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EM3522: DESIGN OF MECHANICAL ELEMENTS (2015-2016)

Last modified: 25 Mar 2016 11:34


Course Overview

Aimed at students interested in mechanical engineering and aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge required to take a design requirement/concept to a fully implemented product.  It will provide an overview of a multi-stage design methodology followed by procedures for the detailed design of various mechanical elements including gears, shaft and bearings.  These procedures will include design to resist fatigue failure and will be taught using an example product.  The course will include aspects of sustainability and choice of method for manufacture. Assessed through a series of group design exercises.

Course Details

Study Type Undergraduate Level 3
Term Second Term Credit Points 10 credits (5 ECTS credits)
Campus None. Sustained Study No
Co-ordinators
  • Dr Richard Neilson

Qualification Prerequisites

None.

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

  • Engineering (EG) (Studied)
  • Any Undergraduate Programme (Studied)
  • EG2501 Design & Computing in Engineering Practice (Passed)
  • One of BSc Engineering (Mechanical) (Studied) or Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering (Mechanical) (Studied) or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Mech with European Studies) (Studied) or Master of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering (Studied) or Master of Engineering in Mech Eng with Euro Studs (Studied) or Master of Engineering in Mech Eng with Subsea Technology (Studied) or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Mech with Oil & Gas Studies) (Studied) or Master of Engineering in Mechanical Eng with Management (Studied) or Bachelor of Engineering in Eng (Mechanical and Electrical) (Studied) or Master of Engineering in Mechanical & Electrical Eng (Studied)
  • Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

Are there a limited number of places available?

No

Course Description

The course starts with a review of the five-stage design procedure including methods of evaluation of alternative designs.  This is followed by lectures on fitness for purpose, sustainability in design.

An overview of the application of fatigue analysis in design including the use of S/N curves and the modified Goodman diagram for the assessment of fatigue life for fluctuating loading is presented.  This is followed by a series of design lectures on the detail design of mechanical components including:

·         gears design using the modified Lewis formula

·         rolling element bearing selection and life estimation

·         static and fatigue analysis of shafts with combined torsional, bending and axial loading

·         seal selection for rotating and sliding applications

·         threaded connection design for fatigue loading, covering failure by opening of the joint and deformation of the threaded element.

·         spring design for tension, compression and torsional coil springs.

Dimensioning for manufacture, including the effect of dimensioning from various datum points and chain dimensioning, tolerancing of dimensions and limits and fits is also included.  The course concludes with a section on the choice of manufacturing process for prototype/one off, small batch and mass production for manufacture including welding, machining from billet, casting, forging and moulding.

Total 16 one-hour lectures and 11 three-hour design sessions 

Further Information & Notes

Available only to students following an Engineering degree programme

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers


Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

1st Attempt: Continuous assessment (100%). Three design assignments (20%, 40%, 40%) Re-sit: Continuous assessment (100%).

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Feedback

Informal feedback will be given to students during the timetabled design sessions. Formal feedback will be provided to the students on their assignments to allow improvement in the following assignments.

Course Learning Outcomes

None.

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