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Smart Materials And Structures Experiments For Undergraduate Students

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Conference

2008 Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Publication Date

June 22, 2008

Start Date

June 22, 2008

End Date

June 25, 2008

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Interdisciplinary Education

Tagged Division

Engineering Technology

Page Count

13

Page Numbers

13.1086.1 - 13.1086.13

DOI

10.18260/1-2--4382

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/4382

Download Count

1012

Paper Authors

biography

HuiRu Shih Jackson State University

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Dr. HuiRu (H.R.) Shih is a Professor of Technology at Jackson State University (JSU). He received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri. Dr. Shih is a registered professional engineer in Mississippi and a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME).

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biography

Wei Zheng Jackson State University

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Dr. Wei Zheng currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at Jackson State University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Civil Engineering from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2001. He is a registered Professional Engineer in Wisconsin and has over 10-year industrial experience.

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Wilbur L Walters Jackson State University

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Dr. Walters is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Jackson State University. He received his Ph.D. degree in Materials Engineering from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2002.

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Stevenson Paradeshi Jackson State University

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Mr. Stevenson Paradeshi is an undergraduate student and research assistant at Jackson State University.

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Abstract
NOTE: The first page of text has been automatically extracted and included below in lieu of an abstract

Smart Materials and Structures Experiments for Undergraduate Students

Abstract Smart materials and structures are a new rapidly growing interdisciplinary technology which embraces the fields of materials and structures, sensors and actuators, information processing, and control. To ensure the progress and success of smart materials and structures technology, engineering and technology educators need to make strong efforts to educate the students. At Jackson State University (JSU), two lab modules (Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators, and Photostrictive Actuators) have been added to several existing courses that have helped undergraduate students develop hands-on experience as well as strengthen students’ foundation in smart materials and structures technology. In performing the laboratory assignments, students use the instruments and follow the procedures outlined by the instructors. These two lab modules allow students to gain insight into the smart structures as well as to become knowledgeable users of the equipment. Responses and feedback from students have been very positive.

1. Introduction A smart structure is a system containing multifunctional parts that can perform sensing, control, and actuation1,2. The entire system is integrated to perform a self-controlled smart action, similar to a living creature that can think, make judgment and take action. Smart materials (such as piezoelectric materials) are used to construct these smart structures, which can perform both sensing and actuation functions. Recently, an increasing interest in the development of miniaturized smart structures and systems, particularly on micro and nano electromechanical systems, has evolved into a new page in the science and engineering field. This evolvement establishes a need of integrating technologies from different disciplines. However, most of today’s engineering and technology students are unaware of the remarkable properties of smart materials as well as the applications of smart structures technology. Therefore, courses on their behavior and analysis have become necessary for modern engineering and technology students.

1

Shih, H., & Zheng, W., & Walters, W. L., & Paradeshi, S. (2008, June), Smart Materials And Structures Experiments For Undergraduate Students Paper presented at 2008 Annual Conference & Exposition, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--4382

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