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Helping Students Learn Engineering Mechanics Concepts Through Integration of Simulation Software in Undergraduate Courses

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Conference

2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Salt Lake City, Utah

Publication Date

June 23, 2018

Start Date

June 23, 2018

End Date

July 27, 2018

Conference Session

Applications of Technology in Mechanics Education

Tagged Division

Mechanics

Page Count

16

DOI

10.18260/1-2--30573

Permanent URL

https://strategy.asee.org/30573

Download Count

790

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Paper Authors

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Jakob C Bruhl P.E. U.S. Military Academy Orcid 16x16 orcid.org/0000-0002-1645-4520

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Lieutenant Colonel Jakob Bruhl is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. He received his B.S. from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, M.S. Degrees from the University of Missouri at Rolla and the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign, and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Missouri. His research interests include resilient infrastructure, protective structures, and engineering education.

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biography

Richard J. Gash P.E. U.S. Military Academy

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Lieutenant Colonel Richard Gash is an Engineer Officer in the United States Army. He is currently assigned as an assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York. He has earned PhD in Structural Engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles and is a Registered Professional Engineer.

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Aaron Freidenberg U.S. Military Academy

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Christopher H Conley U.S. Military Academy

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Paul M. Moody P.E. U.S. Military Academy

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Lieutenant Colonel Paul Moody is an Associate Professor at the U.S. Military
Academy, West Point, NY. He received his B.S. and M.S. from Massachusetts
Institute of Technology and Ph.D. from the University of Massachusetts,
Amherst. He is an active member of ASEE and a registered Professional
Engineer in Virginia. His research areas include climate change impact on
water resource systems and infrastructure.

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Abstract

This paper describes recent experience within the civil engineering program at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) to integrate simulation tools to assist students in understanding concepts. Students are introduced to SOLIDWORKS Simulation in their first two engineering courses. This tool provides students with opportunities to develop a sense for structural behavior and visualize load effects on structures. This paper describes several examples of how this software has been integrated into statics and mechanics of materials courses as well as a structural analysis course. In addition to describing examples of how simulation software can be used to improve students’ ability to visualize engineering mechanics concepts, this paper reports initial assessment data and discusses ideas for ways to better integrate these tools to improve student learning and assess the influence on students’ conceptual understanding.

Bruhl, J. C., & Gash, R. J., & Freidenberg, A., & Conley, C. H., & Moody P.E., P. M. (2018, June), Helping Students Learn Engineering Mechanics Concepts Through Integration of Simulation Software in Undergraduate Courses Paper presented at 2018 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Salt Lake City, Utah. 10.18260/1-2--30573

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