Integration of simulation technology into undergraduate engineering courses and laboratories

Abstract

Simulation technology is integrated into undergraduate engineering courses and laboratories through the development of teaching modules (TM) for complementary computational fluid dynamics (CFD), experimental fluid dynamics (EFD), and uncertainty analysis (UA). TM include three parts: (1) lectures on CFD and EFD methodology and standard procedures and UA; (2) CFD templates for academic use of commercial industrial CFD software; and (3) exercise notes for use of CFD templates and complementary EFD and UA. The commercial industrial CFD software is FLUENT http://www.fluent.com/, which is widely used in many industries and universities and is a partner in the project. Initial TM are based on those developed as "proof of concept" at The University of Iowa from 1999 to present, as updated and currently being used (http://www.icaen.uiowa.edu/~fluids/). Recently, project expanded under sponsorship National Science Foundation Course, Curriculum and Laboratory Improvement - Educational Materials Development Program to include faculty partners from colleges of engineering at large public (Iowa and Iowa State) and private (Cornell) and historically minority private (Howard) universities for collaboration on further development TM, effective implementation, evaluation, dissemination, and pedagogy of simulation technology utilizing web-based techniques. The evaluation plan includes collaboration with faculty from The University of Iowa, College of Education, Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundation and Center for Evaluation and Assessment. Paper describes the overall objectives, approach, results, and conclusions based on the first-years efforts.