Engineering application projects for teaching engineering mathematics and numerical methods

Abstract

One ABET student outcome focuses on the ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics. Engineering Mathematics and Numerical Methods are two upper-level courses offered to mechanical engineering students at the former Purdue North Central. These courses are designed to provide students mathematical tools for other mechanical engineering core courses and equips students with modelling skills to formulate engineering problems into mathematical forms for solutions. This paper documents an effort to integrate engineering vibration and heat transfer related projects into these two mathematical courses. These projects have been designed with an attempt to build a bridge between real engineering problems and the mathematical concepts and theorems learned in classes (Laplace transform, transfer functions, finite difference methods, for example). Student feedback on these projects is positive.