IT-Enhanced Laboratory Experience within a Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

2016 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 32-36

Author(s):

Shagil Akhtar ◽

Syed Muneeb Iqbal ◽

Shrish Bajpai

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Smart Devices ◽

Common People ◽

Control Engineering ◽

New Era ◽

Education In India ◽

Recent Developments ◽

Feedback Structure

Abstract In this present study we have traced the genesis of control engineering in the scope of mechanical engineering and then some analysis on its recent developments, their increasing need and how this particular subject has evolved machines functioning nowadays specifically its standard of education in India. We have probed this field right from its starting. We have examined how it is required as a proper course for mechanical engineering students and in which order the evolution in this field is expanding and, at the same time, its level of education in India and where we are in confronting the business need in terms of quality and quantity of students. The point is that it holds significance in near future. Over the years control engineering has been expanding its perimeter in various branches such mechanics, electronics, instrumentation, electrics, chemistry, aeronautics, mechatronics, etc. As a result, numerous interactive feedback structure from the output and the ability to alter the input accordingly have given the world a new era of equipment commonly termed as “smart devices” which have changed the lifestyle of common people. Furthermore, its various applications in different industry have also favored its development. So, some views from the industry prospective have been included to find out about the skills that are required for aspiring and practicing control engineers having mechanical engineering background.

Download Full-text

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Within Undergraduate Programs

Volume 7: Engineering Education and Professional Development ◽

10.1115/imece2007-43496 ◽

2007 ◽

Author(s):

Kim A. Shollenberger

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Fluid Dynamics ◽

Computational Fluid Dynamics ◽

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Manufacturing Industry ◽

Engineering Students ◽

Geographic Location ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

The United States ◽

Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd

There has been a rapid increase over the past three decades in the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis by industry as a tool to design and manufacture products. It is currently a vital part of the engineering process for many companies around the world, and utilized in nearly every manufacturing industry. Employers of engineering students who perform this type of analysis have expressed the need for students at the undergraduate or B.S. level to have some CFD experience. As a result, engineering programs in the United States have begun to respond to this need by developing new curriculum and by exposing students to the use of CFD for research. The level of incorporation and implementation of CFD into the undergraduate curriculum and research at institutions varies widely. The objective of this paper is to conduct a survey of the current use of CFD in the undergraduate curriculum within mechanical engineering departments in the United States. Twenty ABET accredited U.S. schools that offer a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering are investigated in this study that are a representative sample of engineering schools in the U.S. today in terms of admission standards, private versus public, predominate terminal degree, size, and geographic location. Topics investigated include if CFD classes are offered to undergraduates whether they are required or optional, when they are first introduced into the curriculum, number of credit hours dedicated to CFD, types of courses that include CFD, and whether commercial or in-house codes are utilized.

Download Full-text

Automated Laboratory Experience In An Undergraduate Mechanical Engineering Program

10.18260/1-2--12184 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Amir Karimi

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Laboratory Experience ◽

Engineering Program

Download Full-text

Engineering Education Through Degree-Long Project: A New Project Based Learning Approach

Volume 6: Engineering Education and Professional Development ◽

10.1115/imece2010-40514 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Jay Kim ◽

Teik Lim ◽

Randall Allemang ◽

Bob Rost

Keyword(s):

Engineering Education ◽

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Project Based Learning ◽

Abstract Concepts ◽

Practical Applications ◽

Formula Sae ◽

Race Car ◽

Engineering Program ◽

The University

A new pedagogical approach called engineering education through degree-long project has been implemented in the mechanical engineering program at the University of Cincinnati as a part of the NSF CCLI project. The approach integrates selected courses across the undergraduate curriculum of the mechanical engineering program using a degree-long project (DLP) as the theme. Design of Formula SAE® race car was employed as the first DLP. In each course in the sequence, the concept of the DLP approach and the role of the assignment in the course in the overall DLP are explained to students. In early-year courses, assignments are simple problems designed to show how abstract concepts are eventually applied to engineering tasks. In later-year courses, more involved design projects are used aiming at nurturing the ability to solve open-ended engineering problems. In conducting the approach, the most difficult part was developing an interesting and challenging problem which is relevant to practical applications, especially in early year courses. Findings through student evaluations and a stake-holders workshop on the improvement of the approach are discussed.

Download Full-text

Revolutionizing the Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Curriculum

10.18260/1-2--35164 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shelby McNeilly ◽

Krishna Pakala ◽

Donald Plumlee

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum

Download Full-text

A Manufacturing Enterprise for Undergraduates, Phase I Report: Implementation

10.1115/imece1999-0633 ◽

1999 ◽

Author(s):

Frederick J. Carranti

Keyword(s):

Phase I ◽

Product Design ◽

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Manufacturing Processes ◽

Manufacturing Enterprise ◽

Laboratory Experience ◽

Manufacturing Operations ◽

Initial Implementation ◽

The University ◽

Very High

Abstract An undergraduate course in the fundamentals of manufacturing processes has recently been redesigned to include a significant laboratory experience. Part of the motivation for this redesign was as a response to certain competency gaps in graduating engineers as identified by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and by the industrial partners of the University. The nature of this laboratory experience prompts the students to participate in and manage an actual manufacturing enterprise. Many facets of a real company are explored including design, manufacturing, operations, accounting, purchasing, and marketing. The students are engaged in the design and production of a line of novelty items sold to the greater university community, and, in addition to product design, are also engaged in the design of all tooling and methods required for production. Due to the holistic nature of the experience, student enthusiasm and involvement are very high, and faculty endorsement has resulted in the course being named a required part of the curriculum for all future students in mechanical engineering. This paper describes the initial implementation of this course.

Download Full-text

Incorporating Basic Systems Thinking and Systems Engineering Concepts in a Sophomore-Level Product Design and Development Course

Volume 5: Education and Globalization ◽

10.1115/imece2016-65852 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Karim H. Muci-Küchler ◽

Mark D. Bedillion ◽

Cassandra M. Degen ◽

Marius D. Ellingsen ◽

Shaobo Huang

Keyword(s):

Product Development ◽

Systems Thinking ◽

Systems Engineering ◽

Mechanical Engineering ◽

Undergraduate Curriculum ◽

Low Complexity ◽

Thinking Skills ◽

Design And Development ◽

Engineering Programs ◽

Development Course

Although many US undergraduate mechanical engineering programs formally expose students to the basic concepts, methodologies, and tools used for the design and development of new products, the scope is usually limited to products of low complexity. There is a need to include activities in the undergraduate curriculum that allow students to learn basic systems engineering concepts, that promote the development of their systems thinking skills, and that allow them to practice these skills. This paper describes an initial effort at integrating systems engineering concepts in the curriculum focusing on a sophomore-level product development course. The paper discusses the approach that was used to identify topics related to systems thinking and systems engineering, provides the list of topics that were selected, and outlines the approach that will be used to incorporate those topics in the course. In addition, it provides the results of a pilot self-efficacy survey focusing on some of the topics selected that was delivered to junior students who had already taken a formal product development course. Although a specific course was considered, the same approach could be used in the context of the entire mechanical engineering undergraduate curriculum. Also, the results presented in the paper could be easily adapted to similar courses at other institutions.

Download Full-text