Similar Consecutive Bridge Design Projects for Freshmen and Sophomore Level Engineering Courses

Selvi, Emre; Soto-Caban, Sandra; Taylor, Richard S.; Wilson, W. R. D.

doi:10.18260/1-2--18467

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 3 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Truss analysis is typically the first introduction to internal forces, so this seems a logical place to start the Mechanics lab. The implementation of PASCO bridge kits is well documented [10,11]. In the PASCO bridge system, in order to measure member forces, one must replace a member with two half-sized beams joined by a load cell.…”

Section: Variousmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scaffolded Laboratory Sequence: Mechanics Lab

Smith

2020 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Laboratory courses are a platform for students to practice skills essential to the engineering profession. They also foster lower-level learning (e.g. understanding of fundamental concepts) and higher-level synthesis and creativity. The undergraduate programs for Mechanical and Aerospace (MAE) Engineering at the University of Virginia have been enriched with an updated experimental laboratory sequence, which include three 2-hour courses: 1) Mechanics Laboratory, 2) Thermal Fluids Laboratory, and 3) Aerospace or Mechanical Laboratory. The first two courses were designed to supplement lecture-based theory courses during the same semester students are taking them. The third course challenges students to design and execute their own experiments, building upon skills they learn in the earlier labs. Thus, the new sequence includes horizontal integration with discipline courses across the curriculum, and vertical scaffolding of skills related to experiment design and analysis.The Mechanics Laboratory course was offered to the first cohort in Spring 2019. It was designed to give hands-on experiential learning to complement foundational courses such as Statics, Dynamics, and Strengths of Materials. Students used research grade equipment in the new Undergraduate Materials Testing (UTM) lab including a 250 kN universal test machine, a 2000 in-lb torsion tester, new hardness testing machines, and heat treatment ovens. In addition to supporting content from core courses, the lab introduced students to principles of experimentation including data acquisition, data analysis, and presentation of results. Several experiments were conducted using PASCO Capstone or National Instruments LabView software to collect data from a variety of sensors including load cells, accelerometers, and motion sensors. This paper describes the integration of the new sequence into the curriculum and includes details on the development and implementation of the first course, Mechanics Laboratory. It describes the motivation behind the redesign, discusses logistical challenges and solutions, and outlines specific modules within the Mechanics lab. Finally, the paper includes student feedback, an assessment of student learning, and recommendations for improvement. Motivation for Reinventing the Experimental Lab CurriculumLab experiences are an essential part of any engineering curriculum. Expected outcomes for these experiences are explicitly communicated through ABET Crtierion 3, Outcome 6, which states that program graduates should have "an ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions." [1] To meet this

show abstract

Section: Variousmentioning

confidence: 99%