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Session 1566

The Need of Capstone Senior Design Projects for Outside Support

Hosni I. Abu-Mulaweh Department of Engineering Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, IN 46805, USA

Abstract

The students in the mechanical engineering program at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne are required to complete a capstone senior design project. Whenever it is possible, the students are exposed to real life design problem experience. However, most of the time, this is not achievable because of the cost of these types of projects is high. This paper discusses the need for outside support such as local and regional industry and professional societies such as the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The outside funding of capstone senior design projects is crucial in order for the students to be exposed to quality and practical real life design problems. Also, examples of some of the projects that the local industry and ASHRAE have supported will be presented in this paper.

I. Introduction

Capstone senior design project is a degree requirement in any respected engineering program. In some programs, the capstone senior design project is accomplished in one semester. Others devote two semesters to carry it out. At the author’s institution, the capstone senior design project is accomplished during the senior year and it spans two semesters. In the first semester, the problem statement is formulated and basic conceptual designs are generated and then evaluated. The conceptual design that solves the problem best is then selected and a complete and detailed design is generated by the end of the first semester. In the second semester, a proto- type of the finished design is built, tested and evaluated.

Whenever it is possible, the students are exposed to real life design problem experience by getting them involved and work on design projects provided and supported by the local industry and professional societies such as ASHRAE. Types of the design projects that the local industry is interested in include: completely new design to perform specific task(s), modify or improve existing design, and solving problems in some industrial operations. On the other hand, ASHRAE funds capstone senior design projects that involve an ASHRAE-related topic.

Proceedings of the 2003 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright © 2003, American Society for Engineering Education

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Abu-Mulaweh, H. (2003, June), The Need Of Capstone Senior Design Projects For Outside Support Paper presented at 2003 Annual Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. 10.18260/1-2--12012