Dr. Matthew J. TraumDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering

University of North Texas

Please send correspondence to mtraum@unt.edu

© 2009 Matthew J. Traum

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

Solar Winches: Experiential Learning Applied to a Freshman Engineering Course Redesign

Design & Build Project: Track Layout

The Race Track and Race Protocols16-bracket, double-elimination, head-ups competition

Green Lane and White Lane, each approximately 1 meter wide and exactly 25 meters long. Beyond the finish line, a 0.5-meter-long Stopping Zone will be provided.

1.025.01.0

1.0

Green LaneWhite Lane

StoppingZone (0.5)

Green Start

Green Winch White StartWhite Winch

Finish Line

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

THEORYEXPERI-

MENTAT-ION

DESIGN &TEST

FINALPRODUCT& REPORT

Increasing Cognitive Complexity(Mirrors Engineering Design Process)

KnowledgeComprehension

ComprehensionApplication

ApplicationAnalysis

Evaluation

EvaluationSynthesis

Perform QuantitativeOrientation Calculations

Conduct Prescribed Research

Create Hardwareto Meet Goals

Integrate Hardware into a

System

Experiential Learning in a Design-and-Build Project

J. Phillips, M. J. Traum, C. Williamson, “Lesson Redesign – A Faculty Doorway into Experiential Learning Design,” Proceedings of the American Association of Colleges and

Universities Annual Conference, Washington, D.C., November, 2009, accepted.

Theory: Performing Quantitative Orientation Calculations

Using computers to determine fundamental constants and calculate results from

orientation calculations

Solving analytical problems in office hours

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

THEORY

Experiments: Conducting Prescribed Research

Testing DC motor output and efficiency using different types of dynamometers (the dynos were used as design-and-build projects in another MEE class)

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

EXPERI-MENTAT-ION

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

EXPERI-MENTAT-ION

Experiments:Conducting Prescribed Research

Links to experimental research: students discovered a solar saturation phenomenon, which is now the topic of a research paper.

C. M. Fallwell, D. W. Davis, and M. J. Traum, “Solar Energy Concentration for Thermoelectric Power Generation at the Sub-Dekawatt Scale,” Proceedings of the 41st AIAA Thermophysics

Conference, University of Texas – San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, June 22 - 25, 2008.

Experiments: Conducting Prescribed Research

Testing wheel-ground friction factors and meshing gear friction coefficients in the lab.

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

EXPERI-MENTAT-ION

Design & Test: Creating Hardware to Meet Goals

Students developed their own experimental techniques to test components they were designing.

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

DESIGN &

TEST

Final Product: Integrating Hardware into a System

A variety of designs and building materials were used

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

FINALPRODUCT& REPORT

Final Product: Presenting Results & Teamwork

Designs were presented in both oral and written formats, emphasizing WHY design decisions were made and HOW designs work.

All students worked in teams, bolstering individual strengths, learning teamwork, and building peer cohorts and connections.

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

FINALPRODUCT& REPORT

Next Steps: Evaluating How Students Approach Design

Prototype Presented in Class

Winning Winch-and-Cart Design

??

TeamFastestTime

Ave.Velocity

[ ] [seconds] [m/s]A 46.00 0.54B 15.55 1.61C N/A --D 29.70 0.84E 15.64 1.60G N/A --H 40.50 0.62I 43.99 0.57J 21.00 1.19K N/A --L N/A --M 29.42 0.85N N/A --P 25.21 0.99Q 30.20 0.832 N/A --

Dr. Matthew J. TraumDepartment of Mechanical and Energy Engineering

University of North Texas

Please send correspondence to mtraum@unt.edu

© 2009 Matthew J. Traum

Thermal Fluid Sciences

Group @ UNT

Solar Winches: Experiential Learning Applied to a Freshman Engineering Course Redesign