Augmenting Fluid Dynamics Instruction with 3-D Printers and Wind Tunnel Instrumentation to Improve the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Instruction in Aerodynamics
- Conference
- Location
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Tampa, Florida
- Publication Date
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June 15, 2019
- Start Date
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June 15, 2019
- End Date
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June 19, 2019
- Conference Session
- Tagged Division
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Engineering Technology
- Page Count
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11
- DOI
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10.18260/1-2--32134
- Permanent URL
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https://strategy.asee.org/32134
- Download Count
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882
Paper Authors
Ranjeet Agarwala East Carolina University
Dr. Ranjeet Agarwala serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Technology Systems at East Carolina University. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the North Carolina State University. Since 2001 he has taught courses in Engineering Design, Thermal and Fluid Systems, Rapid Prototyping, GD&T, Statics and Dynamics, Strength of Materials. His research interests are in the areas of Sustainability-Renewable Energy and Sustainable Manufacturing such as Additive Manufacturing
Robert A. Chin East Carolina University
Robert A. ”Bob” Chin is a faculty member, Department of Technology Systems, College of Engineering and Technology, East Carolina University, where he has taught since 1986. He is the Engineering Design Graphics Division’s immediate past-chair and in 2015 he completed his second term as the director of publications for the Engineering Design Graphics Division and the Engineering Design Graphics Journal editor. Chin has also served as the Engineering Design Graphics Division’s annual and mid-year conference program chair, and he has served as a review board member for several journals including the EDGJ. He has been a program chair for the Southeastern Section and has served as the Engineering Design Graphics Division’s vice chair and chair and as the Instructional Unit’s secretary, vice chair, and chair. His ongoing involvement with ASEE has focused on annual conference paper presentation themes associated with the Engineering Design Graphics, Engineering Libraries, Engineering Technology, New Engineering Educators, and the Two-Year College Divisions and their education and instructional agendas.
Abstract
Wind tunnels are used in engineering technology programs to impart and reinforce instruction in aerodynamics: generally, part of fluid dynamics course. Students learn the key principles of lift, drag, and aerodynamics forces as it pertains to fluid structure interaction. They then setup several geometries and structures in the wind tunnel to evaluate their aerodynamic effectiveness and compare findings of their experimental evaluation to that of theoretical or numerical results.
Wind tunnel instrumentation and 3D printer augmented fluid dynamics instruction and labs were examined. It was hypothesized the technology could be used to rapidly generate and iterate the aerodynamics and designs of energy extraction components in laboratory-based fluid dynamics education. As a result, in addition to ensuring that learning was at least as effective, the instructional process would be more efficient, than the non-augmented instruction.
Strategies were developed where students integrate technology—3D printing and wind tunnel instrumentation—to learn key aerodynamics principles and related energy components in a thermal and fluid systems course. Students learned aerodynamics concepts in the course and how it affects wind turbine energy extraction. In labs, the students subsequently mount a 3D printed wind turbine blade in a wind tunnel to evaluate its aerodynamic effectiveness with respect to energy generation. The students then used 3D printers to iterate several wind turbine blade designs in an attempt to optimize aerodynamic effectiveness.
Wind tunnel instrumentation and 3D printer augmented instruction can be used to rapidly generate and iterate the aerodynamics and designs of energy extraction components in laboratory-based fluid dynamics education. Instructors can use synergies of these technologies to create a cross learning platform with relative ease in a technology-based laboratory curriculum.
Agarwala, R., & Chin, R. A. (2019, June), Augmenting Fluid Dynamics Instruction with 3-D Printers and Wind Tunnel Instrumentation to Improve the Effectiveness and Efficiency of Instruction in Aerodynamics Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition , Tampa, Florida. 10.18260/1-2--32134
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