bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Defence of Open-Book Engineering Degree Examinations
Authors: Shine Sabbas , Kiravu Cheddi , Astley Jeremy
Published: February 2013

In many faculties of engineering around the world, the current practice is to assess candidates by the closed-book mode of examination. However, in solving real-life problems, engineering practitioners may apply their knowledge either directly through recall of pertinent knowledge and experiences or, as is normal in most cases, by consultative reference. In the latter case, they elect to make use of whatever resources that may be available to them. The question we pose then is, ‘Why do some engineering educators still insist on closed-book examinations?’ This paper unveils the misconceptions while arguing in support of the open-book mode of examination. Towards that end, actual results from mechanical engineering degree courses in two universities in two countries are presented.
Construction of a Generalized Psychrometric Chart for Different Pressures
Authors: Ren He-Sheng
Published: February 2013

In textbooks of thermodynamics or air conditioning engineering we can find the psychrometric chart at atmospheric pressure. However, standard psychrometric charts cannot be used directly in those areas where urban elevations and barometric pressures are considerably different from those given on the charts. Based on the formulas suggested by ASHRAE, a generalized psychrometric chart for different pressures is constructed, using composite thermodynamic properties φ/ p, pw/p, and vp. A nomograph is given to relate these composite thermodynamic properties to the psychrometric variables φ, pw, and v with p. Other commonly used psychrometric variables can be read directly from the generalized psychrometric chart. Three numerical examples illustrate the use of the generalized psychrometric chart. It will be of material help in both the design of air conditioning systems for different barometric pressures and the teaching of psychrometrics.
Demonstration of the Effectiveness and Limitations of Thin Airfoil Theory in the Aerodynamic Study of Airfoil Characteristics
Authors: Ahmed N. A.
Published: February 2013

Aerodynamics as a branch of science is based on many idealized concepts and ingenious abstractions and approximations. The teaching of aerodynamics, in this context, becomes a challenging undertaking. In order to demonstrate the relevance of these concepts to real situations, it is important that appropriate experimental demonstrations are devised. In this paper we describe such an experimental programme to demonstrate the usefulness and limitations of thin airfoil theory in the analysis of the aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil. This programme is easy to implement and has been incorporated in the teaching of aerodynamics to undergraduate students at the University of New South Wales.
Using Solid Modeling and Rapid Prototyping in a Mechanical Engineering Outreach Program of High School Students
Authors: Musto Joseph C. , Howard William E. , Rather Stephen Skip
Published: February 2013

In an effort to attract talented high school students to the engineering profession, Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) has developed a number of outreach programs. The most successful of these, entitled ‘Focus on the Possibilities’, allows the student to select a specific engineering discipline and experience a week-long program in their chosen area. This paper details the program developed by the Mechanical Engineering Department at MSOE to attract talented high school students to the mechanical engineering discipline. The program consists of an integrated design/build/test experience, centered around the design of a scale-model race car. The program is facilitated by two key technologies available at MSOE: solid modeling and solid freeform fabrication (rapid prototyping). Through creative use of these enabling technologies, the students are able to take the design of their racer from concept to realization and testing in the span of the week-long program.
Enhancing the Teaching of Machine Design by Creating a Basic Hands-On Environment with Mechanical ‘breadboards’
Authors: Wood John , Campbell Matthew , Wood Kristin , Jensen Dan
Published: February 2013

The pendulum of engineering education is swinging from an emphasis on theoretical material to a balance between theory and hands-on activities. This transformation is motivated, in part, by the different experiential background of students presently entering engineering programs in comparison with their predecessors. Instead of a tinkering background with the dissection of machines and use of tools (which was previously common for students), students are now entering with a background in computing, video games, and other ‘virtual’ experiences. This focus has left a void in the ability to relate engineering principles to real-world devices and applications. Another void is also apparent in the variety of students' learning styles. Our course presentation should accommodate these different styles. In this paper, we introduce a new approach for filling these voids in a mechanical engineering curriculum. Through the application of ‘mechanical breadboards’, clear relationships between machine design principles and the reality of machine components are established. The introduction of hands-on devices also provides a foundation for teaching to the full spectrum of learning styles. We have seen a dramatic increase in student motivation (as measured by student course evaluations) and a tremendous increase in students' ability to apply machine design concepts in subsequent design courses. Faculty have reported an initial increase in preparation workload, but have also indicated that the course is much more effective at meeting its stated objectives.
The Linking of Solid Mechanics with Thermodynamics through the Mathematics of Differentials
Authors: Davey K.
Published: February 2013

Engineers are familiar with the concept of differentials but tend to think of these in an informal sense, that is, as infinitesimally small quantities. It is argued in this paper that differentials should be presented to engineering students in a more formal way. Differentials can be formalised by defining then as functions on tangent spaces. This enables their numerical evaluation and makes clear the nature of their behaviour when restricted to tangent subspaces. It is shown that through a proper understanding of differentials the physics of many processes can be more fully appreciated. Inexact and exact differentials and their link to path dependency are examined in the context of state spaces. The work differential is considered and it is shown how knowledge of the state space combined with a simple test for path dependency provides real insight. Differentials allow the unification of solution methodologies for thermodynamics and solid mechanics. Work differentials and state spaces associated with elasticity and plasticity theory are examined in the paper. Reversibility in a one-dimensional state space provides for the explicit formulation of work and is applicable to elasticity. The use of monotonicity in replace of reversibility is examined for plasticity theory. The idea of conservative and non-conservative forces in mechanics is also considered in the context of state spaces and differentials. Examples are presented in the paper to illustrate the wide applicability of differentials across subject boundaries.
An Efficient Monte Carlo Approach for Determining Shape Factors
Authors: Biglarbegian Mohammad
Published: February 2013

In this paper, the Monte Carlo method is used to determine the shape factor among some simple surfaces. The results have been compared with the exact solutions. The results will lead to an efficient method for determining shape factors for some complex surfaces as well.
Mathematical Modelling of the Laminar Entrance Flow into a Circular Tube Using a Fourier Series Approximation
Authors: Fontes Sérgio R. , Giorgetti Marcius F.
Published: February 2013

In this work, the permanent laminar flow in the entrance region of a cylindrical tube is analyzed using a new Fourier series-based approximation technique of similarity for velocity profiles. The similarity method used in this work is well known in the literature on fluid mechanics and can be applied in other engineering education fields. The potential of the original modified Fourier cosine series is compared with the mathematical modelling of the entrance flow. Different physical entrance flow parameters of the interest are obtained through the integral formulation of differential equations for conservation laws. The results of this mathematical approach were found to be compatible with those reported in the literature.
The P–V Linear Expansion of an Ideal Gas
Authors: Mínguez José María
Published: February 2013

The heat transfer to and from a perfect gas, through a P—V linear expansion, is analysed as a pedagogic exercise. The T—S analysis proves to be useful to calculate the thermodynamic efficiency of certain cycles and helps students to a better understanding of the second law and other fundamental topics.
Mathematica Software in Engineering Mathematics Classes
Authors: Molina J. A. López , Trujillo M.
Published: February 2013

In this paper we show the advantages of using Mathematica software in engineering mathematics classes through the study of an example problem concerning heat conduction in a slab. Firstly the problem is solved from the point of view of a parabolic model of heat conduction, and secondly from the viewpoint of a hyperbolic model.
A Team-Based CAD Project Utilising the Latest CAD Technique and Web-Based Technologies
Authors: Alemzadeh Kazem , Burgess Stuart
Published: February 2013

This paper describes a newly created third-year CAD project in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Bristol University which brings together the most current CAD practices and web-based technologies to provide a stimulating and dynamic learning environment for the students. The project involves the design of a machine that sorts chips of different materials. The main objective is to provide a complete and up-to-date CAD experience for the students. The CAD project provides the opportunity for students to practise geometric modelling, mechanism design, assembly modelling, product visualisation (simulation and animation) and product customisation in an active learning environment. It also teaches the students parametric modelling and how quickly and efficiently to build, visualise and animate a CAD model of a proposed design, with further customisation using CAD principles.
Theoretical Analysis of Preloaded Bolted Joints Subjected to Cyclic Loading
Authors: Mínguez José María , Vogwell Jeffrey
Published: February 2013

In this paper the performance of preloaded bolted joints is analysed. The prior torque tightening creates compression in the clamped members and tension in the bolt. So, when an external tensile load is applied to the joint a large amount of it is taken up by the members, thereby relaxing their compression, at the expense of only a slight increase in bolt tension. In this way preloading the joint has the effect of changing the bolt fatigue regime from a low mean load with high alternating load to a high mean load with a low alternating load. This is beneficial for its fatigue life.
A Team-Based CAM Project Utilising the Latest CAD/CAM and Web-Based Technologies in the Concurrent Engineering Environment
Authors: Alemzadeh Kazem
Published: February 2013

This paper describes the computer-aided manufacture (CAM) part of newly created third-year computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM) project in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Bristol, which brings together the most current CAD/CAM practices, web-based technologies and shop-floor practices, to provide a stimulating and dynamic learning environment for the students. The project involves the design and manufacture of a crest as a feature for a chip/material-sorting machine in a concurrent learning environment. The main objective is complete product development, from design to manufacture (i.e. the product cycle), using the latest CAD/CAM technologies for the students. Students carry out product development assessment and make suitable adjustments to the design once the problems with engineering curves are identified. They especially practise the design for manufacture (DFM) technique to ensure any part designed on the CAD/CAM system can actually be machined with available machines, tools and fixtures. They also learn how to animate the machining processes of their final product as a part of product visualisation practice. In generative machining (GM), students learn the CAD/CAM approach to computer numerical control (CNC) programming, where a tool-path is generated automatically. GM also teaches the students how quickly and efficiently a design can be customised, updated and manufactured automatically when a feature of the proposed design is modified using CAD/CAM and CNC machine tools principles.
Enthalpy Phase Change Predictions from Van Der Waals Equation
Authors: Lewins Jeffery
Published: February 2013

It is pointed out that a P,v,T relation, or equation of state, predicting a phase change has calorimetric data embedded in it, such as the latent heat or enthalpy change at the phase transition. This is illustrated by solving van der Waals equation over a range of sub-critical temperatures, employing Maxwell's construction for the saturation pressure and deriving the data from Clausius—Clapeyron. The results allow a comparison with real data. For example, water substance data are shown to be only modestly represented by a van der Waals model. Nevertheless, the procedure is applicable to more elaborate P,v,T relations for real substances.
Instructional Use of a Single-Zone, Premixed Charge, Spark-Ignition Engine Heat Release Simulation
Authors: Depcik Christopher , Jacobs Tim , Hagena Jonathan , Assanis Dennis
Published: February 2013

Modeling and computer simulation of an internal combustion engine's operating processes offers a valuable tool for enhancing our understanding of real physical phenomena and contributes significantly to optimizing and controlling the engine's operation to meet different objectives. This paper illustrates the use of engine modeling in the educational setting through the development and use of a single-zone, premixed charge, spark-ignition engine heat release simulation. The paper begins by describing the operation of an engine. A heat release simulation is then discussed in depth, and a description is given of how it can be used to offer an understanding of thermodynamic fundamentals in an internal combustion engine. In particular, a comprehensive examination of the thermodynamic properties of the engine working fluid and in-cylinder gas-to-wall heat transfer demonstrates the need for accurate physical—chemical sub-models when performing a high-fidelity heat release analysis. Overall, this study demonstrates the power of such an engine simulation tool in an educational setting.
Innovative Teaching Methods in the Industrial Design Lecture Room
Authors: Rubio Ramón , Suárez Javier , Gallego Ramón , Martín Santiago
Published: February 2013

The decrease in the levels of knowledge of industrial design shown by students starting their university courses, together with the reduction in the number of hours assigned to this subject in the new study plans, has driven teachers to use new teaching methods in order to optimise the time they dedicate to their students. This article describes two different experiments carried out with engineering students to improve their abilities in industrial design, in which various methodologies were used. The innovations were well received by students and pass rates increased.
A Freshman Engineering Curriculum Integrating Design and Experimentation
Authors: DeBartolo Elizabeth , Robinson Risa
Published: February 2013

A pilot freshman curriculum has been designed and implemented in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the Rochester Institute of Technology. The four-course sequence gives freshmen an overview of a broad range of mechanical engineering activities, ranging from system design and project management, electronics and programming, to technical writing and presentations. Students take a two-quarter ‘Introduction to Mechanical Engineering Design’ course and a two-quarter ‘Measurements, Instrumentation, and Controls’ course. In each sequence, the first course gives students most of the basic tools they will need and the second is centered on an electromechanical Rube Goldberg design project, undertaken by the whole class. Students develop the design concept, build the system, and prove that it works. They are able to practice skills such as communications, teamwork, time management, and experimentation. The integrated first-year course sequences have been offered for two years and have proved successful. The students were clearly satisfied with their experience.
Benchmarking the Integration of Complex Systems Study in Mechanical Engineering Programs in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Kellam Nadia , Maher Michelle , Russell James , Addison Veronica , Peters Wally
Published: February 2013

Complex systems study, defined as an understanding of interrelationships between engineered, technical, and non-technical (e.g., social or environmental) systems, has been identified as a critical component of undergraduate engineering education. This paper assesses the extent to which complex systems study has been integrated into undergraduate mechanical engineering programs in the southeastern United States. Engineering administrators and faculty were surveyed and university websites associated with engineering education were examined. The results suggest engineering administrators and faculty believe that undergraduate engineering education remains focused on traditional engineering topics. However, the review of university websites indicates a significant level of activity in complex systems study integration at the university level, although less so at college and department levels.
A Problem-Solving Approach for Teaching Engineering Laboratories
Authors: Elahinia Mohammad H. , Ciocanel Constantin
Published: February 2013

This paper describes how the laboratory experimental part of a mechanics and vibration course in the Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering Department at the University of Toledo was redeveloped. The purpose of the redevelopment was to transform the learning process from subject-based learning to problem-solving learning. A particular objective was to provide the students with more hands-on experience and to challenge them by requesting the procedure for each laboratory experiment to be designed and carried out by the students. The authors believe that the redevelopment had an overall beneficial impact on the students' learning.
The Use of Abaqus for Teaching the Development of Cavity Defects in Forward Extrusion Processes
Authors: Riyadi Tri Widodo Besar , Siswanto Waluyo Adi
Published: February 2013

Cavity defects occur in extruded products, especially in a relatively short, headed product when the remaining billet reaches a certain thickness. Such defects can be a serious problem in manufacturing because they produce waste material and require an extra operation for finishing. Therefore an understanding of the process of cavity formation is important. A virtual simulation of the development of the defect facilitates student understanding. This paper introduces a detailed explanation of cavity formation that uses a non-linear finite element method package, Abaqus. The simulation result shows the shape conditions during the extrusion process.
Identifying What Makes a Good Question in a Mechanics Diagnostic Test
Authors: Lee Stephen , Harrison Martin C. , Robinson Carol L.
Published: February 2013

Many students entering engineering degrees encounter problems with the mathematics involved. More recently, research has shown that freshers may have insufficient knowledge of mechanics. In order to assess this, the authors created and administered a multiple-choice mechanics diagnostic test. This paper gives details of the test, and evaluates, using item analysis, how students performed on the questions and on the topics assessed by it. It also makes recommendations for devising questions which allow a diagnostic test to discriminate between students.
Reconciling Time Reversibility and Time Irreversibility: William Rankine and the Beginning of Mechanical Engineering Education
Authors: Barron Colin
Published: February 2013

The year 2008 marked the 150th anniversary of the publication of an important work in the history of mechanical engineering education. In 1858, William Rankine published his first book, A Manual of Applied Mechanics, the introduction to which was his inaugural lecture, entitled ‘Preliminary dissertation on the harmony of theory and practice in mechanics’. His ‘dissertation’ has very modern characteristics and today would be called a vision, mission and values statement. Rankine was a pioneer in engineering education, at a time when engineering courses were not recognised as fulfilling any degree requirements. The purposes of this paper are to remind mechanical engineering educators of the debt they owe to Rankine in establishing mechanical engineering as an academic discipline and to analyse the foundations of his ‘dissertation’ in order to understand his achievement. The philosophical foundations were based on Aristotle and the School of Scottish Common Sense. The empirical foundations were based on his work in solving problems in thermodynamics. I adopt a phenomenological conception of time and temporality to explain how Rankine succeeded in ensuring mechanical engineering a permanent place in academia by reconciling time reversibility and time irreversibility and giving mechanical engineering a temporality with twin planes: an absolute, symmetrical temporal plane, which gave it academic credibility by aligning it with the temporality of the natural sciences; and a forward, dissymmetrical temporal plane, which gave it intentionality.
Maxwell's Relations Mnemonic: S'il Vous PlaiT
Authors: Lewins Jeffery
Published: February 2013

Max Born offered a ‘magic square’ from which the Maxwell's relations – the interconnection of dependent and independent thermodynamic variable pairs such as pressure and temperature, entropy and volume – could be derived. I offer an adaptation of Born's square in the form of a mnemonic employing the well known phrase s'il vous plait. In the form S'il Vous – PlaiT, the capitalised letters form the square and the ungrammatical hyphen is to bring out the necessary sign convention.
Hydrodynamics and Thrust Characteristics of a Water-Propelled Rocket
Authors: Thorncroft Glen E. , Ridgely John R. , Pascual Christopher C.
Published: February 2013

An undergraduate experiment has been developed to measure the performance of a pressurized water rocket and compare test data with an analytical model developed from fluid momentum. A test stand allows the net thrust of the rocket to be measured, as well the air pressure and temperature inside the rocket, as functions of time. The model compares well with test data from four conditions (combinations of two initial water heights and two initial air pressures). The air in the rocket is assumed to undergo polytropic expansion, and a value of 1.1 for the polytropic exponent is found to best fit the model to experimental conditions. Experimental observations reveal that at higher air pressures the air mixes with the expelled water, resulting in a two-phase flow that reduces the net thrust of the rocket. A pedagogical approach to the experiment is described in detail.
Design of a Simple and Economic Device for the Experimental Verification of the Theory of Multi-Degree-of-Freedom Vibration Systems
Authors: Vázquez T. García , Ruiz E. Alba , Núñez C. J. Ortega , Aguilera G. Rocha , Báez M. A. Moreno , Ríos H. Juárez , Venegas J. Colín , Sánchez J. J. Cervantes , Martínez J. M. Rico , Barrera J. M. Barrera
Published: February 2013

This contribution presents the design and evaluation of a simple and economic device for experimental verification of the theory of multi-degree-of-freedom vibration systems. The experimental verification of the theory can be carried out, in its most basic way, with the sole help of a tachometer. Of course, if more sophisticated instrumentation is available, it is possible to obtain additional data that verify more thoroughly the theory of the systems at hand. The device is designed so that it can be easily constructed with a small investment, less that $1500, well within the reach of even the less favored universities or technical schools.
Vibration of Spring-Supported Massless Beams with Discrete Masses
Authors: Chen Kui Fu , Zhang Lin Nan , Zhou Zhe
Published: February 2013

Versatile examples are essential on any engineering vibration course. However, most examples in current textbooks, especially those of multi-degree-of-freedom systems, are based on mass–spring systems. The system of spring-supported beams is explored in this report with the purpose of developing enriching examples. Firstly, the method using the stiffness influence coefficient is illustrated in order to establish a vibration equation for a beam with three discrete masses. This is followed by methods using the flexibility influence coefficient. Then we analyze a general case, with an arbitrary number of springs and masses, using the energy method. Finally, a reduced case with repeated natural frequencies is explored.
Integrating a Machine Shop Class into the Mechanical Engineering Curriculum: Experiential and Inductive Learning
Authors: Malicky David M. , Kohl James G. , Huang Ming Z.
Published: February 2013

Research has demonstrated that inductive learning promotes deep knowledge structures, critical thinking and intellectual development. Industrial employers seek graduates with integrated knowledge and hands-on skills. This paper shows how a project-oriented machine shop practice course has been integrated with other courses, following an active and inductive learning model. Specific projects included a fast-return actuator, a simple acoustic guitar, a compressed-air engine and a catapult. These projects were chosen and executed to interface with concurrent and future courses, adding depth, ownership, enthusiasm and an experiential basis for the entire learning experience. Assessment data indicate high course value and support for future coursework. This model transforms the traditional, deductive learning model into inductive and active learning.
Experimental Measurement of Displacement and Vibration of Piezoelectric Smart Structures
Authors: Bendigeri Chandrashekhar , Hegde Dattatraya , Narayana K. Badari , Ramachandra K.
Published: February 2013

Recent advances in the field of distributed sensing and actuation have led to the development of new ‘smart structures’. A smart (or intelligent) structure is able to sense and respond, and control its own characteristics and state. Piezoelectric smart materials have gained popularity as both sensors and actuators. In the present work a new experimental set-up is described that was designed to carry out static and dynamic experimentation on piezoelectric smart structures. Four types of experiment were carried out; results were also determined using analytical methods. The comparison of the analytical and experimental results showed good agreement.
Use of Linear Graphs and Thevenin/Norton Equivalent Circuits in the Modeling and Analysis of Electro-Mechanical Systems
Authors: de Silva Clarence W.
Published: February 2013

This paper presents a unified approach for the modeling and analysis of electro-mechanical systems. First, the need for a unified approach is justified in view of the presence of electro-mechanical dynamic coupling. Next, linear graphs are promoted as a useful tool for unified modeling of multi-domain systems, where the existing analogies across domains can be exploited. Finally, Thevenin's theorem is extended to mechanical systems. Specifically, equivalent circuits of Thevenin and Norton are integrated with linear graphs, in the frequency domain, to facilitate analytical modeling. The choice of a particular equivalent circuit is shown to depend on the problem objective. Worked examples are provided throughout to illustrate the approaches presented in the paper.
Adding the Teaching of Claw Rotor Compressors to Fluid Machinery Courses
Authors: Giuffrida Antonio
Published: February 2013

This paper deals with a rotary positive-displacement machine with built-in compression, the study of which is usually neglected in courses on fluid machinery for mechanical engineering students. First, the working principles of the claw rotor compressor are presented; then basic thermodynamic considerations, leading to the formulation of volumetric efficiency, are reported. The volumetric efficiency of the compressor is reviewed as a function dependent on filling and leakages, leading to the definition of the delivery efficiency. Considering the filling efficiency alone, formulated according to a thermodynamic analysis of the closed system, it is possible to determine the limit pressure ratio that causes no flow from the compressor. The ideal work is also formulated and a comparison with the sliding vane compressor is made. Some considerations that deprive the compressor of its ideality are advanced in order to avoid misleading conclusions.
Educational Software to Study Alternative Internal Combustion Engine Cycles
Authors: Zueco Joaquín
Published: February 2013

This paper illustrates the use of engine modelling in the educational setting through the development and use of software for the simulation of cycles of different internal combustion engines. Modelling and computer simulation of an internal combustion engine's operating processes offer a valuable tool for enhancing understanding of real physical phenomena and contribute significantly to optimizing and controlling the engine's operation to meet different objectives. The paper begins by describing the theoretical models of engine operation. These models are for various fluids: perfect gas, ideal gas and air/fuel mixes; and for constant volume (Otto cycle), constant pressure and mixed (diesel) cycles. The software has been developed to solve many problems and it facilitates understanding of the thermodynamic fundamentals of an internal combustion engine. Overall, this study demonstrates the power of such an engine simulation tool in an educational setting.
Stagnation Pressure, the Bernoulli Equation, and the Steady-Flow Energy Equation
Authors: Vakil Ali , Green Sheldon I.
Published: February 2013

The Bernoulli equation is arguably the most commonly used equation in fluid mechanics. For the incompressible, inviscid flow along a streamline, the Bernoulli equation states that the total head of the fluid (the sum of the pressure head, velocity head, and elevation head) is constant. Neglecting elevation changes, the Bernoulli equation therefore limits the maximum pressure coefficient in a flow to 1, which occurs at stagnation points in the flow. Normally, the action of viscosity causes the total head in a fluid to decrease in the streamwise direction, which means the stagnation-point pressure coefficient is less than 1. However, at low to moderate Reynolds numbers, where viscous forces are most significant, stagnation-point pressures exceed 1. This counterintuitive result is explained by reference to the shear work term in the steady-flow energy equation.
The Life and Death of Euler, Bernoulli, and Navier—Stokes Equations and Associated CFD for So-Called Incompressible Fluid Flow
Authors: Lee Hsing-Juin , Wang Shu-Wei , Lu Ming-Fang , Chiang Jiunn-Shean
Published: February 2013

Euler's equations, derived in 1755, are the basis for general fluid dynamics analysis. Despite their elegance, it is well known that fluid dynamics is a weird academic area, full of paradoxes and absurdities, for which viscosity is often the scapegoat. The Euler and sibling Navier–Stokes equations have long been ‘contaminated’ with artificial viscosity, upwinding and other measures in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Although derived by the momentum principle, the Euler equations are not genuine momentum equations, as they are unable to accommodate any cases with energy loss. Then, should we blindly keep using these non-genuine momentum equations? In this paper, the culprit for this fatal non-genuineness is shown to be a seemingly innocent ‘artificial’ equalization of crosswise and streamwise fluid pressures, by unintentionally disregarding any possible energy loss in deriving the Euler equations.
The Impact of EC2000 on Mechanical Engineering Curricula: A Follow-up Study
Authors: Whiteman Wayne E.
Published: February 2013

The Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) is recognized by the US Department of Education as the sole agency responsible for accreditation of educational programs leading to degrees in engineering, engineering technology, and related engineering areas. A new set of criteria for accreditation was established by ABET in the late 1990s, Engineering Criteria 2000 (EC2000). By 2001, all engineering programs were required to be accredited under the new criteria. The philosophy of EC2000 is to allow institutions and programs to define their mission and objectives to meet the needs of their constituents and enable program differentiation. Emphasis is placed on continuous improvement of programs based on the input of constituents and a process that links outcomes and assessment to program objectives. A preliminary study was conducted by the author in 2000 that looked at the initial effects of EC2000. It examined selected mechanical engineering programs to discern the impact of EC2000 on curriculum development during the initial implementation of the new criteria. Data on the mechanical engineering curricula at nine schools with PhD programs and nine schools without PhD programs were presented. This paper looks at changes since the original study. Current results are also compared with those from a study by Robert E. Mates from the State University of New York at Buffalo entitled a ‘Survey of Undergraduate ME Programs’, conducted in 1987.
Modal Analysis of a Thin Plate: A Demonstration Package for Undergraduate Students
Authors: Daadbin A. , Bond T. J.
Published: February 2013

This paper reports on a demonstration package that gives students a clear understanding of the vibration and modal analysis technique, which forms a crucial theme in dynamics and vibration analysis and condition monitoring. A rig has been prepared to display the experimental results and give the students hand-on experience. A finite-element (FE) analysis is used to calculate the theoretical results for comparison with those obtained through experiment. The students are then in a position to vary the parameters of the FE analysis model and note the changes in the shift of the natural frequencies.
Teaching a Non-Traditional Subject to Mechanical Engineers: A Case Study of Learning Anatomy Using Anatomical Software and Models of Human Joints
Authors: Joyce Thomas J.
Published: February 2013

Bioengineering is a multidisciplinary science which requires mechanical engineering students, who typically have minimal knowledge of medicine, to rapidly gain a thorough understanding of the intricacies of human anatomy as well as of the specialist terminology. Teaching on a bioengineering module in a school of mechanical engineering at a UK university employed a combination of Primal Pictures anatomical software, human joint models, bespoke teaching materials and peer-to-peer learning. This mixture allowed engineering students to quickly construct an understanding of anatomical principles which they used in individual, assessed projects on total joint replacement. Anonymised, written feedback collected from the students over consecutive academic years revealed overwhelmingly positive learning experiences. In addition, assessed projects showed good knowledge of the anatomical descriptions necessary to understand and work with the science of joint replacement.
Quick Estimates for Analysis and Prediction of the Flight Mechanics of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Authors: Müller Mark , Liebenberg Leon , Mathews Edward H. , Young Peter W.
Published: February 2013

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are commonly employed in undergraduate engineering curricula. Limited literature is, however, available for the lay design engineer or engineering student regarding the modelling, simulation and analysis of the flight dynamics of small UAV systems, especially pertaining to flight dynamics modelling. There is great demand for unskilled UAV designers to predict the stability of new designs, quickly, cheaply, and with relative ease, preferably during the conceptual design stage. This paper summarizes some salient techniques for performing quick characterization of the longitudinal dynamics of a small, electrically propelled UAV, by using freely available software such as Datcom+, AVL, XFLR5 and MotoCalc. The simulation outputs compare favourably with experimental results from a wind tunnel. The software was also used to provide accurate estimates of coefficients required for performing an analysis of the UAV's longitudinal dynamics. The proffered analytical techniques should greatly benefit lay design engineers and engineering students venturing into the realm of UAV research.
Depression — A Social Pathology of Action
Authors: Petersen Anders
Published: February 2013

This article argues that the epidemic of depression is to be understood alongside the normative conditions of self-realisation associated with the emergence of the new spirit of capitalism. In the new spirit of capitalism, active realisation of the authentic self is an institutionalised demand, which is expected to be converted into praxis. This is interesting in relation to the phenomenon of depression, as it means that contemporary depression may be understood, not as a clinical and subjective condition, but as a mode of action. What is applauded in today's society is precisely what depressive individuals lack – namely the ability to realise themselves in accordance with contemporary normative values. Thus, within present-day society, depression and the institutionalised/capitalist demands for self-realisation have become each other's antitheses.
The Barretstown Experience: A Rite of Passage
Authors: Kearney Peter J.
Published: February 2013

Barretstown Castle Holiday Camp for seriously ill children may have long-term beneficial effects on children with life-threatening illnesses. The presented evidence suggests that the experience is a contemporary rite of passage. The different stages of separation, transition and reaggregation can be identified. The separation from family and civil society is remarkably complete. Established norms no longer prevail in the transitional phase of liminality. Communitas and I-thou relationships become the mode of interaction. Barretstown added the dimension of Therapeutic Recreation to an American camp experience. The structured sequences of Therapeutic Recreation mediated by caras (councillors) encourage personal change. The Barretstown experience may be a life-enhancing ritual process and an important social experience in chronic severe childhood illnesses.
Demythologising a Neo-Liberal Model of Healthcare Reform: A Politics of Rights, Recognition, and Human Suffering
Authors: Skillington Tracey
Published: February 2013

As a moral-political witness to contemporary human suffering, the activist campaigning on various healthcare issues makes a vital contribution to the social expansion of a human rights consciousness. Particular incidents of citizen neglect are highlighted for their exemplary significance to a more general critique of economic and administrative processes of re-structuration, including international initiatives to marketise health. This actor attempts to invert a state politics of rationalised indifference by shifting the focus from the issue of procedure to that of patient harm. With a collective consciousness of suffering at the epicentre of their campaign, protest coalitions construct policies aimed at restricting public funding for essential services, for instance, as representative of an ‘embodied injustice’ against the sick and the vulnerable, and as an act of moral disrespect against the population at large. As this paper argues, discontent leads to a rediscovery of the practical significance of universal norms of social justice or equality, and of the need to actively partake in the project of democracy. The specific direction and orientation of this actor's struggle for recognition within Irish society is centrally shaped by established traditions of reasoning and responding to social conflict. When combined with new macroeconomic priorities, such traditions not only restrict the realisation of autonomy and difference, but continue to reinforce a culture of profound non-accountability. The theoretical conception of justice and recognition applied to this study of social conflict on health will follow that tradition of thought established in particular by Axel Honneth (2003, 2007) in critical response to Nancy Fraser (2003).
Is Senior Management in Irish universities Male-Dominated? What are the Implications?
Authors: O'Connor Pat
Published: February 2013

Universities present themselves as gender-neutral meritocracies, concerned with the creation and transmission of scientific, objective knowledge. Yet such structures are overwhelmingly male-dominated (Husu 2001a). This article outlines the gender profile of those in senior management in Irish universities; secondly it explores the extent to which those in senior management see a gendered organisational culture or women themselves as ‘the problem’; and thirdly, locates these patterns within a wider organisational and societal context. The qualitative data is derived from a purposive sample of forty people in senior management (85 per cent response rate) from presidential to dean level, including academics and non-academics, men and women, and across a range of disciplines. It suggests that organisational culture is seen as homosocial, unemotional and conformist mainly but not exclusively by women; whereas men were more likely to focus on women as ‘the problem’. These trends reflect those in other studies (for example Currie and Thiele 2001; Deem 1999; Deem, Hillyard and Reed 2008). Drawing on Grummell, Lynch and Devine's (2009) work, it suggests that homosociability is an important process in creating and maintaining these patterns. Furthermore, although university presidents are seen as having the power to affect the gender profile of senior management, there is ambivalence about them actually doing this. The extent to which other stakeholders seem likely to encourage this is also explored.
Ireland and Neo-Secularisation Theory
Authors: Malesevic Vesna
Published: February 2013

Although secularisation theory offers grand analytical possibilities for monitoring changing religious tendencies on political, social and cultural levels, it is greatly disadvantageous in accounting for particularities of small-scale variations in specific socio-geographic areas. Therefore, this paper argues that the neo-secularisation concept offers a greater sociological potential in this regard. Through the analysis of the macro, mezzo and micro levels of Irish social landscape, the paper provides an in-depth understanding of a changing religious field. The central arguments of the paper are tested against a variety of data including quantitative and qualitative studies.
The Trade Unions: From Partnership to Crisis
Authors: Allen Kieran
Published: February 2013

The Irish model of social partnership was once hailed as a success story for other countries to emulate. According to its supporters, the unions avoided marginalisation and devised a strategy to balance competitiveness and equity. Through partnership, Ireland was able to combine the benefits of an Anglo-Saxon notion of free markets with a ‘solidaristic’ ethos and so forge a ‘developmental welfare model’ (NESC 2005). Social partnership replaced class conflict with a new era of understanding between employers and unions. Paul Sweeney of the ICTU claimed that, ‘for unions and employers the biggest accomplishment has been getting into the heads of each other, to understand unambiguously what the deep concerns of the other side are’ (Sweeney 2008: 125). This paper examines the journey of the Irish trade union movement from main players in social partnership through to the current crisis.
Varieties of Critique in Sociological Theory and Their Methodological Implications for Social Research
Authors: Delanty Gerard
Published: February 2013

The notion of critique, as in the idea of a critical theory of society, is in urgent need of clarification both theoretically and methodologically. At least five major uses of the term can be found within sociological theory, the positions associated with the critical theory of the Frankfurt School from Adorno to Habermas and Honneth, Bourdieu's critical sociology, critical realism, Foucault's genealogical critique, and various notions of critical practice, most notably the work of Boltanski and Thévenot. It is possible to detect a movement from the Hegelian-Marxist approach towards interpretative conceptions of critique, leading to a pluralisation of critique and a shift from macro to micro analysis. A theoretical clarification of the notion of critique in these approaches offers a basis for a new and more rigorous methodological application of critique in social research.
Gossip, Conversation and Group Size: Language as a Bonding Mechanism
Authors: Conein Bernard
Published: February 2013

Humans share social skills with other primates, but at the same time they possess cognitive capacities that make them unique as a social species. One explanation that could be advanced is that language and verbal communication might play an important role in differentiating humans from other primates (Tomasello 1999; Dunbar 1993, 1996). Different arguments have been provided to explain how language intervenes as supporting species-specific social skills. One is that language could have an important role as a bonding mechanism.

The approach here is based on Robin Dunbar's (1993) claim that language is a bonding process related to social group formation. Language as a bonding mechanism contributes to the extension of group size. The paper provides a language-based interpretation of social networks conceived as a complementary approach to the one propounded by Dunbar. Another claim is added to Dunbar's argument by considering the fact that language must generate social ties and networks if it is to increase group size. The main argument is that language creates virtual networks by projecting social ties as public representations available to be reported and assessed (Livet and Nef 2009).
Quality Management in Lifelong Learning: Can a Stakeholder Approach to Involvement Make a Difference?
Authors: Mark Rob
Published: February 2013

Interest in the debate about quality management has grown substantially in recent years. Educators of adults want to improve their practices: they are searching for new ways of measuring success that are inclusive and which take account of views of different interest groups. This article examines the involvement of stakeholders in the management of quality. An example of a stakeholder quality framework developed in the field of adult literacy is presented and a model used for implementation of the framework is discussed. The framework and model are seen as part of an evolving process and the benefits and limitations are discussed. The approach is characterised as participatory and bottom-up: the quality framework evolves through negotiation. It provides an alternative to models where definitions of quality are handed down within organisations.