Author(s): M. Muste; F. Stern
Linked Author(s): Marian Muste
Keywords: Undergraduate education; Fluids laboratory; Uncertainty analysis; Experimental fluid mechanics
Abstract: The paper presents recent educational innovations in the instruction of undergraduate fluids curriculum that has been introduced and continues to be developed for the Fluids Laboratory of the College of Engineering, The University of Iowa. The instruction initiative includes integration of data quality considerations (interchangeable with uncertainty analysis) in the teaching of experimental fluid mechanics and hydraulics for undergraduate students. By presenting the integration process components, implementation strategy, practical ways for implementation, and proof-of-concept elements the paper demonstrates that the incorporation of uncertainty analysis in the undergraduate experimental fluid dynamics curriculum is an achievable task that might strongly benefit the technical capabilities of future engineers. Although the paper focuses on fluid mechanics and hydraulics, integration of data quality considerations in experimental investigations has wide applicability across most engineering disciplines. Integration of the uncertainty analysis in the undergraduate engineering curriculum is a part of a broader vision that aims at making a significant paradigm shift to the way undergraduate engineering students are educated by integrating lectures with teamoriented, hands-on experiments, numerical simulations, data quality considerations, and contemporary instructional material delivered using internet-based tools.
Year: 2003