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MECH5410: Advanced Design and Analysis (2010 - Semester 1)

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Unit: MECH5410: Advanced Design and Analysis (3 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Postgraduate
Faculty/School: School of Aerospace, Mechanical & Mechatronic Engineering
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Lozzi, Andrei
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Campus: Camperdown/Darlington
Pre-Requisites: MECH2400 AND MECH3460.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit teaches the student how to recognise where and how their theoretical skills can be applied to the practical situations that they may encounter in this field of design. The unit utilises assumed theoretical knowledge and skills to elucidate the stresses and strains that exit in the different categories of machine parts. It sets out to make the students familiar with the simplifications that are applied to arrive at the analytic expressions commonly used to analyse the individual categories parts. These simplifications usually begin by assuming that only particular types of loads are carried by each category. The resulting analyses provide approximations to the actual stresses and it is possible to have different degrees of simplifications, requiring more or less work, giving better or worse approximations. Should a particular part be used to carry loads that were not allowed for in the traditional method then some more appropriate method must be found or developed. An important aspect is to make the student practiced in a range of modern concepts, techniques and tools, and to be made aware of their strengths and limitations.

Options may be provided in the choice of design assignments. Biomedical engineering and vehicle design problems may be provided as options to more general machine design problems.
Assumed Knowledge: AMME2301 AND AMME2500 AND ENGG1802 AND MECH3361.
Timetable: MECH5410 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 2.00 1 13
2 Tutorial 2.00 1 13
3 Independent Study 5.00 13
T&L Activities: Tutorial: Depending on the size of the class tutorials will be divided into 1 or 2 groups and each group allocated to 1 or 2 tutors.

Independent Study: The time that students will need to commit depends on the kind of results that they intend to achieve. For a pass, a students will need to spend an average 5-8 hours on independent study including assignment work. For higher grades, students will need to be prepared to spend significantly more than this.

Attributes listed here represent the key course goals (see Course Map tab) designated for this unit. The list below describes how these attributes are developed through practice in the unit. See Learning Outcomes and Assessment tabs for details of how these attributes are assessed.

Attribute Development Method Attribute Developed
Mental set and confidence to be able to rationalize and apply design analysis to a wider range of elements Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 5)
Methods of analysis for the most common categories of machine components. Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 5)
Advanced skills and knowledge in use of CAD software. Information Skills (Level 4)
Ability to work in groups and manage the work load realistically according to abilities. Teamwork and Project Management (Level 5)

For explanation of attributes and levels see Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009.

Learning outcomes are the key abilities and knowledge that will be assessed in this unit. They are listed according to the course goal supported by each. See Assessment Tab for details how each outcome is assessed.

Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 5)
1. Ability to apply modern fatigue life predictions in general to component parts.
2. Ability to design a bolted joint to carry shear loads.
3. Ability to use a numerical solver to arrive at optimal design dimensions and material properties, provided the invention part of the design is completed and only the size and shape of the design has to be settled.
4. Ability to design and make a space frame to carry specified loads and meet dimensional and functional requirements, such that it may be compared with competing frames.
5. Ability to consider the properties strengths and weaknesses of hydrodynamic bearings to lead to proper selection and maintenance.
6. Ability to design or select a coupling that has the appropriate attributes with respect to power and misalignments.
7. Ability to calculate the parameters that define a matched pair of spur gears, leading to the selection of multiple gear pairs in gearboxes.
8. Ability to apply considerations of geometrical and practical constraints in the design of parts and assemblies.
Information Skills (Level 4)
9. Ability to consider the range and evolution of CAD systems to aid in the selection of systems for particular duties, for today and in the near future.
10. Ability to use a modern kinematic and dynamic package that is integral with our solid modeler CAD system to simulate articulated machinery and determine joint loads between the parts.
Assessment Methods:
# Name Group Weight Due Week Outcomes
1 Assignment No 100.00 Multiple Weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,
Assessment Description: Assignment: There will be 4 assignments, all of which will be equally weighted. The assignments will be collected at the beginning of the tutorial session, when work on the next assignment will be due to start. A penalty will apply for failure to do so. Tutors will not discuss assignments that are due to be handed in.

The first assignment deals with the application of a modern CAD system, and its integrated Finite Element Analysis package, to the design of simple but diverse types of assemblies.

The second assignment examines the designs of a space 3D frame to meet a simplified but realistic application.

The third, is devoted to the design of the gears for a speed reducing gear box.

The last will probably deal with the design of a clutch or brake for a train, truck or car.

Each assignment will be accompanied with example workings and a guide as to the requirements to achieve a pass and better.
Assessment Feedback: When the assignments are marked and returned, the coordinator will discuss in a following lecture the range of solutions proffered, those that followed unadvisable paths, those that were rigorous in their analysis, as well as those that were inventive and shed novel light of possible solutions.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Special Conditions to Pass UoS Marking guides provided with each assignment include a generalised step by step procedure for the particular type of design. The marks for each assignment are so graded that a pass may be easily achieved by the correct application of the basic principles. For marks above a pass, the students are challenged to do their own research and be creative The world requires from engineers firstly safety and utility but it also rewards inventiveness.
Policies & Procedures: The faculty attempts to maintain consistency and quality in its T&L operations by adhering to Academic Board policy. These policies can be found on the Central Policy Online site. A brief summary of the relevant T&L policies that should be referred to while filling in these forms can be found at the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technologies Policy Page.
Prescribed Text/s: Note: Students are expected to have a personal copy of all books listed.
Recommended Reference/s: Note: References are provided for guidance purposes only. Students are advised to consult these books in the university library. Purchase is not required.
  • Fundamentals of Machine Design
  • Mechanical Design 1 & 2 (MECH2400 & MECH3460)
Note on Resources: Students are advised that the nominated text can be used as a complete reference to do all assignments.

Note that the "Weeks" referred to in this Schedule are those of the official university semester calendar https://web.timetable.usyd.edu.au/calendar.jsp

Week Description
Week 1 Finite Element analysis as applied using a modern CAD system applied to assemblies.
Week 2 Review of fatigue failure mechanisms, the use of fatigue strengths data in a variety of applications
Week 3 Presentation of modern approaches in designing for a multitude or requirements. The writing of industrial standard reports.
Week 4 Presentation of the designs of frames in simple and complex industrial situations. The analysis of those frames using fundamental principles and FEA packlages
Week 5 Demonstration of similar frame requiremets showinf=g the multitudes of possible solutions and the opportunities for lateral thinking.
Week 6 Designs and applications of hydrodynamic bearings. Discussion of dseign solutions provided in the first problem.
Week 7 Analysis of welded joints for staic and dynamic loads
Week 8 Introduction to the practices of gear applications hystories, current developments and applications.
Week 9 Presenation of a gear problem, typically for a multistage speed reducing gearbox
Week 10 Presntation on the varieties of barkes and clutches, advantages and uses.
Week 11 Presetation of brake problem, possibly for a train, truck or competition car.
Week 12 Presenation of an explicit FEA system. Applied to crushing and forming processes.
Week 13 discussion of variety of answers provided by students, discussing advantages and disadvantages of their approaches.

Course Relations

The following is a list of courses which have added this Unit to their structure.

Course Year(s) Offered
Master of Professional Engineering (Biomedical) 2010
Master of Professional Engineering (Mechanical) 2010

Course Goals

This unit contributes to the achievement of the following course goals:

Attribute Practiced Assessed
Design and Problem Solving Skills (Level 5) Yes 0%
Discipline Specific Expertise (Level 5) Yes 80%
Information Skills (Level 4) Yes 20%
Teamwork and Project Management (Level 5) Yes 0%

These goals are selected from Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 which defines overall goals for courses where this unit is primarily offered. See Engineering/IT Graduate Attribute Matrix 2009 for details of the attributes and levels to be developed in the course as a whole. Percentage figures alongside each course goal provide a rough indication of their relative weighting in assessment for this unit. Note that not all goals are necessarily part of assessment. Some may be more about practice activity. See Learning outcomes for details of what is assessed in relation to each goal and Assessment for details of how the outcome is assessed. See Attributes for details of practice provided for each goal.