Syllabus

AEM 4602W

Aeromechanics Laboratory

4 Credits

 

Catalog Description:

 

Experimental methods/design in fluid/solid mechanics. Wind tunnel/water channel experiments with flow visualization, pressure, velocity, force measurements. Measurement of stresses/strains/displacements in solids/ structures: stress concentrations, materials behavior, structural dynamics. Computerized data acquisition/analysis, error analysis, data reduction. Experiment design. Written/oral reports. Lab ethics. Writing intensive.

 

Course Web Address:

 

http://www.aem.umn.edu/courses/aem4602/

 

Prerequisites by Topic:

 

1. Laboratory Instrumentation (AEM 4601)
2. Fluid Mechanics (AEM 4201)
3. Structures (AEM 4501)
4. Freshman Composition (WRIT 1301)

 

Text:

 

Wheeler and Ganji, Introduction to Engineering Experimentation, 3^rd edition, Prentice Hall.

 

Format of Course:

 

2 hours of lecture per week, 3 hours of laboratory every other week

 

Computer Usage:

 

Data Acquisition programs (wind tunnels and mechanical testing machines)

Word Processor (student’s choice)

Spreadsheet (student’s choice)

 

Course Objectives:

 

Development of basic understanding of experimentation in fluid and solid mechanics and in structural vibrations and the relationship between theory and experiment in these areas. Development of oral and written communication skills and the ability to work in groups.

 

Course Outcomes:

 

1. Ability to conduct experiments using a wind tunnel.
2. Ability to conduct experiments using a water channel.
3. Ability to conduct experiments using a mechanical testing machine.
4. Ability to conduct experiments to determine structural frequency response.
5. An understanding of experimental data analysis.
6. An understanding of the relation between aerodynamic theory and practice
7. An understanding of the relation between structural theory and practice
8. An understanding of practical material behavior.
9. Ability to prepare a written report.
10. Ability to present an oral report.
11. Ability to work as part of a group.
12. An understanding of laboratory ethics

 

Relationship of course to program objectives:

 

This course develops the abilities to design and conduct experiments in the areas (fluids, solids and dynamics) important to aerospace engineers.

 

Relationship of course to student outcomes:

 

This course is used to assess the following student outcomes:

 

            3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences;

 

5. An ability to function effectively on a team whose members together provide leadership, create a collaborative and inclusive environment, establish goals, plan tasks and meet objectives;

 

6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering   judgment to draw conclusions.

 

Outcome Assessment:  The expectation is that 85% of students will score at or better than 75% (roughly, C+) on each outcome measure.

 

Outcome: An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

 

Performance Criteria:  Students demonstrate that they can communicate engineering results.

Assessment Method: Grade on the effectiveness of communication in a technical report.

 

 

Outcome: An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

 

Performance Criteria:  Students demonstrate that they can design and conduct a specified laboratory experiment.

Assessment Method: Grade on a report on the results of this experiment.

 

Outcome:  An ability to function as a team

 

Performance Criteria:  Students demonstrate how they divided responsibilities on one of the laboratory experiments.

Assessment Method:  Self-assessment of teamwork as part of oral report on one experiment.

 

In addition the course supports the following outcomes:

 

4.  An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgements, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental and societal contexts.

 

7.  An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed using appropriate learning strategies.

 

 

 

Course Outline:

 

Week	Topics	Laboratory
1	Introduction, Overview
2	Experimental Design, Dimensional Analysis
3	Force Measurements (lift and drag), Experimental Uncertainty	Wind Tunnel Force Measurements
4	Report Writing, Sampling, Data Acquisition	cont.
5	Velocity Measurements, hot-wire anemometry	Water Channel Flow Visualization/Wind Tunnel Hot Wire
6	Data Reduction and Analysis	cont.
7	Other measurement techniques in fluid mechanics	cont.
8	Material Properties and the tension test, Viscoelasticity	cont.
9	Viscoelasticity, Photoelasticity	Material Properties
10	Photoelasticity, Oral reports	cont.
11	Stress concentrations, Vibrations	Photoelasticity
12	Vibrations, Structural Dynamics	cont
13	Structural Dynamics	Structural Dynamics
14	Ethics: Case studies in laboratory practice	cont

 

 

 

Student Survey Questions:

 

This course improved my ability to do the following:

 

1.      Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as analyze and interpret data.

2.      Communicate effectively via technical laboratory reports and oral reports.

3.      Function as part of a team.

 

In this course, I acquired the following:

 

4.      Ability to conduct experiments using a wind tunnel and a water channel.

5.      Ability to conduct experiments using a mechanical testing machine.

6.      A knowledge of experimental design.

7.      A knowledge of uncertainty analysis.

8.      A better understanding of practical fluid flows.

9.      A better understanding of practical problems in solid mechanics.

10.  A better understanding of structural vibrations.

 

Please answer the following questions regarding the course:

 

11.   The textbook and references were useful and appropriate for the course.

12.   The course was well organized.

13.   The content of the lectures complemented the laboratory sessions.

14.   The feedback on report writing was useful.

15.   The level of work required in this course was appropriate for the credit given

 

 

 

Last modified:

 

2018-11-20