell

recognizable and relevant to the student’s major(s) [12,13]. 2). Students could predict performance of a proposed design with their current level of knowledge [4,14] 3). Prediction of the behavior of the system to be built is within the scope of the course content in concurrent math and science courses. 4). The project lends itself to supporting the engineering process rather than trial and error/guess work. 5). Material presented to the students to help predict behavior of the system to be analyzed must prepare students for follow on courses in the students’ chosen major(s). 6). Success does not rely on the fabrication ability of the students, 7). The project must be conducted within a suitable time period and

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2005 GSW

Authors

W.N.P. Hung; M.M. Agnihotri; J. Wang

. J., Horn J. R., 2004, “The meniscus Arrow or metal screw for treatment of osteochondritis dissecans? In vitro comparison of their effectiveness”, Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthoscopy, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 52-57.13. Middleton J.C., Tipton A.J. 2000, “Synthetic biodegradable polymers as orthopedic devices”, Biomaterials, Vol. 21, pp. 2335-2346.14. Claes L.E., 1992, “Mechanical Characterization of Biodegradable Implants”, Clinical Materials, Vol. 10, pp. 41-46.15. Gogolewski S., 1992, “Resorbable Polymers for Internal Fixation”, Clinical Materials, Vol. 10, pp. 13-20.16. Costi J.J., Kelly A.J., Hearn T.C., Martin D.K., 2001, “Comparison of Torsional Strengths of Biodegradable Screws for Anterior

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2005 GSW

Authors

Timothy I. Matis; Linda Ann Riley; James H. Matis

to construct empirical probability distributions, 2. the key role of certaindescriptive statistics to describe the shape of a distribution, and 3. the calculation of regressioncoefficients for statistical predictions of future system behavior. The modules are integrated into the curriculum of high school probability and statisticscourses, including the Advanced Placement Statistics course. The number of schools offeringthis course has been rising rapidly in number since the introduction of the Advanced Placementprogram in the early 1990’s. A module whose topic involves the population dynamics of theAfricanized honeybee infestation is described in this paper. This module is presently beingimplemented in several schools in Texas in a

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2005 GSW

Authors

Richard Bannerot

Fall 2004. # of %* Completing Phrase times 37 69 conflicting work/class schedules 27 50 long travel distance for meetings 12 22 one (or more) disinterested team member(s) 9 17 personality conflicts among team members 5 9 one (or more) disruptive team member(s) 5 9 our inability to establish a team leader 2 4 lack of time 1 2 too many team leaders 1 2 poor decision making 1 2 arrogance 1 2 lack of resources * Per cent of times this response occurred in the top three

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2005 GSW

Authors

Mythili Vajjalla; Kashinath Kumar; Enno “Ed” Koehn

economic effects15.Most hearing loss occurs in workplaces, where workers may be unable to avoid unhealthynoise levels, and where exposure may continue for years. Construction workers may alsohave reason to be concerned about their occupational exposure to noise5.Table 1: Guidelines for noise levels (dB) in specific environments15: Specific Critical health effect(s) dB Time base environment [hours]Outdoor living Serious annoyance, 55 16area daytime and evening 50 16 Moderate annoyance, daytime and eveningDwelling, indoors Speech

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2005 GSW

Authors

James E. Cross

TMS320C6000 DigitalSignal Processor (DSP) series is Texas Instrument’s most powerful DSP processor. The C6713 is thelatest in this series. A number of wide bandwidth analog expansion daughter boards are also beinginstalled as part of this laboratory upgrade. During the 1980’s, with the continuous increasingspeed of digital computers, it became apparent that digital signal processing would become aviable alternative to analog signal processing. In recognizing this trend, digital signal processinglecture and laboratory courses were introduced into the Electrical Engineering curriculum atSouthern University during the early 1990’s. Both Motorola and Texas Instruments digital signalprocessors have been used in the laboratory. The DSP boards have included

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2005 GSW

Authors

Jose Amieva; Apolinar Zapata

experiments we can see the results of the integrationand derivation functions”.The same two laboratory experiments were assembled and tested, by the same students,using the real components. The comments from most of the students again were “theselaboratory experiments make the connection of the calculus concepts, with the real world.We learn by doing.” Proceedings of the 2005 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education References 1. Mel S. Sabela, E.F. Redish (2005) “Student Understanding of Topics in Calculus” 2. Lightbourne James “Crossing the

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2005 GSW

Authors

Clay Naito

structural engineering path acompanion course could be developed as part of a senior level capstone project. This coursecould use the design and analysis skills developed over the student’s academic career to designand build a structure. This could range from a pedestrian bridge to tensegrity domes. Thepossibilities are open to student’s imagination and determination. Proceedings of the 2005 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi Copyright © 2005, American Society for Engineering Education References1. Ressler, S. J, “Designing and Building File-Folder Bridges: A Problem-Based Introduction

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2005 GSW

Authors

Wayne N.P. Hung; V. Jorge Leon

International Teamwork and Global Orientation," International Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 20, No. 3, pp. 475-483.9. McGraw, D., 2004, "Putting It into Perspective," Prism, ASEE, Vol. 13, No. 5, pp. 24-29.10. Hsieh, S.J. and Hsieh, P.Y., 2004, "Integrated Virtual Learning System for Programmable Logic Controller," Journal of Engineering Education, April 2004, pp. 169-178.11. Kutlu A., 2004, MicroLab: A Web-based Multi-user Remote Microcontroller Laboratory for Engineering Education," International Journal of Engineering Education, Vol. 20, No. 5, pp. 879-885.12. You, S., Wang, T., Eagleson, R., Meng, C., and Zhang, Q., 2001," Low-cost Internet-based Telerobotic System for Access to Remote Laboratories," Journal of

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2005 GSW

Authors

Titilope Z. Alagun; Shahryar Darayan

chicken house to the incubator or storage. IntroductionBy the 1900’s, an average chicken farm was an extension of the family kitchen. Most ofthe chicken farms were usually owned and operated by families and had no automation.Very few sold poultry products. Chickens were used for the same purpose as they arenow which includes meat, eggs, and money. Most chicken or poultry farms today areowned and operated by companies and machines perform several tasks on the chickenfarms since production is large scale. The use of automated machines in the production Proceedings of the 2005 ASEE Gulf-Southwest Annual Conference Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi