Department of Mechanical Engineering
ME 401 Engineering Design
Prof. G. Fadel – fgeorge@clemson.edu, EIB 202
Syllabus
Objectives: This course is the first of a two courses
sequence at the Senior level aimed at preparing the student to tackle open
ended design problems using the knowledge accumulated in the core Mechanical
Engineering curriculum. It complements
the science based courses with practical methodologies to ensure a well
thought-of, organized, supported and presented, implementation of the
solution.
Methodology: The course will consist of a combination of
lectures/ discussions and practical framed problems. The students will apply the methods taught in
this course along with past Mechanical Engineering knowledge to formulate a
proposal for, and reach a supported preliminary solution of a design
project. They will organize in teams,
perform problem definition, generate solutions, support decision making, carry
out relevant problem analysis and cost estimation and present the results orally
as well as in coherent and well structured reports along with drawings and
prototypes. The students will also
constructively critique each others work, identifying strengths, weaknesses,
potentials for improvements. The
projects are the responsibility of each individual or group. Project calculations, analyses and reports
are to be the result of the individual or group’s effort. Violations of this policy constitute academic
dishonesty as defined in the Student Handbook and the Honor Code.
Textbook: Engineering Design - a Materials and Processing approach– George Dieter
, McGraw Hill (recommended)
Topical Coverage:
Topic 1. Course
introduction.
The Design Process, Flowchart
Topic 2. Problem Definition
Customer Requirements
Problem Statement
Objective Statement Objectives Tree
Constraints
Criteria
Topic 3. Idea Generation
Brainstorming,
Brain
mapping,
morphological
charts,
Topic 4. Decision Making
Functional Decomposition
Functional
Modeling. QFD
Affordances
Decision Matrices
Topic 5. Project
Management
Strategy Setting
Time Management, Scheduling
PERT, GANTT, CPM
Topic 6. Teaming
Team Dynamics
Collaboration
Topic 7. Reporting
Oral presentation
Written Documentation
Virtual Prototyping
Analysis
Simulation
Product Data Management PDM, PLM
Topic 8. Drawings, standards, tolerances, views
Topic 9. Prototyping
Topic 10. Cost
Planning, Economics
Present Value Analysis
Accounting
Product Cost
Project: Three
projects will be addressed by groups of students.
Grading: The reports presented to document the design
proposal, process, analysis, solution, and critiques will be graded and the
grades averaged to generate a final grade.
Participation and contribution will be assessed and will influence the
final grade. See attached
assessment form to have an idea of the grading scheme.
Schedule (tent.): Project
1: 4 weeks – Oral presentation after 2 weeks
Project 2: 5 weeks – Oral presentation after
3 weeks
Project
3: 5 weeks – Oral presentation after 3 weeks