Engineering Technology Program Research Articles

Nourishing green minds in the land of oil

Climate change, global warming and the increasing in oil price are issues that concern everyone lately. Renewable energy is the solution for a safe and efficient environment for the new generations. Renewable energy sources are sustainable and are zero carbon emission. In order to deploy these sources efficiently, expertise in this field must be provided. This is accomplished by educating the young generations to all related issues regarding these sources and the related technologies. This paper describes the experience of introducing renewable energy in the curriculum for undergraduate students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the steps taken to enhance the learning process. It only represents the first stage of implementing green energy education into an engineering technology program and highlights the impact of this experience on the students with respect to the environment and the community. Such experience is an example that can be followed in order to promote renewable energy technologies and to develop the expertise in this field in a country that has just started to embrace renewable energy.

JMD Editorial Board

JMD Editorial Board

Pop Culture: Can We Compete?

“Motorsports Day” was recently held on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IU-PUI), where I teach. A famous race car driver visited, and several cars were available for photo opportunities. The event attracted many potential students to the motorsports engineering major. Yet, employment with this degree is not usually as exciting or glamorous as being a race car driver. The field needs skilled engineers, technicians, and project managers. Sound familiar?Our motorsports major has large state appropriations and IUPUI even sponsored car 67 in the Indianapolis 500 (too bad she crashed). Faced with this competition, how can a biomedical equipment technician (BMET) major seem attractive, even with excellent pay and the promise of a great job waiting after graduation? There are only about 100 race teams in the country, but an estimated 5,000 hospitals. You do the math in terms of job possibilities. Our university campus has five hospitals, and another 10 are within a 30-minute drive. Almost all have openings for entry-level BMETs.We've got a lot going for us as a profession, but BMET programs cannot compete with popular culture. Students on many campuses, including IUPUI, are flocking to new fields, such as video gaming technology and entrepreneurship. How can we enhance the “cool” factor—the attractiveness of the major—for our field?When times are bad economically, higher education prospers. The current economic slowdown has dramatically increased enrollment at higher education campuses, but there is no line at my door. As an admissions officer, I have not seen a rise in applications. This year I had a typical number of new students. Many were career changers or those seeking a second degree. Only one student came directly from high school. One is not a sustainable number! Our school is not alone. A recent survey conducted by AAMI's Technology Management Council (TMC) reported that many schools are very concerned about how to attract new students.To attract high school students to the field, we need to change the way we advertise. Brochures do not reach this demographic. We need slick, interactive web-sites, YouTube videos, My Space pages, and podcasts. Colleges, universities, and AAMI need to collaborate and work with marketing firms to make this happen. The engineering profession in general has done some work in this area (check out www.discoverengineering.org). While biomedical engineering is mentioned on this website, it is unlikely to lead students to our school's associate's or bachelor's degree programs in biomedical engineering technology. Career awareness is vital, and my program depends on attracting more students. Employers beg me to produce more graduates. How can this be done?BMET and motorsports programs may be like apples and oranges. But they are both fruit. How can I help students check out the citrus fruit section of college offerings? BMET employment outlook is tremendous, but most teenagers I know would prefer the lure of video games over the study of electronics and human anatomy. How can we help students see the value in a stable career with excellent prospects? Society has many programs in place to encourage students to be prepared to enter college. Now, they're here, but just not majoring in what we had hoped.

The process of updating engineering management science in an Australian regional university excellence in developing e-learning

The aim of the current paper is to share the processes in revising the courseware of the course of Engineering Management Science coded as ENG4004, in the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical, Mechatronics, Electrical and Electronic, Computer Systems, Instrumentation and Control), Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Mechanical, Building and Construction Management) programmes offered by the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), a regional Australian University with excellence in developing e-learning. The paper describes how the authors review the courseware of the course. The needs for the review are also explained. The assessments of the course were also studied and revised. The authors also estimated the costs involved in reviewing the course. At the same time, the paper also predicts the benefits that will be offered to students and the community including employers who are going to employ USQ graduates. It is finally concluded that the review is worthwhile and the actual costs to the university are minimal.

Probabilistic analysis of a SiC/SiC ceramic matrix composite turbine vane

To demonstrate the advanced composite materials technology under development within the NASA Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology (UEET) Program, it was planned to fabricate, test, and analyze a turbine vane made entirely of silicon carbide-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide matrix composite (SiC/SiC CMC) material. The objective was to utilize a five-harness satin weave melt-infiltrated (MI) SiC/SiC composite material to design and fabricate a stator vane that can endure 1000 h of engine service conditions. The vane was designed to withstand a maximum temperature of 1315 °C (2400 °F) within the substrate and the hot surface temperature of 1482 °C (2700 °F) with the aid of an environmental/thermal barrier coating (EBC/TBC) system. Furthermore, the vane was designed such that the expected maximum stresses to be encountered were kept within the proportional limit strength of the material. Any violation of this design requirement was considered as the failure. This paper presents results of a probabilistic analysis and reliability assessment of the vane. Probability of failure to meet the design requirements was computed using the probabilistic analysis methods embedded in the NESSUS software. In the analysis, material properties, strength, and pressure loading were considered as random variables. The variations in properties and strength were based on the actual experimental data. In the present analysis, the pressure loads were considered normally distributed with a nominal variation. A temperature profile on the vane was obtained by performing a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis and was assumed to be deterministic. The results suggest that for the current vane design, the chance of not meeting design requirements is about 1.6%.

New Honai Design Prototype in Yakuhimo, Papua: A CFD Simulation Study

Yahukimo regency is located in Papua province in eastern Indonesia. The conditions of the people living in this province attracted nationwide attention when at least 55 people died because of starvation and 112 others fell ill Dharma-Somba 2005 . As part of recently instituted government programs, the Department of Architecture and Planning, Gadjah Mada University, in collaboration with the Architectural Technology Program at Indiana University, Purdue University, Indianapolis IUPUI and the Architectural Engineering Technology Program of the College of the North Atlantic in Canada, have worked together with the Ministry of Public Housing to provide alternative solutions for more healthful housing types. The discussion herein centers on the results of this collaboration.

A Wireless Networking Curriculum Model for Network Engineering Technology Programs

Wireless networking is experiencing explosive growth, both in market size and the number of new standards and technologies. Effectively educating students, both at the undergraduate and graduate level, with the abilities to evaluate, implement, and integrate wireless networks should be a key part of any information technology (IT) education program for the foreseeable future. The Computer & Information Technology Department (CIT) at Purdue University is in a unique position to fulfill this educational need through its wireless networking curriculum. This curriculum currently offers three courses within the network engineering technology program, covering topics from 802.11 networking to 3G cellular, wireless network security and manage-ment to WWAN technologies. Each course includes trend analysis of wireless networking in order to effectively prepare students for employment in this area. This paper discusses the existing wireless networking curriculum by providing a brief perspective of previous course content and detailing each current course in the areas of prerequisite knowledge, intended audience, course content, and lecture/laboratory integration.

Ultrasonic Leak Test for Automotive Brake Caliper

Leak path defects in brake caliper castings were observed and an efficient method of detecting them was needed. The standard detection technique used a differential decay method at pressures up to 1000 psi but this technique could not detect all of the leak path defects. The only known method that could detect all of the leak path defects was a technique that used brake fluid, and required pressures up to 3,000 psi. Because a fluid medium used to conduct this test, regulations precluded the calipers from being used on a vehicle after the inspection process. This was the motivation for a Capstone Project in the Mechanical Engineering Technology Program at Central Washington University. For safety and economic reasons, a nondestructive test which utilized acoustics was chosen. It was decided that the main focus for this project would be the design of the fixture. The prototype fixture was designed to utilize a toggle clamp and a backing plate (manifold) with O-rings. The clamping system was produced at INTERMET Corporation. After the fixture was completed it was sent to Central Washington University. To verify predictions, strain gauges were used at different parts of the system during normal use. Then the placement of the acoustic listener was determined, completing the test fixture. In order to obtain a good seal (O-ring to cavity lip) the fixture required deflections less then .0045” (as determined by tolerance stacking and O-ring deformation requirements). A magnetic pin gauge was used to measure this displacement as it the fixture was pressurized to 82psi (available shop pressure). To demonstrate the safety of the device, a strain gauge was mounted on the backing plate to measure the force being counteracted by the toggle clamp. The maximum stress on the backing plate was approximately 10% of the material's yield strength (~ 36 ksi for A36 steel); producing a safety factor of about 10. No more than 3750 psi was measured. The maximum strain of the backing plate was 0.003 in/in. Upon completion, the fixture was sent back to INTERMET Corporation where a production model was designed and implemented.

The Information Technology Model Curriculum

Background The last 20 years or so has seen a dramatic growth in the demand for professionals trained in information and communication technologies. This growth was partly driven by tremendous technological advances, such as the emergence of computer networking, including wireless networking, graphical user interfaces, and the Internet, the World-Wide Web, and their applications. But the growth in demand was also driven by a much greater realization on the part of many organizations and individuals of the importance of information and communication technologies for their well being, and the more widespread use of these technologies by individuals whose primary area of expertise was not in information technology (Dalhom & Mathiassen, 1977; Denning, 2001a; Denning 2001b). While programs in traditional computing disciplines such as computer engineering and computer science responded to these new trends, albeit often slowly, employers started to demand skills that graduates typically did not get out of a traditional computer science or computer engineering program. For example, many traditional computer science programs did not equip their graduates with the practical network or system administration skills that organizations needed to expand and maintain their IT infrastructures, or the web development skills required to take advantage of the many opportunities opened up by the Internet. Moreover, because of the more theoretical emphasis of computer science programs, graduates often did not acquire a sufficient understanding of organizational processes to be able to support IT applications from a user or organizational perspective (Denning, 2004). While programs in Information Systems are able to offer material to their students that allow them to develop a better understanding of organizations and the way in which IT applications can support them, they often do so at the expense of a sufficiently thorough coverage of the technology. This has been exacerbated by the fact that a good number of programs in Information Systems were offered in business schools and were limited in the number of courses they could offer in IT because of accreditation standards for business schools in place at the time. It was in this environment that a number of universities started to offer undergraduate programs in IT. While there was, and still is, far less homogeneity among undergraduate programs in IT than there is among programs in computer science or information systems, all IT programs show a family resemblance to each other. Most cover areas such as networking, web development and system administration in some detail, while very few pay particular attention to the theoretical foundations in complexity theory that is so prevalent in computer science programs. Until fairly recently, most IT programs arose in isolation from each other, often evolving out of existing programs in computer science, computer engineering or computer engineering technology, or information systems (Lunt et al., 2003a; Reichgelt et al., 2004). However, there was also a growing realization on the part of those programs that were aware of each other's existence that a forum was needed in which they could discuss the various features of their programs, and improve their programs based on the experiences of IT programs at other institutions (Lunt et al., 2003b). Thus, in early 2001, a steering committee composed of five universities offering or getting ready to offer IT programs compiled a list of IT programs across the United States with the intention of organizing an invitation-only conference. These efforts came to fruition in December 2001, when representatives from 15 colleges/universities attended the first Conference for IT Curriculum (CITC-1) in Provo, Utah. The primary aims of this conference were to establish a national organization of IT educators and begin to establish academic standards for this rapidly emerging discipline (Lunt et al. …

BENEFIT OF CONVERTING TO RSLOGIX 5000 FROM RSLOGIX 500

In conjunction with Creative Pultrusions, Inc., a fiberglass reinforced polymer composites manufacturer in Alum Bank, PA, a senior project was designed to convert the machine operation code for their pultruders from the Rockwell Automation's RSLogix500 software to the RSLogix5000 software. This project was a capstone design for the Electro-Mechanical Engineering Technology program at Penn State Altoona. The specific aim was to show the benefits of RSLogix5000 while improving the pultruding system at Creative Pultrusions, Inc. By streamlining the existing code, troubleshooting could become more efficient. In order to convert the code, a complete understanding of the pultrusion process was necessary along with that of both the RSLogix500 software and RSLogix5000 software. This document will discuss background information pertaining to Creative Pultrusions, Inc., RSLogix500 software and RSLogix5000 software in addition to the machine code conversion and testing processes.

Technology for Jet Engines: Case Study in Science and Technology Development

This case study examines jet engine development from the 1960s through the establishment of IHPTET (Integrated High Performance Turbine Engine Technology program) in the late 1980s and its role in enabling continued U.S. leadership in air-breathing propulsion capabilities. It focuses on science and technology management principles employed during that period, and how they impacted the process by which technologies were introduced. For this case study, the Institute for Defense Analyses researched the documented history of aircraft engine development through the 1980s and interviewed a number of current and retired personnel from both Government (laboratory personnel to officials in the Pentagon) and the large engine companies (GE Aircraft Engines, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce and others).

Assessing the Need to Introduce Electromagnetic Interference and Compatibility Studies in Engineering Curriculum

In this paper, we analyze the industry needs to address EMC/EMI Issues, presenting a tentative EMC course suitable for an Engineering Technology program. Our goal is to contribute to prepare students to become successful professionals in the years to come. A common goal of engineering technology programs is to produce highly qualified graduates serving industry and the society. They need to provide students with not only practical hands-on experience, but also with the critical thinking and technical skills to solve the problems and challenges that graduates will face in their professional careers. Engineering Technology programs need then to anticipate the future needs of industry in order to be abreast of the ever changing the global market in technological fields.An overall perspective in the field of Electrical, Biomedical and Telecommunication Engineering programs show that Electromagnetic Compliance and Interference (EMC/EMI) will be a key issue for the Indian industry in the very near future, if not today. We can expect in the future regulatory agencies that will issue new Standards in a manner similar to the European experience, which will result in a demand of graduates with background in EMC/EMI. The aim of this paper is to explore the current and future needs in the area of Electromagnetic Compliance and interference (EMI/EMC), as well as to present a course outline that would comply with these goals.

PENNDOT’s Ambassador Program and UPJ

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PENNDOT) conceived the Professional Development Initiative to create opportunities for citizens to more easily interact with the department. This brief article describes the initiative, its evolution and features. The authors consider how this approach could be used as a model to create similar professional/educational partnerships elsewhere. They report on the specific partnership that was created between PENNDOT's District 9-0, which encompasses Cambria, Blair, Huntingdon, Somerset, Bedford, and Fulton counties east of Pittsburgh, and the civil engineering technology (CET) program at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ). They conclude by noting that the role of open communications cannot be overemphasized.

Assessing Outcomes Using Program Assessment Portfolio Approach

The Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology has developed and implemented new criteria for accrediting engineering technology programs in the United States. The new criteria, Technology Criteria 2000 (TC2K), have changed the way that engineering technology programs conduct their business. In order to survive in the future, each program has to develop a strategy to meet the new requirements specified in the TC2K. The Department of Engineering Technology at Texas Tech University has developed a program assessment portfolio (PAP) to assess the department performance toward the attainment of TC2K Criterion 1. This paper presents 12 assessment methods within the PAP. Particularly, it demonstrates how to develop and implement one of the assessment methods, pre- and postcourse assessment, to a senior-level course. Data collected from the implementation has been analyzed and results indicate that pre- and postcourse assessment provide valuable information regarding student learning. Furthermore, the information can be used to continue improving effectiveness of teaching.

Teaching principled and practical information security

Information Security touches virtually all of the core technologies of computer science. Many Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems and Information Technology programs are at ...

Development of Advanced Low Conductivity Thermal Barrier Coatings

Advanced multi‐component, low‐conductivity oxide thermal barrier coatings have been developed using an approach that emphasizes real‐time monitoring of thermal conductivity under conditions that are engine‐like in terms of temperatures and heat fluxes. This is in contrast to the traditional approach where coatings are initially optimized in terms of furnace and burner rig durability with subsequent measurement in the as‐processed or furnace‐sintered condition. The present work establishes a laser high‐heat‐flux test as the basis for evaluating advanced plasma‐sprayed and electron beam‐physical vapor deposited (EBPVD) thermal barrier coatings under the NASA Ultra‐Efficient Engine Technology (UEET) Program. The candidate coating materials for this program are novel thermal barrier coatings that are found to have significantly reduced thermal conductivities and improved thermal stability due to an oxide defect‐cluster design. Critical issues for designing advanced low‐conductivity coatings with improved coating durability are also discussed.

An Overview of High-Temperature Electronics and Sensor Development at NASA Glenn Research Center

This paper gives a brief overview of the status of high-temperature electronics and sensor development at NASA Glenn Research Center supported in part or in whole by the Ultra Efficient Engine Technology Program. These activities contribute to the long-term development of an intelligent engine by providing information on engine conditions even in high temperature, harsh environments. The technology areas discussed are: 1) high-temperature electronics, 2) sensor technology development (pressure sensor and high-temperature electronic nose), 3) packaging of harsh environment devices and sensors, and 4) improved silicon carbide electronic materials. A description of the state-of-the-art and technology challenges is given for each area. It is concluded that the realization of a future intelligent engine depends on the development of both hardware and software including electronics and sensors to make smart components. When such smart components become available, an intelligent engine composed of smart components may become a reality.title

Designing a biomedical engineering technology program for the future.

Biomedical Instrumentation & Technology 297 Integrating biomedical instrumentation, electronics theory, and information systems technology into a Biomedical Engineering Technology Program is the challenge that we are facing in the industry. The BMET graduate is now expected to understand computer networking as well as the traditional fields of electronics, chemistry, physics, speech, anatomy and physiology, and biomedical instrumentation. At Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, we set out to address student and employer needs by redesigning our Biomedical Equipment and Information Systems Technology major. We determined that we needed to upgrade student training in information technologies. We also found that we needed to market this field as a challenging and fun career. We made a commitment to information technology (IT) education at Cincinnati State, which is consistent with the information technology initiative in the state of Ohio entitled “itWORKS.OHIO.” 1 The Ohio initiative, a broad-based educational response to the state’s need for a skilled IT workforce, is a collaboration of business, industry, and educational institutions that provide IT training. Our commitment made it much easier to provide the IT training required in the biomedical program. We were able to utilize courses currently in place for other programs within the college, which made the changes much easier to justify from a purely financial standpoint. BMET programs tend to be relatively small in size and costly to run. Justification of a program like this requires cooperation throughout the college and within the local biomedical community. The need for a BMET graduate well versed in IT— including computer hardware and software, computer networking, and applications in addition to the traditional topics—has enabled Cincinnati State Technical and Community College to make significant changes in the Biomedical Electronics Engineering Technology program over the last few years. The changes took place at a time when Cincinnati State experienced a 5% enrollment decline in its Biomedical program recently. This decline also precipitated the discussion and eventual changes to the program. Changes were made in the curriculum, course content, and even the name of the program to better reflect what was actually being taught in the course of study. The program will become a major discipline of the Electronics Engineering Technology Program this fall. It will remain part of the Electrical Engineering Technology department (the BMET major is currently experiencing a 5% upturn in enrollment and jobs).

Student Attrition from Newfoundland and Labrador's Public College.

Educators, administrators, and government officials alike are interested in reducing the rate of student withdrawal at Canadian postsecondary institutions. Aside from the loss of financial resources, there are other negative effects associated with early departure from community college or university. This article outlines research into first-semester student withdrawal from engineering technology programs at a campus of the College of the North Atlantic in St. John's, Newfoundland. The research was designed to investigate various aspects of withdrawal of first-semester students enrolled in Engineering Technology programs at the College. The research design incorporated focus groups, interviews, and the collection and statistical analysis of quantitative data. Results of this study showed that 24.9% of first-semester Engineering Technology students withdrew before the winter 2000 semester, and that students' academic difficulties play a significant role in their decisions to withdraw or persist at the College. These results were consistent with Tinto's (1993) Student Integration Model.

Student Attrition from Newfoundland and Labrador's Public College

Educators, administrators, and government officials alike are interested in reducing the rate of student withdrawal at Canadian postsecondary institutions. Aside from the loss of financial resources, there are other negative effects associated with early departure from community college or university. This article outlines research into first-semester student withdrawal from engineering technology programs at a campus of the College of the North Atlantic in St. John's, Newfoundland. The research was designed to investigate various aspects of withdrawal of first-semester students enrolled in Engineering Technology programs at the College. The research design incorporated focus groups, interviews, and the collection and statistical analysis of quantitative data. Results of this study showed that 24.9% of first-semester Engineering Technology students withdrew before the winter 2000 semester, and that students' academic difficulties play a significant role in their decisions to withdraw or persist at the College. These results were consistent with Tinto's (1993) Student Integration Model.