Description

Fundamentals of Mechanics and Electronics

Module title	Fundamentals of Mechanics and Electronics
Module code	INT1114
Academic year	2022/3
Credits	30
Module staff	Andrew Mackenzie Robertson (Convenor)

Duration: Term	1	2	3
Duration: Weeks	11	12

Number students taking module (anticipated)	20

Description - summary of the module content

Module description

This module will introduce fundamental engineering concepts and theory across the areas of Mechanics, Materials and Electronics and will provide you with a solid grounding on which to build in later modules. At the heart of any engineering analysis is the need to understand an object’s response to its environment, whether it’s the forces imparted by traffic as it traverses a bridge or the forces of lift that allow an aircraft to fly. None of this analysis is possible without first understanding classical mechanics which you will study in this module.   Finally, this module will introduce you to Electronic Engineering - a field that covers everything from radio to space flight. Your study of analogue electronics gives you an overview of the fundamentals of semiconductor devices and circuits. In your study of digital electronics, you will encounter digital circuits and their practical applications as logic controllers and timers in industry. Material from each discipline is taught in parallel to help you appreciate the synergies between these different branches of engineering. Your learning is supported through a range of laboratory and practical activities.

 

The module is broken into 14 learning blocks with each block covering a discrete topic or theory in one of the three disciplines. Upon completion of each learning block, you will complete an online assessment which will allow you to evaluate your understanding of the material and diagnose areas that require further attention. For blocks containing laboratory exercises you will complete a short lab report. These continuous assessments provide ongoing feedback and support you to in actively manage your learning. The year will culminate in an Engineering Competence Structured Assessment (ECSA). This is a primarily verbal form of assessment whereby you are asked to convey your response and solution to a number of pre-seen engineering questions. The ability to articulate engineering concepts in a clear and accurate manner is a fundamental engineering skill. The ESCA affords you the opportunity to develop and utilise this skill.

 

The module is taught using a flipped learning methodology with each block running over 5 weeks. Each week, you will review background materials and complete question sheets in preparation for tutorial sessions with your lecturers. A flipped learning methodology allows you to extract more benefit from in-person tutorials, but also requires more upfront work by you in preparation. Each week concludes with a consolidation exercise allowing you to assess your progress on material covered that week. 

Module aims - intentions of the module

This module aims to equip you with fundamental knowledge and skills in Mechanics, Materials and Electronics. It also consolidates a common knowledge base and begins the development of a learning methodology appropriate to a professional engineer. Through both continuous assessment and the ECSA, the module encourages you to actively manage your own learning and seeks to develop your ability to communicate your understanding of engineering theory and concepts in a professional manner. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Apply basic principles of D.C. and A.C. circuit analysis to simple electrical systems
• 2. Understand and demonstrate knowledge of electronic circuit components
• 3. Design simple electronic systems
• 4. Demonstrate knowledge of operational principles of practical electronic devices and systems
• 5. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of statics and dynamics
• 6. Carry out kinematic and kinetic analyses on simple mechanical systems
• 7. Solve basic problems in statics and dynamics, using free body diagrams, force balance equations, Newton’s laws of motion, and energy methods
• 8. Demonstrate knowledge of shear forces and bending moments and construct shear force and bending moment diagrams for simply supported beams
• 9. Use the knowledge of hydrostatics to perform analyses of submerged and semi-submerged bodies
• 10. Use knowledge of hydrodynamics to perform analyses of fluids on motion
• 11. Understand the fundamental principles underlying and correlating structure, processing, properties and performance of materials systems
• 12. Demonstrate knowledge of basic sustainability concepts for electrical, mechanical and materials systems

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 13. Utilise laboratory equipment correctly and safely, to make simple measurements
• 14. Record and interpret the results of laboratory experiments
• 15. Apply theoretical models to practical problems

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 16. Write clear accounts of laboratory experiments
• 17. Carry out directed private study using textbooks, and other provided resources
• 18. Set out calculations demonstrating solution of problems using theoretical models

Syllabus plan

Syllabus plan

The 14 learning blocks are divided equally among the three disciplines as indicated below. Each block is expected to require approximately 25 hours of student effort. This includes, pre-reading, completion of pre-tutorial challenge worksheets, in-person tutorials, completion of consolidation activities and laboratory activities and completion of assessments.

 

I. Mechanics

- Forces and static equilibrium

- Equilibrium equations

- Free body diagrams

- Truss Analysis: Method of Joints

- Truss Analysis: Method of Sections

- Introduction to shear forces and bending moments

- Shear forces and bending moments in statically determinate beams and frames

- Principle of superposition

- Introduction to torsion

- Dimensional analysis (incl. Reynolds and Froude numbers)

- Forces on submerged bodies and buoyancy

- Pressure and head

- Control volume

- Mass conservation

- Friction

- Straight line and curvilinear motion

- Force, mass and acceleration

- Momentum methods

- Damped & undamped simple harmonic motion

- Velocity

- Laminar, transitional and turbulent flow

- Continuity and momentum equations

- Energy equation

- Bernoulli’s equation

- Application of energy equation

- Measurement techniques

 
II. Materials
- –Material types

- Atomic structure and bonding

- Structure of crystalline solids

- Imperfections in solids

- Microscopic techniques

- Elasticity

- Dislocation and strengthening mechanisms

- Material processing and effects on mechanical behaviours

- Characterisation techniques

- Geometric properties

- Stress and Strain

- Poisson’s Ratio

- Definition of Young’s modulus

- Stress-strain curve

- 1D Hooke’s law

 

 

II. Electronics

- Introduction to electronics

- Electricity, current, charge and potential

- Resistors, potential divider circuits

- Kirchhoff’s Law

- Thevenin and Norton equivalent circuits

- Superposition and nodal circuit analysis

- Frequency, amplitude, phase, average and RMS values of AC signals

- Capacitors and inductors

- Phasors and j notation, reactance and impedance

- Review of modern electronic applications

- Semiconductor basics

- Diodes, rectifiers and applications

- Bipolar junction transistors (BJT)

- BJT biasing

- BJT amplifier and switching circuits

- Op-amp basics

- Op-amp comparators and application

- Op-amp amplifier feedback circuits and applications

- Differential and common-mode operation

- Logic gates, truth tables, /Boolean/ functions and algebra

- Logic gate design: Karnaugh maps

- Latches and flip loops

- Timing diagrams

- Counter circuits

Learning and teaching

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities	Guided independent study	Placement / study abroad
200	100	0

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Category	Hours of study time	Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities (synchronous)	200	Tutorials
Tutorial preparation and guided independent study (asynchronous)	100	Online lectures and activities

Assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Coursework	Written exams	Practical exams
42	0	58

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment	% of credit	Size of the assessment (eg length / duration)	ILOs assessed	Feedback method
Coursework – online assessment worksheets and lab reports. One piece of assessment per block (14 total at approx. 1 hour each)	42	14 hours	1, 3-13, 15-18	Marked and returned to student
Mechanics Examination (online)	25	1.5 hours	5-10, 12	Written feedback returned to student
Electronics Examination (online)	25	1.5 hours	1-4, 12	Written feedback returned to student
Materials Examination (online)	8	1.5 hours	11, 12	Written feedback returned to student
	0
	0

Re-assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessment	Form of re-assessment	ILOs re-assessed	Timescale for re-assessment
Coursework – online assessment worksheets and lab reports.	Written Examination (40%)	1, 3, 6-10, 12-18	Next assessment period
Mechanics Examination (online)	Examination (online)	5-10, 12	Next assessment period
Electronics Examination (online)	Examination (online)	1, 2, 12	Next assessment period

Re-assessment notes

If a student fails to meet both criteria in the Mechanical, or Electronics component, that component alone can be reassessed via a 2 hour exam. The mark for that component will be capped at 40%. The original mark stands in all other passed components.

Resources

Module has an active ELE page

Indicative learning resources - Other resources

 Reading list for this module:

Author	Title	Edition	Publisher	Year	ISBN
Callister, WD	Materials Science and Engineering: an introduction	8th	John Wiley & Sons	2007	978-0470505861
Ashby & Jones	Engineering materials  1 : an introduction to their properties, applications and design	Electronic		2012	0750663812
Bedford A & Fowler W	Engineering Mechanics - Statics & Dynamics Principles		Prentice-Hall	2003	9780130082091
Nelson, E W et al	Schaum's outlines Engineering Mechanics Statics		Mc Graw Hill	2010	978-0071632379
Nelson, E W et al	Schaum's outlines Engineering Mechanics Dynamics		MC Graw Hill	2011	978-0071632379
Floyd, Thomas L, Buchla, David M	Electronics Fundamentals: Circuits, Devices and Applications		Pearson	2010	978-0135096833

Key words search

Mechanics; statics; dynamics; materials; material selection, electronics

Credit value	30
Module ECTS	15
Module pre-requisites	None
Module co-requisites	None
NQF level (module)	4
Available as distance learning?	Yes
Origin date	12/11/2019
Last revision date	23/07/2020