ABET Criteria 2000 Course Description
Relevant Web links: Homework (HW) and supplemental materials; Topics;
Office Hours and Info; Class/HW/Lab/Exam Policies (those documents are complementary parts to the Syllabus).
Catalog Description: MEE 390. EXPERIMENTAL METHODS IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING I (3). Basic concepts of measurement methods and planning and documenting experiments. Typical sensors, transducers, and measurement system behavior. Data sampling and computerized data acquisition systems. Statistical methods and uncertainty analysis applied to data reduction. Laboratory experiments with measurement of selected material properties and solid-mechanical and fluid/thermal quantities. A writing-intensive course. CRQ: ELE 215, MEE 212, MEE 340, MEE 350, and STAT 350 or IENG 335.
Textbooks: R.S. Figliola, and D.E. Beasley, Theory and Design for Mechanical Measurements - 4rd Edition, Wiley , 2006
Supplemental references: In addition to numerous references given in the Textbook, other references will be given during the lectures along with handouts and additional materials when appropriate (Homework - HW and supplemental materials).
Instructor: Dr. Milivoje Kostic, P.E., Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Tel: 753-9975, email: kostic@niu.edu ; Web www.kostic.niu.edu
Office and Class/Lab hours: See Web posted schedule at: Office Hours and Info. Office: EB 208.
Teaching Assistant:
Office and Class/Lab hours: See Web posted schedules and locations at: Office Info. Office: EB 254 Lab Tel: 753-1252; or in EB 231 (CAD/CAM Lab) Tel: 753-1255
Coverage of and Objectives with relationship to ABET Outcomes:
A-math&sci., B-design-exps., C-design, D-teams, E- prb.solv., f-ethics, G-comms., h-gen.ed., I-life-ed., j-contmp., K-modn.tools:
(capital letters: high and medium coverage, small letters: low coverage; see ABET Instruction Notes for more information)
This course in Experimental Methods is aimed to provide students with theory and hands-on laboratory experience, including simple and more complex experiments and computerized data acquisition. Strong emphasis is placed on problem solving, professional judgment, and the importance of accuracy, error, and uncertainty analysis. After completing the course, students are expected to be aware of experimental complexity, different instrumentation, and be able to apply knowledge from their science courses in order to design experiments and judge quality and precision of their measurements. Basic concepts of measurement methods, including general measurements systems, experimental test plan, calibration, standards, and presentation of measured data are covered and listed below:
1. Introduction to the course, including importance of professional ethics, engineering design, communications and teamwork, use of modern tools and life-long learning. Basic concepts in measurement methods: importance of measurements and planning, units, standards and calibration, data analysis and presentation. Outcomes: A, B, C, D, E, f, G, h, I, j, K.
2. Static and dynamic characteristics of signals, including input-output signal concept, signal analysis (periodic signals, frequency, Fourier series, etc.). Outcomes: A, E, K.
3. Measurement system behavior, including zero-, first-, and second-order measurement system response to step-input and frequency response to simple periodic signal input. Outcomes: A, C, E, K.
4. Probability and statistics, including statistical measurement theory, infinite and finite statistics, least-square regression analysis and curve fitting, and data outliers. Outcomes: A, B, C, E, I, K.
5. Uncertainty Analysis, including measurements errors, design-stage uncertainty analysis, error sources, bias and precision errors, error propagation, and zero-order and higher-order measurement uncertainty analysis. Outcomes: A, B, C, E, I, K.
6. Review of electrical devices and signal processing. Outcomes: B, C, D, f, I, j, K.
7. Computerized data acquisition, including signal sampling (sampling rate, aliasing frequencies and amplitude ambiguity), signal conditioning, analog and digital input and output, and computerized data acquisition and analysis. Outcomes: A, B, C, D, E, h, I, j, K.
8. Temperature measurements, including temperature standards, thermometry based on thermal expansion (liquid-in-glass, bimetallic), electrical resistance with thermistors, thermoelectric (thermocouples), and radiative thermometry, and uncertainty analysis (including incertion errors). Outcomes: A, B, C, D, E, f, G, I, j, K.
9. Pressure and velocity measurements, including reference gauges and barometers, pressure gauges and transducers, pressure measurements in moving fluids and velocity measuring devices. Outcomes: A, B, C, D, E, f, G, I, j, K.
10. Fluid flow measurements, including pressure differential meters (orifice, Venturi, and nozzles), incertion flowmeters (rotameter, turbine meter, etc.), as well as standards, calibration and uncertainty analysis. Outcomes: A, B, C, D, E, f, G, I, j, K.
11. Strain measurements, with emphasis on strain gauges. Outcomes: A, B, C, D, E, f, G, I, j, K.
12. Displacements and motion measurements, including potentiometers, LVDT, accelerometers, load cells, and torque measurements. Outcomes: A, B, D, E, f, G, I, j, K.
Prerequisites by topic:
1. ELE 215 (Topics 1, 7, 9, 10-14 below)
2. MEE 212 (Topics 2, 3, 13, 14 below)
3. MEE 340 (Topics 11 and 12 below)
4. MEE 350 (Topics 3 and 10 below), and
5. STAT 350 or IENG 335 (Topics 5 and 6 below).
Topics (and estimate hours): [To HW]
1. Basic concepts of measurement methods. [PDF]*(Quiz #1) (3 hours, wk1).
2. Static and dynamic characteristics of signals [PDF] (3 hours, wk2).
3. Measurement system behavior [PDF] (3 hours, wk3).
4. Review and Midterm (3 hours, wk4).
5. Probability and statistics (PDF) (4.5 hours, wk5,6).
6. Uncertainty Analysis (PDF) (4.5 hours, wk6,7).
7. Review of electrical devices and signal processing
(covered in CRQ ELE 215) (1 hours, wk8).
8. Review and Mid (3 hours, wk8,9).
9. Computerized data acquisition (4.5 hours, wk9,10).
10. Temperature measurements (PDF) (3 hours, wk11).
11. Pressure and velocity measurements (PDF) (3 hours, wk12).
12. Fluid flow measurements (PDF) (3 hours, wk13).
13. Strain measurements (PDF) (3 hours, wk14).
14. Displacements and motion measurements (3 hours, wk15).
15. Review and Final Examination (3 hours, wk16).
Computer Usage:
Students are expected to use engineering/math calculation software, like MathCAD or MATLAB (or FORTRAN, BASIC, or C programs, etc.) to solve some homework problems and projects, which may require computational programming and graphing.
Laboratory Projects: -tentative:
(not limited to but including major items of equipment and instrumentation used):
1. Lab Safety Rules and Demonstration of different bench-top measuring instruments.
Click Q & A for Experimental Tips, Questions and Answers.
2. Introduction to Oscilloscope and Vibration Measurement of a Cantilever Beam
3. Calibration of and Measurement with Strain Gages
5. Experimental verification of Bernoulli equation
6. LabVIEW and Data Acquisition (DAQ)
7. Dynamic response of a thermocouple sensor
8. Measurements of flow rate and specific heat of air
9. Thermal conductivity measurements
10. Measurement of Motor-Flywheel Load and Dynamic Characteristics
a) Individual lab project/experiment of your own choice (with approved proposal).
b) Transducer/Sensor Posters & Lab Fair at the end of the Semester.
Note: Special handouts about the above Lab Assignments are available. Teaching assistant will organize lab groups and supervise your laboratory assignments. Students are involved in actual measurements, data reduction and analysis, and reports writing.
Grading:
Labs and HomeWorks - 20%, Individual Lab project/poster - 25%, Midterm(s) - 20%, and Final - 35%. If any item is not required/graded for the whole class, the other items are prorated proportionally. Final Exam is comprehensive and its passing grade is required to pass the course. (see Class/HW/Lab/Exam Policies).