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Periodicals
Kinds of Periodicals Selected AbstractsA pedagogical Web service-based interactive learning environment for a digital filter design course: An evolutionary approachCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010Wen-Hsiung Wu Abstract The course of digital filter design in electronic/electrical engineering involves complicated mathematical equations and dynamic waveform variations. It is a consensus among educators that using simulation tools assist in improving students' learning experiences. Previous studies on system simulation seemed to lack an appropriate approach to design such a course. Few emphasized the design of an interactive learning environment by using an evolutionary approach. This study integrated the design concept of an evolutionary approach and Web service-based technology into a simulation system entitled Pedagogical Web Service-Based Interactive Learning Environment (PEWSILE) was introduced. The PEWSILE system contained two interactive learning environments,a simple system and an advanced system. It offered a total of six pedagogical Web services. The simple interactive learning environment included text/color-based services, and text/color/diagram-based services. The advanced interactive learning environment included batch-based, interval change-based, comparison-based, and scroll bar-based services. The study also assessed the students' performance in six pedagogical Web services covering interaction and overall use, usefulness, and intention to use through a questionnaire survey and subsequent interviews. Three significant findings were reported. For example, in the advanced interactive learning environment, the designs of interval change-based and comparison-based services make it easier to observe differences in the outcome of parameter change, while batch-based services lacks the element of waveform comparison. In sum, the findings in this study provide helpful implications in designing engineering educational software. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 423,433, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae.20163 [source] An elaborate education of basic genetic programming using C++COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010Nirod C. Sahoo Abstract Evolutionary search is a global search method based on natural selection. In engineering curriculum, these techniques are taught in courses like Evolutionary Computation, Engineering Optimization, etc. Genetic algorithm (GA) is popular among these algorithms. Genetic programming (GP), developed by John Koza, is a powerful extension of GA where a chromosome/computer program (CP) is coded as a rooted point-labeled tree with ordered branches. The search space is the space of all possible CPs (trees) consisting of functions and terminals appropriate to the problem domain. GP uses, like GA, crossover and mutation for evolution. Due to tree-structured coding of individuals, the initial population generation, genetic operators' use, and tree decoding for fitness evaluations demand careful computer programming. This article describes the programming steps of GP implementation (using C++ language) for students' easy understanding with pseudocodes for each step. Two application examples are also illustrated. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 434,448, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae.20165 [source] A web-based tool for teaching neural network conceptsCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010Aybars Ugur Abstract Although neural networks (NN) are important especially for engineers, scientists, mathematicians and statisticians, they may also be hard to understand. In this article, application areas of NN are discussed, basic NN components are described and it is explained how an NN work. A web-based simulation and visualization tool (EasyLearnNN) is developed using Java and Java 2D for teaching NN concepts. Perceptron, ADALINE, Multilayer Perceptron, LVQ and SOM models and related training algorithms are implemented. As a result, comparison with other teaching methods of NN concepts is presented and discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 449,457, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae.20184 [source] Teaching differential equations in different environments: A first approachCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010Filipa Carneiro Abstract The use of specific softwares was the basis for a new approach for teaching ordinary and partial differential equations, in the field of heat transfer and fluid mechanics. The main objective was to enhance learning effectiveness of Numerical Methods in the post-graduate course of Polymers Engineering at the University of Minho. This degree takes place into two different environments: at the university campus and at the industrial field. Different commercial codes were used, namely EXCEL, MATLAB, and FLUENT, as well as two tools developed in house at University of Minho: CoNum and a graphics application PDE v.1. Lectures were based on videoconferencing and other web utilities. The teaching methodology presented and discussed in this article was well received and accepted by the post-graduate students, motivating teachers to improve their teaching/learning strategies. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 555,562, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae.20231 [source] A digital simulation of the vibration of a two-mass two-spring systemCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2010Wei-Pin Lee Abstract In this study, we developed a computer program to simulate the vibration of a two-mass two-spring system by using Visual BASIC. Users can enter data for the two-mass two-spring system. The software will derive the eigenvalue problem from the input data. Then the software solves the eigenvalue problem and illustrates the results numerically and graphically on the screen. In addition, the program uses animation to demonstrate the motions of the two masses. The displacements, velocities, and accelerations of the two bodies can be shown if the corresponding checkboxes are selected. This program can be used in teaching courses, such as Linear Algebra, Advanced Engineering Mathematics, Vibrations, and Dynamics. Use of the software may help students to understand the applications of eigenvalue problems and related topics such as modes of vibration, natural frequencies, and systems of differential equations. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 563,573, 2010; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com; DOI 10.1002/cae.20241 [source] A Windows-based interface for teaching image processingCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2010Melvin Ayala Abstract The use of image processing in research represents a challenge to the scientific community interested in its various applications but is not familiar with this area of expertise. In academia as well as in industry, fundamental concepts such as image transformations, filtering, noise removal, morphology, convolution/deconvolution among others require extra efforts to be understood. Additionally, algorithms for image reading and visualization in computers are not always easy to develop by inexperienced researchers. This type of environment has lead to an adverse situation where most students and researchers develop their own image processing code for operations which are already standards in image processing, a redundant process which only exacerbates the situation. The research proposed in this article, with the aim to resolve this dilemma, is to propose a user-friendly computer interface that has a dual objective which is to free students and researchers from the learning time needed for understanding/applying diverse imaging techniques but to also provide them with the option to enhance or reprogram such algorithms with direct access to the software code. The interface was thus developed with the intention to assist in understanding and performing common image processing operations through simple commands that can be performed mostly by mouse clicks. The visualization of pseudo code after each command execution makes the interface attractive, while saving time and facilitating to users the learning of such practical concepts. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 213,224, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20171 [source] An interactive simulation tool for image registration educationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2010Khaled M. Gharaibeh Abstract A medical image registration simulation toolkit built using MATLAB graphical user interface (GUI) is presented. The developed Matlab GUI's provide an effective tool for exploring different image registration techniques including a new feature-based image registration technique proposed by the authors. The toolkit is useful for biomedical engineering students and can be used as a web-based learning tool. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 225,237, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20179 [source] BONDSYM: SIMULINK-based educational software for analysis of dynamic systemCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2010J.A. Calvo Abstract This article presents an educational software called BONDSYM developed to allow engineering students to learn easily and quickly about the analysis of dynamic systems through the Bond Graph method. This software uses the SIMULINK library of MATLAB, which has proven to be an excellent choice in order to implement and solve the dynamic equations involved. The application allows for the representation of the behavior of a dynamic system analyzed through the Bond Graph theory in order to understand the dynamic equations and the physical phenomena involved. Based on block diagram of SIMULINK, the different "bonds" of Bond Graph can be integrated as SIMULINK blocks in order to generate the dynamic model. A few simple models are analyzed through this application. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 238,251, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20246 [source] Investigating static and dynamic characteristics of electromechanical actuators (EMA) with MATLAB GUIsCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2010Gursel Sefkat Abstract This paper deals with the design of an electromechanical device considering some prescribed performance requirements, and static and dynamic analysis of this device are carried out. In studying the transient response of such a system, as part of dynamic analysis, two methods mostly used finite element method (FEM) and finite differences method (FDM). However, these methods need much CPU time. In this work, a computer simulator program is developed for an EMA. This technique is implemented in the MATLAB-Simulink environment and tested for different design tasks such as electromagnetic valves or electromechanical brakes etc. Furthermore, by using GUIDE tools within MATLAB, a simple useful and user-friendly GUI structure is developed to provide a visual approach to design and analysis process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 383,396, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20279 [source] A data logger for teaching data capturing and analysis to engineering studentsCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2010Dogan IbrahimArticle first published online: 17 FEB 200 Abstract Data logging is the process of collecting and storing data from an experiment. Traditionally, data from science experiments was collected manually by hand and graphs were produced using pen and paper. By the introduction of cheap and powerful microcontrollers, all data logging operations are currently carried out using microcontroller-based data logging devices. This article describes the design of an educational microcontroller-based data logger device, which can be used to collect and save data for both offline and online analysis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 397,405, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20281 [source] A versatile software tool for the numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in simple geometriesCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2010A. M. G. Lopes Abstract The present work describes a software tool aimed at the simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer for two-dimensional problems in a structured Cartesian grid. The software deals with laminar and turbulent situations in steady-state or transient regime. An overview is given on the theoretical principles and on the utilization of the program. Results for some test cases are presented and compared with benchmarking solutions. Although EasyCFD is mainly oriented for educational purposes, it may be a valuable tool for a first analysis of practical situations. EasyCFD is available at www.easycfd.net. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 14,27, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20230 [source] Innovation of visualized interactive tools for learning molecular simulation curriculumCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2010Wen-Tsai Sung Abstract The goal of molecular simulation stability is to predict the detailed structure and physical properties of molecules in bioengineer's experiment curriculum. This work succeeds in citing minimum energy and some computer graphics technologies to support this theme. Molecular structure is that given the uncountable number of possible conformations for a protein, how we can determine the lowest energy structure. In this article the authors employed the previous researches-WebDeGrator and some existing molecular graphics tools to simulate various protein folding, ligand acceptor interaction, and molecular visualization. For this reason, bioengineer experimental curriculum will be visualization and interactive among learning members. Finally, Simpson's Taxonomy and pre- and post-test examinations are applied to System Evaluation, and molecular simulation and minimum energy will be discussed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 28,40, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20226 [source] An educational tool for power electronics circuitsCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2010Cetin Elmas Abstract In this study, an educational tool has been prepared for a shorter term and more economic education of power electronics circuits. In parallel with the improvements of semiconductor technology, the development of power electronics circuits has magnified the importance of either teorical or practical education of power electronics course. The education of power electronic circuits in laboratory is an agelong, costly piece of work. In this study, to overcome the mentioned negativities, a tool has been prepared for the education of power electronic circuits. The tool, which has been prepared on C++ Builder environment has a flexible structure and a graphical interface. It has enabled the analysis of working principles of the circuits and traceability of the system response by the help of graphics, under different conditions created by changing the values of circuit elements. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 157,165, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20237 [source] Spreadsheet-based interactive modules for control educationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2010Nourdine Aliane Abstract In the last few years, spreadsheets have become a popular computational tool and a powerful platform for performing engineering calculations. The simplicity of spreadsheet programming in addition to their plotting capabilities, and other provided utilities, make them a powerful didactic tool. This paper describes the development of interactive tools based on Excel spreadsheets for basic control education. The motivation for developing these tools was to give students special learning modules focused on transmitting the essence of dynamics of systems to achieve an accurate mental model as well as helping them understand how feedback works. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 18: 166,174, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20221 [source] Design and realization of the cooperative work system based on equipments sharingCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2009Bo Yan Abstract With analysis on the necessity and functions of the equipments sharing platform and the cooperative work system for colleges and universities, this paper designs the cooperative work system to provide cooperative support for resource query and reservation. The system classifies users' resource application roles, divides users' application information into different cooperative grades, and provides a basis for users' cooperative work. Functions, authorization, page flow, operating methods, and relevant database table of cooperative roles are shown in detail. At the same time, the ASP system will be introduced into the system, and a special fee management system will be established for effective management of the system. Functions and page flow of the fee management system are also designed. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 372,378, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20195 [source] Audio processors as a learning tool for basic acousticsCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2009Arcadi Pejuan Abstract Audio processors like Audacity provide a "hear-and-see" learning tool for basic acoustics, combining sound and image. Activities designed as laboratory experiments with PC (even at home!) have been already successfully implemented, for example, about the dependence of timbre and acoustic spectrum, of pitch and frequency, and of loudness and amplitude. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 379,388, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20207 [source] Modular hardware design for distant-internet embedded systems engineering laboratoryCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2009Xicai Yue Abstract A novel hardware system providing remote accessible embedded system experiments of microcontroller, digital signal processor (DSP), and field-programmable gate array (FPGA) via Internet is presented. Three newly developed hardware modules for integrating experimental boards, experimental instrumentation, and a PC workstation in the distant embedded laboratory are fully described. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 389,397, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20259 [source] An educational computer tool for simulating long-term soil erosion on agricultural landscapesCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2009F. J. Jiménez-Hornero Abstract Due to its economic and environmental impacts, soil erosion has been a major concern to farmers, engineers and policy makers in recent years. Water and tilling are two of the main agents responsible for this phenomenon and considerable efforts have been made to model them in previous work but not with educational purposes. A computer tool for facilitating any user's simulation of long-term landscape evolution in a plot due to the combined action of water and tillage erosion is presented here. It integrates a graphic user interface with two well-verified erosion models, each one independently devoted to reproduce the effects of water and tilling. This computer tool permits to the student the consideration of the erosivity index and the presence of a crop in the plot, when simulating water erosion, as well as the planning of a different type of tilling each year. Each kind of tilling corresponds to a different combination of tillage tools with their own date, tillage depth and tillage direction. A handy ASCII (XYZ) file is generated containing the long-term soil erosion spatial pattern as result. From this information, the student can derive other results that will help to understand soil erosion. An example is presented here with the aim of showing how to use this computer tool to simulate this phenomenon on an agricultural landscape with a complex topography. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 253,262, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20193 [source] A comparative study of 3D scanning in engineering, product and transport design and fashion design educationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2009A. Kus Abstract The aim of this paper is to evaluate the use of three-dimensional (3D) scanning technologies for design and engineering courses. This paper will provide a comparative discussion of the current 3D scanning technologies; and then describes three experimental studies in engineering, transport design and fashion design. Using 3D scanner technology the experiments tested the transferral of a variety of different data from scanned organic 3D shapes to 3D CAD packages for learning and teaching in undergraduate education. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 263,271, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20213 [source] A software player for providing hints in problem-based learning according to a new specificationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2009Pedro J. Muñoz-Merino Abstract The provision of hints during problem solving has been a successful strategy in the learning process. There exist several computer systems that provide hints to students during problem solving, covering some specific issues of hinting. This article presents a novel software player module for providing hints in problem-based learning. We have implemented it into the XTutor Intelligent Tutoring System using its XDOC extension mechanism and the Python programming language. This player includes some of the functionalities that are present in different state-of-the-art systems, and also other new relevant functionalities based on our own ideas and teaching experience. The article explains each feature for providing hints and it also gives a pedagogical justification or explanation. We have created an XML binding, so any combination of the model hints functionalities can be expressed as an XML instance, enabling interoperability and reusability. The implemented player tool together with the XTutor server-side XDOC processor can interpret and run XML files according to this newly defined hints specification. Finally, the article presents several running examples of use of the tool, the subjects where it is in use, and results that lead to the conclusion of the positive impact of this hints tool in the learning process based on quantitative and qualitative analysis. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 272,284, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20240 [source] A USB kit for digital I/O applications in a digital electronics lab designed by using PIC16C765 microcontrollerCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2009Ali Buldu Abstract In this article, a USB Kit is designed by using Microchip's PIC16C765 microcontroller that has a low-speed USB serial interface engine. It is used to communicate with and/or through USB port for digital I/O applications in a Digital Electronics Lab. In this education kit, two groups of keys (switches) and a group of LED are used to realize the experiments about logic gate applications included in Electronics and Computer Education Department's curriculum of Marmara University and also included in other faculties' curriculums related to the engineering science all around the world. In designed board, one of the key groups is 8-bit software-controlled by using simulator interface and the other is 8-bit user-controlled by using real switches existing on the board. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 131,138, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20172 [source] SIMPERF: SIMULINK-based educational software for vehicle's performance estimationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2009J. A. Calvo Abstract This paper presents an educational software called SIMPERF developed to allow the engineering students to learn easily and quickly about the vehicle's performance calculations. This software uses the SIMULINK library of MATLAB which has shown to be a good choice to implement and solve the implicated equations. The model allows us to achieve the vehicle's performances with enough accuracy and to modify the parameters than influence on these performances quickly and easily in order to understand the physic phenomena involved. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 139,147, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20191 [source] Generation of a virtual reality-based automotive driving training system for CAD educationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 2 2009Janus Liang Abstract Designing and constructing a virtual reality-based system is useful for educating students about scenario planning, geometric modeling and computer graphics. In particular, students are exposed to the practical issues surrounding topics such as geometric modeling, rendering, collision detection, model animation and graphical design. Meanwhile, building an application system provides students exposure to the real-world side of software engineering that they are typically shielded from in the traditional computer class. This study is a description of the experiences with instructing "Computer-aided Industrial design" and "OOP," two introductory classes that focus on designing and generating the VR based system possible in the course of a semester and then "VR System," an advanced course in the next semester. This study emphasizes the continuing evolution in the training and educational needs of students of CAD-systems. This study breaks down an automobile driving training system into different components that are suitable for individual student projects and discusses the use of modern graphical design tools such as 3ds MAX for artistic design in this system. The conclusion of this study proposes a rough schedule for developing a VR based system during the course of a semester and an overview is given of a concept of a virtual reality-based design and constructing system that is being developed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 148,166, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20178 [source] Design and use of a multimedia trainer for the subject Descriptive GeometryCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2009Máximo Pérez Morales Abstract Less and less time is being dedicated to Descriptive Geometry in Technical Careers. For that reason, a multimedia application that allows us improve and optimize the teaching,learning process in the resolution of typical problems of this subject has been designed. Easy of use, interactiveness or efficiency are characteristics that can be related to this application. In this article, we describe the more important aspects of the developed Multimedia Trainer, as well as the results obtained in an experience with students with the purpose of evaluating its possibilities of use. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 13,24, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20164 [source] Digital simulation of the transformation of plane stressCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2009Wei-Pin Lee Abstract In this study, we developed a computer program to simulate the transformation of plane stress by using Visual Basic.NET. We applied the equations of stress transformation to plane stress problems to calculate the stresses with respect to the 1,2 axes, which are rotated counterclockwise through an angle , about the x,y origin, and showed the visual results on the screen. In addition, we used animation to observe the change of plane stress. This program was then used in teaching courses, such as Mechanics of Materials and Linear Algebra. Use of the software may help students to understand principal stresses, principal axes, Mohr's circle, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, similar matrices, and invariants. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 25,33, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20180 [source] Introducing natural-convective chilling to food engineering undergraduate freshmen: Case studied assisted by CFD simulation and field visualizationCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 1 2009J. A. Rabi Abstract A computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-assisted didactic activity has been applied to Food Engineering freshmen aiming at introducing basic concepts of process modeling and simulation towards the food industry. Evoking natural convection, a relatively simple case study was proposed involving two initially room temperature porous samples (identified as two fruits) that were placed inside a refrigeration chamber. Three different configurations were suggested for placing such warmer samples so that students were asked to order them with respect to their chilling capability, that is, to their ability to chill samples as fast as possible. Freshmen's written answers were collected before CFD was used to simulate and visualize each distinct chilling scenario. Accordingly, a finite-volume FORTRAN simulator for transport phenomena in domains fully or partially filled up with porous matrix was used to help compare each chilling performance. Among all possible combinations, answer distribution is presented and discussed in the light of freshmen's scholar background as well as based on the way natural convection concepts were introduced. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 17: 34,43, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20161 [source] An educational tool for controlling of SRMCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2008Tuncay Yigit Abstract This article introduces an educational tool for a switched reluctance motor (SRM) drive system. It is prepared for undergraduate and graduate level students. Classical PI and Genetic PI controllers are used in SRM drive system. The Genetic PI controller was applied to the speed loop, replacing the classical PI controller. The tool software was implemented using C++ Builder on a PC. It has flexible structure and graphical interface. The students can be easily establishing a thorough understanding of both classical PI and genetic PI controller for a SRM drive system. The education tool allowed the student to interact with the SRM drive system and it is using controllers. Then it is responses on a dynamic and instantaneous basis under different operating conditions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 268,279, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20148 [source] JTruss: A CAD-oriented educational open-source software for static analysis of truss-type structuresCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2008Francesco Romeo Abstract A CAD-oriented software (JTruss) for the static analysis of planar and spatial truss-type structures is presented. Developed for educational purposes, JTruss is part of an open-source project and is characterised by complete accessibility (i.e. platform independent) and high software compatibility. CAD methodologies are employed to implement commands for handling graphic models. A student friendly graphical interface, tailored mainly for structural mechanics introductory courses in engineering and architecture programs, is conceived. Accordingly, the standard sequence involved in the software design, namely pre-processing, processing and post-processing, is implemented aiming to improve the structural behaviour interpretation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 280,288, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20150 [source] New methodologies in teaching e-structural mechanics using WWW,COMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2008Carmelo Maiorana Abstract A recently initiated phase of experimentation and research in the online Distance Learning (DL) is here described. The project has been developed by the Department of Construction and Transportation Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Padua along with the well-established e-learning experience of the SSIS Veneto (Institute for the Formation of Secondary School's Teachers) of Cà Foscari,University of Venice, in collaboration with the webmaster management of TCN-EnginSoft of Padua. The work deals with teaching methodologies supported by the net, computer communication and information technologies, finalized to give both widespread access to useful resources and to create a more flexible exchange due to net communication. The experimentation of using web-based technologies to support traditional teaching for working students is described; in fact, Internet-based innovations offer opportunities for a curriculum improvement to those categories of students who could be considered at a disadvantage, like worker students or students with ear or motion deafness. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 189,210, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae20167 [source] Teaching image processing: A two-step processCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 3 2008Clarence Han-Wei Yapp Abstract An interactive program for teaching digital image processing techniques is presented in this article. Instead of heavy programming tasks and mathematical functions, students are led step by step through the exercises and then allowed to experiment. This article evaluates the proposed program and compares it with existing techniques. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 16: 211,222, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20149 [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||