MCE 311 ENGINERRING MEASUREMENTS (2-3-3)

Spring 2018
Instructor:
Dr. Mehdi Ghommem
Office: EB2-231
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 06 515 4933
Office Hours: U 2:00-4:00 pm, R 8:00-10:00 am/ 11:00 am-12:30 pm
Outside office hours to be determined by appointment based on the instructor’s availability.

Class Time Days Where Date Range

MCE 311 8:00 am - 8:50 am TU EB1-115 Jan 21, 2018 - May 7, 2018

Course Description:
Examines basic concepts of measuring methods; static and dynamic characteristics of signals;
types of errors; assessing and presenting experimental data; uncertainty analysis; measurement
system behavior; sampling; signal conditioning; data acquisition; and selection and use of
temperature, pressure, fluid flow, force, stress, strain, torque and power instrumentation.
Includes laboratory experiments with emphasis on fluid flow experiments, temperature
measurements, motion measurements and solid mechanics experiments.

Prerequisites:
ELE 225 (Electric Circuits and Devices), MCE 222 (Dynamics), and MCE 240 (Fluid Mechanics)

Required Textbook and/or Other Required Materials:

Primary:
Wheeler and Ganji, Introduction to Engineering Experimentation, 3nd Ed., Pearson 2010.

Course Goals: This course is designed to help the student

 Select proper measuring devices for the problem at hand.
 Select and/or design measurement systems to meet performance specifications.
 Understand the operation and use of common laboratory instruments.
 Design and conduct engineering experiments

Course Outcomes: This course requires the student to demonstrate ability to:
1. Identify relevant mathematical, physical, or systems principles (a.1)
a. Identify governing physical laws and principles to formulate measurement problem (a.1)
2. Able to formulate an engineering problem in terms of fundamental principles that can be
evaluated experimentally (b.1)
a. Formulate an engineering problem using physical principles and identify mechanical systems
variables that can be evaluated experimentally. (b.1)
b. Measure and practice the experimental evaluation of basic physical variables such as
temperature, pressure, flow, displacement, force, stress, and strain (b.1)
3. Able to design an experiment to obtain data in support of an engineering problem (b.2)
a. Design a test plan to obtain experimental data for a given physical variable. (b.2)
b. Apply statistical measurement theory for large and small samples of data, and perform
uncertainty analysis. (b.2)
 4. Describe measurement equipment and instrumentation (b.3)
5. Perform data and measurements error analysis, interpret data, and draw conclusions (b.4)
a. Determine measurement system characteristics, interpret systems behavior and assess
experimental data. (b.4)
b. Evaluate different types of errors associated with measurement systems using calibration
procedures and standards (b.4)
c. Interpret measured data and draw conclusions. (b.4)
6. Function effectively on multi-disciplinary team (d.4)
7. Demonstrate the use of computer software and CAD packages such as LabView and Matlab
to solve engineering problem (k.1)
8. Able to use state of the art equipment necessary for engineering practice (k.3)
a. Demonstrate the use of data acquisition system to measure analog and digital signals and
select appropriate sampling rate and resolution for the data acquisition system

Topics Covered and Schedule in Weeks:

To achieve the above goals, this course will cover the main topics of:

Topic Weeks
General overview of measurement process 1
General Characteristics of Measurements Systems 1.5
Measurements Systems with Electrical Systems 2.5
Measurements of Solid-Mechanical Systems 2
Measurement of pressure, temperature and humidity 1.5
Measurement of Flow rate, fluid level and velocity 0.5
Computerized Data Acquisition Systems 1.5
Discrete Sampling 1
Experimental Uncertainty Analysis 1.5
Dynamic Behavior of Measurement System 1
Design of experiment 1
Review and evaluation 1
Total 16

Homework will be assigned throughout the week based on the covered topic

Tentative Out-of-class Assignments:

HW # 1 General Characteristics of Measurements Systems
HW # 2 Measurements Systems with Electrical Systems
HW # 3 Measurements of Solid-Mechanical Systems
HW # 4 Measurement of pressure, temperature and humidity
HW # 5 Computerized Data Acquisition Systems
HW # 6 Discrete Sampling
HW # 7 Statistical Analysis of Experimental Data
HW # 8 Dynamic Behavior of Measurement System
Group Project

All homework assignments are due one week after the assigned date.
Tentative Laboratory Experiments:
Lab 1 Introductory Lab and Basic Operation
Lab 2 Introduction to LabView
Lab 3 Electronic Filters
Lab 4 Pressure Measurements
Lab 5 Temperature Measurements
Lab 6 Course project assignment (Open ended design of experiment)
Lab 7 Displacement Measurements (angular and linear using analog as well as digital sensors such as
motion quadrature encoders
Lab 8 Rate Gyro and Acceleration Measurements
Lab 9 Flow measurement and humidity
Lab 10 Strain and stress measurements
Lab 11 Force measurement
Lab 12 Open ended design of experiment
Lab 13 Open ended design of experiment

Evaluation
Grade breakdown:
Evaluation: Percentage 93-100 A
89-92 A-
Homework 5%
84-88 B+
Quizzes 5%
79-83 B
Regular laboratory reports + final 25% 74-78 B-
Design of an open experiment 10% 69-73 C+
First midterm exam 15% 64-68 C
Second Midterm 15% 59-63 C-
Final Exam 25% 50-58 D
0-49 F

Policy:
 Attendance is a vital part of the course work. It is the university policy that if a student is absent
15% of the class sessions (which, in our case, it translates into 5 sessions), he/she will be
withdrawn from the course with a grade of WF.
 Late attendance: Not only you are expected to be in class, but you are also expected to be there
on time. Late is defined as follows: showing up to class after I have finished calling the class
roster, and within the first 5 minutes of the lecture. Showing up more than5 minutes late to the
lecture counts as an absence.
 Homework assignments must be submitted in class on the due date. No late homework will be
accepted. (For example: homework cannot be submitted after class)
 Late homework is not accepted for any reason.
 Submit a neat, detailed, step-by-step solution.
 Use one side of a standard A4 size white paper. Spiral note book sheets or any other type must be
avoided: (printer type paper only):
o No writing on the back of any paper
o Do not write in double columns
 Only black or blue ink is allowed
 The “Assignment Cover Sheet” provided, must be included with very assignment and must be
filled and signed.
Course Theme: Expect to work very hard in this class.

Estimated Content:
General education: 0 credits
Math and basic science: 1 credits
Engineering topics: 2 credits (significant engineering design content)

Relationship of Course to Program Outcomes. This course contributes in a significant way to

the accomplishment of the following program outcomes:
Program outcome Emphasis in
this course
(a) an ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science, and engineering L
(b) an ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and H (DM)
interpret data
(c) an ability to design a system, component, or process to meet desired
needs within realistic constraints such as economic, environmental, social,
political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability, and sustainability
(d) an ability to function on multidisciplinary teams M (DM)
(e) an ability to identify, formulate, and solve engineering problems
(f) an understanding of professional and ethical responsibility
(g) an ability to communicate effectively
(h) the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering
solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context
(i) a recognition of the need for, and an ability to engage in life-long learning
(j) a knowledge of contemporary issues
(k) an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering tools H
necessary for engineering practice.
Emphasis: H – High; M – Moderate; L – Low; Blank – Nothing specific expected
DM -Direct Measures

Revised by and Date:

Mehdi Ghommem, Department of Mechanical Engineering, January 2018.