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Attributes of a Modern Mechanical Engineering Laboratory

Dr. Charles V. Knight, Dr. Gary H. McDonald Mechanical Engineering The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Abstract

Senior level mechanical engineering labs have traditionally been devoted to investigating energy utilization systems while providing little support for mechanical systems. This created mechanical engineering graduates who had varying degrees of fundamental experimental knowledge. The thermal science graduates were taught principles of experimental design, experimental analysis and uncertainty, properties of measurement systems, and oral/written communication that was not similarly emphasized for the graduates who concentrated in mechanical systems. The mechanical engineering program at UTC began offering a mechanical engineering laboratory (one hour lab plus one hour design project) in 1997 that provides balanced support for both thermal and mechanical systems. This laboratory provided a major component of support for the mechanical engineering program meeting ABET 2000 Criterion 3 Outcomes a through k and UTC’s mechanical engineering program receiving accreditation on first request this past year. The paper will describe the various types of laboratories and design projects being used in the new lab that supports all areas of mechanical engineering. All labs utilize modern electronic instrumentation and LabVIEW for data acquisition, analysis, control, and presentation. Some of the lab systems are older renovated/upgraded systems while others were fabricated at UTC or purchased from vendors then upgraded. The design projects typically involve design, fabrication, and testing of an experimental system related to mechanical engineering, for example, a comprehensive comparative testing of two Stihl leaf blowers one with and the other without a catalytic converter for exhaust emission control.

Introduction

Attributes are qualities or characteristics ascribed to or inherent in a person or thing. Engineering programs in general and specific courses have attributes that are generally shared with constituents through university catalogs and web sites and other means. But, specific attributes associated with defining the “REAL” qualities of a course and/or laboratory may be more difficult to define due to inadequate interest and sustainability being provided by the university and faculty. The senior mechanical engineering (ME) laboratory at UT-Chattanooga as described in this paper has both ME faculty, university, and external support required to sustain the many positive attributes associated with the laboratory.

“Proceedings of the 2005 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright 2005, American Society for Engineering Education”

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McDonald, G., & Knight, C. (2005, June), Attributes Of A Modern Mechancial Engineering Laboratory Paper presented at 2005 Annual Conference, Portland, Oregon. 10.18260/1-2--14465