Skip to main content
ME
459
Engineering Design
Application of design process through a team project, teams of students experience mechanical engineering design through: problem definition, developing a project plan, gathering available information, generating and evaluating alternative solutions through design analysis and synthesis, prototype construction, testing, and refinement.
Prerequisites:
0600209,0630455
0630459
(3-0-3)

References:

Instructor notes

Coordination:

Major Design TAG.

Objectives[^1]:

  1. Design a system, component, or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability. (1,2,4,6).
  2. Communicate effectively in various forms, verbally, visually, as well as in writing using appropriate tools (3).
  3. Engage in life long learning through self reliance activities and work effectively in a team setting (5,7).

Prerequisites by Topics:

  1. Fluid Mechanics Fundamentals
  2. Thermodynamics and Heat Transfer
  3. Mechanical Design, Engineering Drawing
  4. System Dynamics, Control and Electrical Systems
  5. Materials Science, Stress Analysis, and Manufacturing
  6. Cost analysis

Evaluation Methods:

  1. Assignments
  2. Quizzes
  3. Design journal
  4. Project interim and final reports
  5. Oral Presentations
  6. Prototype or model
  7. Team assessment (peer and Instructor evaluation of the teamwork skills)

Course Outcomes:

Upon completion of this course students will be able to:

Objective 1

  1. recognize the need for a product or process
  2. define the problem (goals, objectives, constraints, etc.)
  3. plan the design process
  4. gather related information, consult codes and standards, and read manufacturers catalogs
  5. generate and evaluate various alternatives, make decision, and justify the selection by analysis
  6. create a prototype or model that embodies or represents the chosen solution, suggest refinements based on prototype testing.
  7. consider impact of proposed solutions, and practice responsible engineering in generating and evaluating alternatives

Objective 2

  1. document the design process by using appropriate tools such as design journals, progress, interim and final reports
  2. communicate technical information by written reports, engineering drawings, and oral presentations

Objective 3

  1. recognize the need for life-long learning as an essential requirement in engineering practice
  2. acquire information from appropriate sources such as the Internet, reference works, catalogs, etc, and evaluate the quality of information obtained
  3. recognize essential requirements of effective teams and demonstrate effective team building skills

Course Classification

Student Outcomes Level Relevant Activities
1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. H Design analysis, Identify and formulate design problem, obtain solutions
2. An ability to apply engineering design to produce solutions that meet specified needs with consideration of public health, safety, and welfare, as well as global, cultural, social, environmental, and economic factors. H Design and prototyping a system, component or process
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences. H Meetings, Presentations, Reports
4. An ability to recognize ethical and professional responsibilities in engineering situations and make informed judgments, which must consider the impact of engineering solutions in global, economic, environmental, and societal contexts. H Responsible practice during project work / Lectures / Case Studies, Considerations of these issues in the context of the project topic, lectures
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. H Working in teams
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions. M Testing prototype
7. An ability to acquire and apply new knowledge as needed, using appropriate learning strategies. H Self learning, independent work, self-reflection

[^1]: Numbers in parentheses refer to the student outcomes.