When designing a complex profile extrusion die, an iterative process has to be performed to optimize the flow channel. This procedure is timeconsuming and cost-intensive. By means of FEA it is possible to pre-design the flow channel and hence to reduce the number of experimental iteration steps in order to optimize the flow channel. But this procedure only shifts the first iteration steps from practice into the computer. Up to now no procedure has been found to predict the die geometry in order to gain an even velocity profile at the outlet. In the two procedures mentioned above, optimization of the geometry is done by "trial and error".In this paper a program is presented that works with a new method to optimize complex extrusion dies. It uses a combination of FEA and network theory. By means of this method it is possible to speed up the iterative optimization process. Furthermore, the user can be given a hint from the program where and how to change the geometry of the flow channel to approach the optimum velocity distribution at the outlet.Brought to you by | Purdue University Libraries Authenticated Download Date | 5/29/15 7:05 PM
Undergraduate research has emerged as a high-impact approach that can be used to enhance student engagement and to enrich student learning experiences.1 It is observed in the literature that undergraduate research can have an impact on student retention, and possibly attract women and ethnic minorities to science-related disciplines while playing an important role in the determination of career paths for participating students. 2,3,4 While there are multiple studies on the impact of undergraduate research in social sciences and sciences, there is limited literature in the engineering disciplines. This limited literature may be attributed to multiple reasons such as a significant emphasis on mathematics and science in the first two years of engineering curriculum, a strictly sequential degree path, and a lack of flexibility in the program requirements. Engineering students often report difficulty in relating the theoretical content of the first few semesters to actual engineering applications. This study investigates the effectiveness of undergraduate research as a possible means of overcoming these student perceptions. Students are introduced to well-defined research projects at an early stage of their undergraduate degree program by adopting a scaffolding approach. The primary focus of this study is to understand student perceptions about undergraduate research in the engineering and engineering technology disciplines, with the aim of enhancing student experiences through strong mentorship and a careful choice of research projects. A survey has been developed to understand student perceptions as well as the perceptions of a few faculty mentors. The survey results are analyzed to understand whether any changes need to be made to the framework that has been adopted to introduce students to undergraduate research. Survey results from twenty six students involved in undergraduate research as part of the requirements for a scholarship program are evaluated. Subjective evaluations from a few faculty members involved in mentoring some of these undergraduate researchers are also discussed. Although both students and faculty mentors acknowledge the impact of undergraduate research experiences, some students are ambivalent about the relevance of research to academic performance. It is also observed that excessive project complexity may result in reducing student motivation unless students receive adequate support in the form of strong mentorship and appropriate guidance.
The primary aim of the rheological design of extrusion dies in polymer processing is to obtain an even velocity distribution at the outlet of the die.For a given complex cross-section of a profile, no procedure has yet been found to predict the die geometry with respect to obtaining an even velocity profile at the outlet. Hence the optimization of the geometry has to be done by "trial and error". In this paper a new calculation method is presented which uses a combination of the finite-element-analysis (FEA) and a flow analysis network (FAN). With the aid of this method it is possible to accelerate the iterative optimization process for the design of profile extrusion dies. Furthermore, this method is combined with an optimization scheme based on the evolution strategy. The result is an algorithm to optimize the flow channels in extrusion dies automatically.
Anxiety stemming from the challenges faced by engineering students has been shown to be a strong predictor of academic performance. Such anxiety may reduce students' self-confidence and result in loss of motivation and diminished cognitive function with associated academic difficulties. Past research to analyze sources and effects of anxiety among engineering students has focused on ways to influence pedagogical strategies over the long term, or to manage certain physiological responses to anxiety. Less common are studies that investigate the efficacy of timely interventions in response to self-reported vulnerabilities and concerns of engineering students. This paper presents data from practical efforts to identify and mitigate anxiety among engineering students. A group of twenty-seven engineering and engineering technology students who were part of a scholarship program was asked to submit journal entries in which they reflected on their fears and anxieties related to their participation in their degree program. Prominent themes which emerged from student reflection included time management and its effects on academics and social activities, the likelihood of degree completion and success in engineering-specific coursework (e.g. senior capstone projects), and aspects of life following graduation such as handling accumulated debt and finding a job. As a cohort, the students participated in periodic vertically-integrated discussion groups with faculty mentors and their peers at multiple levels of seniority, and were introduced to university resources designed to address specific student needs. Results of a follow-on survey suggested that peer-to-peer discussions can be useful in alleviating anxiety on particular topics. It was also observed that the interactions facilitated by these group discussions are helpful in developing a sense of community and shared enthusiasm among the cohort.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.