Medieval Engines Of Siege Warfare And Modern Engineering Tools

The College of Engineering and Computer Science at UT Chattanooga offers second year engineering students a three credit hour lecture course in Engineering Dynamics. Seeking to supplement the traditional lecture approach, experiential problem-based learning projects are inserted. EPBL is the outcome of a ‘learner centered’ classroom process that uses real work problems to motivate students to ‘perform’ or ‘act out’ the discovery and application of concepts. By doing so, students develop familiar as well as formal understanding of course content. The EPBL insertions compel students to ‘perform’ the tasks of analysis, design, prototype construction and proof testing of the gravity powered catapult known as the trebuchet. Individuals complete kinematical and kinetic analysis of planar rigid body motion requiring applications of modern engineering tools including Maple®, Excel® and Visual Basic for Applications®. Team activities include building and proof testing prototypes. The paper describes the development and delivery of the EPBL insertion, results and feedback and instructors’ reflections and recommendations for future improvement. Access to this course BlackBoard® website is also provided.