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Design and Application of a Beam Testing System for Experiential Learning in Mechanics of Materials

Abstract

Research shows that students can significantly improve their understanding and retention of topics presented in an engineering course when discussions of theoretical and mathematical approaches are combined with active-learning exercises involving hands-on physical experiments. In this paper, the design and application of a beam testing system (BTS) to promote experiential learning in Mechanics of Materials are discussed. Students in the experimental group were given the opportunity to verify their analytical predictions on two separate projects by conducting experiments using the BTS whereas those in the control group only performed the analysis part. Based on the performance of the two student groups on a common exam problem, the experiential learning is found to have a positive impact. Moreover, the students’ responses to an anonymous survey indicate that the students in the experimental group generally showed a higher degree of satisfaction with the class projects than those in the control group.

Introduction

Engineering education in the early to mid twentieth century relied heavily on the use of physical models and experiments to enforce the topics covered in an engineering course. However, over the years, this important practice was deemphasized as hands-on activities were reduced and relegated to only one or two laboratory courses. Recent research1-6 on the merit of active student interaction with physical models has revitalized interest in the use of such models, not just in laboratory classes but—more importantly—as an integral part of traditional lecture-based engineering courses.

Couple of years ago, the authors had an opportunity to design and develop a structural testing system at the Raspet Flight Research Laboratory at Mississippi State University. In one experiment, a whiffletree loading mechanism (WLM), as shown in Fig. 1, was designed and used for static testing of a full-scale composite aircraft wing. For simplicity, the wings were mounted upside-down and loaded downward to simulate the lift force distribution. Whiffletree loading is often used in the Aerospace industry, with the grade of complexity depending on the number of discrete loading points on the structure and the number of levels in the WLM. Regardless of its loading complexity, such experiments embody many of the basic principles covered in statics and mechanics of materials courses such as the calculation of the magnitude and location of the resultant force associated with a distributed load. This experience provided the impetus for the authors to pursue the topic presented in this paper.

After an initial brainstorming, authors submitted a proposal and received a grant to pursue a plan to integrate hands-on activities into the mechanics of materials curriculum. A simple beam testing system (BTS) was subsequently designed and built in the summer of 2007 and was introduced into the course on an experimental basis later in the fall when the first author taught two separate sections of Mechanics of Materials. This also provided an opportunity to perform a limited formative assessment of the effectiveness of this experiential activity on student learning.

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Sullivan, R., & Rais-Rohani, M. (2008, June), Design And Application Of A Beam Testing System For Experiential Learning In Mechanics Of Materials Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--3961