Using Solid Modeling to Enhance Learning in Mechanics of Materials and Machine Component Design

This article reports on a classroom research study about the use of solid modeling as a visualization tool for deep learning of engineering mechanics principles. There is a need for deep understanding of technical content in courses such as Mechanics of Materials and Machine Component Design in order to lay the foundation for robust prototypes in Capstone Design. A typical classroom experience in mid-program engineering science courses involves lecture followed by assigning problems from the text. Associated lecture notes and explanations along with assigned problems and their solutions are in a two dimensional form, i.e., presented as printed output or handwriting on a page. The equations used are also in two dimensional in form, reducing physical behavior to analytical expressions and cross sectional properties to a single value. It is not easy for the beginning learner to visually connect the course content and problems to the three dimensional world. Instead of the desired outcome of interpreting the assigned problem from the world around them, students look to pattern match the figure in the assigned problem to figures or location in the chapter. To provide an opportunity to more fully engage in their learning experience, a series of assignments has been developed where students use skills from their 3-D solid modeling course to conceptualize and even solve mechanics problems. These exercises begin by using a fully defined 2-D sketch to graphically solve static problems. Next, the 2-D sketch is used to determine cross sectional properties, e.g. cross sectional areas, second moments of area, product of inertia, and principal moments of inertia and centroid locations. These results are then compared to the results that were calculated manually. Later 3-D solid modeling is used to model 3-D stress states in support of 3-D Mohr’s circle exercises, stress distributions of compound stress states, shapes of optimized beams, and frustrom measurements needed in a bolted connection analysis. The effectiveness of these visualization enhanced assignments has been assessed through pre-course surveys, quality of homework submissions, post homework visitations and post-course surveys.