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Session 2266

Integrating Design in Advanced Mechanics of Materials Through Industry Collaboration

Tom Mase Associate Professor GMI Engineering & Management Institute

ABSTRACT This paper presents an discussion of integrating design through industry collaboration in Advanced Mechanics of Materials, a junior-level course. It is hoped that this might act as another paradigm for integrating design into traditionally analytical courses. In teaching Advanced Mechanics of Materials this way, the students cover most of the topics taught in a prototypical class. However, one third of the class time and one third of the final grade is devoted to a design project. These projects are meant to help build the student’s creative thinking and design skills. Students gain experience in solid modeling, enhancing their ability to work in multi-functional teams, and refining their presentation skills. This paper discusses the class structure, sample projects, and an evaluation of one such course.

I . INTRODUCTION GMI Engineering & Management Institute (GMI) is an ABET-accredited private college offering degrees in electrical, industrial, and mechanical engineering, as well as management systems. Recently, degree programs in applied mathematics, applied physics, computer science, and environmental chemistry have been added. However, the major focus for the 2,500-3,000 undergraduate students is engineering; more specifically mechanical engineering which has an enrollment of around 1,100. Students in mechanical engineering specialize in automotive engineering design, plastics product design, manufacturing product design, medical equipment design, or machine design.

Students generally participate in a cooperative education experience where they alternate a term of classes with a term working in industry. All students complete a thesis as part of their undergraduate requirements (up to 4 credits out of 180 quarter-hours). In recent years, it has become difficult, if not impossible, to evaluate theses for design credits. Each thesis is greatly influenced by the corporate sponsor making a comprehensive design curriculum somewhat nebulous.

Because of this design credit ambiguity, it was decided to abandon design credits for the thesis and push these credits back in the curriculum so that the student sees a consistent thread of design. In addition to solving GMI’s thesis problem, this solution is

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Mase, T. (1997, June), Integrating Design In Advanced Mechanics Of Materials Through Industry Collaboration Paper presented at 1997 Annual Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 10.18260/1-2--6631