Students in this course will learn about advanced topics within mechanical engineering through experiment. Students will conduct experiments on the principle and characterization of fuel cells, the visualization and velocity measurements of Karman vortex street, the observation of natural convection by interferometer, characteristics of non-linear vibrating system and self-excited system, the energy release rate and fracture toughness, the mictostructure and mechanical properties of heat-treated steels and the tnalysis, and the motion control of a robot arm mechanism
The main aim of this course is both to deepen students' understanding of mechanical engineering and improve critical thinking skills, practical skills, and problem-solving skills by conducting progressive experiments in mechanical engineering. In addition, students will learn data collection, processing, and organization methods, observation methods, and how to write reports through these experiments.
Students will acquire the following skills from taking this course.
1) Skills for explaining developmental aspects of mechanical engineering that cannot be learned just from classroom lectures
2) How to run experiments on advanced topics in mechanical engineering
3) Critical thinking skills, practical skills, and problem-solving skills
Fuel cell, Karman vortex, Natural convection, Nonlinear vibration, Self-excited vibration, Fracture toughness, Heat treatment, Kinematics, Dynamics, Control engineering, Response analysis
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | ✔ Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
At orientation in the first class, students will be explained about the frame of mind and suggestions for this course, as well as composition guidelines for experiment reports. Then students will be divided into few groups, and each research topic will be worked through sequentially. Reports must be submitted by the deadline. In addition, students are required to carefully read the experiment text in advance to ensure experiments are run safely and smoothly.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Orientation, Principle and characterization of fuel cells | Students will gain an understanding of course description and aims, methods for conducting experiments, and how to write reports. Understanding the working principle and evaluating the characteristics of fuel cells. |
Class 2 | Visualization and velocity measurements of Karman vortex street | Visualizing and measuring the flow field behind an object and discuss the relations with relevant nondimensional parameters. |
Class 3 | Observation of natural convection by interferometer | Observe the state of natural convection using laser interferometer and deepen understanding about natural convection |
Class 4 | Characteristics of non-linear vibrating system and self-excited system | Understanding the characteristics of non-linear vibration phenomena and self-excited vibration phenomena |
Class 5 | Energy release rate and fracture toughness | Understanding the fracture toughness and conduct an experiment of crack propagation under mode-I condition. |
Class 6 | Microstructures and mechanical properties of heat-treated steels | Learning relationships between microstructures and mechanical properties of heat-treated steels. |
Class 7 | Analysis and motion control of a robot arm mechanism | Understanding of kinematic analysis scheme of a 6-DOF serial robotic arm mechanism, and implementation of motion control and fail-safe mechanism through experiencing the operation of commercially available industrial robotic arm |
Experiment text is distributed by the instructor.
None
Students are required to attend all classes and perform all experiments and to submit all reports. Students will be comprehensively evaluated on the content of experiment reports.
Students are required to have successfully completed Basic Experiments for Mechanical Engineering (MEC.P211.A) and Advanced Experiments for Mechanical Engineering (MEC.P211.A), or have equivalent knowledge.
The number of registering students will be limited because of experimental apparatus and safety reasons.