Multidisciplinary Engineering Research Articles

221 大学院教育改革支援プログラム : 「複合システムデザインのためのX型人材育成」の取組について(FM-3 課題設定解決能力の育成を目指す工学教育)

221 大学院教育改革支援プログラム : 「複合システムデザインのためのX型人材育成」の取組について(FM-3 課題設定解決能力の育成を目指す工学教育)

DISRUPTING MASCULINITIES

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes 1. For comment on women's representation in the engineering profession in Australia, see Bureau of Labour Market Research (1985, 1); Lewis, Harris, and Cox (2000 Lewis , Sue , Ros Harris , and Barbara Cox . 2000 . Engineering a better workplace: A diversity guide for the engineering profession . Canberra : National Women in Engineering Committee, Institution of Engineers, Australia . [Google Scholar], 6–7); Roberts and Ayre (2001 Roberts , Pam , and Mary Ayre . 2001 . Did she jump or was she pushed? A study of women's retention in the engineering workforce . Canberra : National Women in Engineering Committee, Institution of Engineers, Australia . [Google Scholar]); Crompton, Le Feuvre, and Birkelund (1999 Crompton , Rosemary , Nicky Le Feuvre , and Gunn Elisabeth Birkelund . 1999 . The restructuring of gender relations within the medical profession . In Restructuring gender relations and employment: The decline of the male breadwinner Rosemary Crompton . Oxford : Oxford University Press . [Google Scholar]); and Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data in Ayre (2001 Ayre , Mary . 2001 . Women engineers: The continuing crusade, a review of the literature relating to the work satisfaction of professional women engineers . Transactions of Multi-disciplinary Engineering GE25 : 1 – 34 . [Google Scholar], 8). 2. The project followed upon the survey conducted in 2000 by the Women in Engineering Committee of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, which sought to develop an understanding of the reasons behind the high female attrition rate in engineering. The project was funded by the University of South Australia and the Institution of Engineers. The sample group was drawn from respondents to a survey of women engineers conducted by the Women in Engineering Committee in 1999 (APESMA 1999 Apesma (Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists & Managers, Australia) . 1999 . Professional engineer remuneration survey report . Melbourne : APESMA . [Google Scholar]; Roberts and Ayre 2001 Roberts , Pam , and Mary Ayre . 2001 . Did she jump or was she pushed? A study of women's retention in the engineering workforce . Canberra : National Women in Engineering Committee, Institution of Engineers, Australia . [Google Scholar]). State-based women in engineering groups supplied the authors with a small number of additional contacts for interview. Original interview data are in the care of the authors. 3. See the work of Hacker (1989 Hacker , Sally . 1989 . Pleasure, power and technology: Some tales of gender, engineering, and the cooperative workplace . Boston : Unwin Hyman . [Google Scholar]); Roberts and Lewis (1996 Roberts , Pamela , and Sue Lewis . 1996 . The national position paper for women in engineering for the review of engineering education . Melbourne : Swinburne University of Technology . [Google Scholar]); McLean et al. (1997 Mclean , Christopher , Sue Lewis , Jane Copeland , Sue Lintern , and Brian O'neill . 1997 . Masculinity and the culture of engineering . Australasian Journal of Engineering Education 7 : 143 – 56 . [Google Scholar]); and McIlwee and Robinson (1992). 4. See also Hacker (1989 Hacker , Sally . 1989 . Pleasure, power and technology: Some tales of gender, engineering, and the cooperative workplace . Boston : Unwin Hyman . [Google Scholar]). 5. See also Cockburn (1983 Cockburn , Cynthia . 1983 . Brothers: Male dominance and technological change . London : Pluto . [Google Scholar], 1985 Cockburn , Cynthia . 1985 . Machinery of dominance: Women, men and technical know-how . London : Pluto . [Google Scholar]). 6. See also Stepulevage (2001 Stepulevage , Linda . 2001 . Becoming a technologist: Days in a girl's life . In Virtual gender: Technology, consumption and identity Eileen Green and Alison Adam . New York : Routledge . [Google Scholar]), who challenges the disassociation of women and technology, drawing attention to the familiarity of young white working-class girls to technologies associated with their parents’ work and the industrial areas in which they live. 7. The data also suggest that the numbers of women are lower in the more ‘masculine’ areas of engineering like mechanical, electrical and aeronautical, compared to say chemical and civil. Increases in numbers of women in civil engineering, however, may reflect the popularity of environmental engineering among women (Lewis, Harris, and Cox 2000 Lewis , Sue , Ros Harris , and Barbara Cox . 2000 . Engineering a better workplace: A diversity guide for the engineering profession . Canberra : National Women in Engineering Committee, Institution of Engineers, Australia . [Google Scholar], 9).

A manufacturing system engineering ontology model on the semantic web for inter-enterprise collaboration

This paper investigates ontology-based approaches for representing information semantics and in particular the World Wide Web. A general manufacturing system engineering (MSE) knowledge representation scheme, called an MSE ontology model, to facilitate communication and information exchange in inter-enterprise, multi-disciplinary engineering design teams has been developed and encoded in the standard semantic web language. The proposed approach focuses on how to support information autonomy that allows the individual team members to keep their own preferred languages or information models rather than requiring them all to adopt standardized terminology. The MSE ontology model provides efficient access by common mediated meta-models across all engineering design teams through semantic matching. This paper also shows how the primitives of Web Ontology Language (OWL) can be used for expressing simple mappings between the mediated MSE ontology model and individual ontologies.

A Systems Engineering Framework for Eco–Industrial Park Formation

AbstractUnderstanding eco‐industrial park formation requires a multidisciplinary viewpoint [Haskins, Syst Eng 9 (2006b)] that includes systems thinking, industrial ecology, organizational dynamics, logistics, and supply chain theory. The most often referenced eco‐industrial park found in Kalundborg, Denmark, serves as an ideal, and is typified by tight interdependency between industrial partners, green logistics, and closed‐loop supply chains. But the planet is in crisis [Atiyah and Press, joint statement from The Royal Society and the Hational Academy of Sciences on Population Growth and Sustainability, February 1992 ] and cannot afford to wait 30 years for more of these parks to emerge. Systems engineering has been found to be effective when bringing together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds and experts from multidisciplinary engineering and technical backgrounds to coordinate the creation of complex systems. This paper uses literature drawn from multidisciplinary sources to investigate the attributes of eco‐industrial parks, and then proposes a systems engineering framework, iFACE, for the formation of eco‐industrial parks. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Eng 10: 83 –97, 2007.

Web-Based Teaching of Open-Ended Multidisciplinary Engineering Design Problems

Teaching the engineering design competency is a challenging task in a classical face-to-face classroom environment, and an even greater challenge in a distance learning context. This study presents the activities of a North American Mobility Program (NAMP) project entitled Process Integration for Environmental Control in Engineering Curricula. Seventeen modules were developed using a tiered approach to web-based learning which in combination with classroom-based activities, aim at addressing design engineering know-how. The use of a web-based module employing the tiered-structure in a postgraduate course was evaluated, and it was found that the module enhanced communication amongst students as well as between the instructor and the students.

A framework for supporting multidisciplinary engineering design exploration and life-cycle design using underconstrained problem solving

The problem investigated in this research is that engineering design decision making can be complicated and made difficult by highly coupled design parameters and the vast number of design parameters. This complication often hinders the full exploration of a design solution space in order to generate optimal design solution. These hindrances result in inferior or unfit design solutions generated for a given design problem due to a lack of understanding of both the problem and the solution space. This research introduces a computational framework of a new algebraic constraint-based design approach aimed at providing a deeper understanding of the design problem and enabling the designers to gain insights to the dynamic solution space and the problem. This will enable designers to make informed decisions based on the insights derived from parameter relationships extracted. This paper also describes an enhanced understanding of an engineering design process as a constraint centered design. It argues that with more effort and appreciation of the benefits derived from this constraint-based design approach, engineering design can be advanced significantly by first generating a more quantitative product design specification and then using these quantitative statements as the basis for constraint-based rigorous design. The approach has been investigated in the context of whole product life-cycle design and multidisciplinary design, aiming to derive a generic constraint-based design approach that can cope with life-cycle design and different engineering disciplines. A prototype system has been implemented based on a constraint-based system architecture. The paper gives details of the constraint-based design process through illustrating a worked real design example. The successful application of the approach in two highly coupled engineering design problems and the evaluation undertaken by a group of experienced designers show that the approach does provide the designers with insights for better exploration, enabled by the algebraic constraint solver. The approach thus provides a significant step towards fuller scale constraint-based scientific design.

Process Integration of Fatigue Analysis for Welded Bogie Frames

The automation of fatigue durability analysis for welded bogie frames according to the UIC-code is proposed by using the ModelCenter, which enables several tools used in fatigue durability analysis to be integrated, i.e. I-DEAS, ANSYS and BFAP, and an iterative analysis of geometrical changes in transom support bracket to be performed. In additions wrapping programs to control I/O-data and interfaces of these tools were developed. The developed automation technique brings not only a significant decrease in man-hour required for durability analysis, but also provides a platform for multidisciplinary engineering activities.

Schwarz meets Schwann: Design and fabrication of biomorphic and durataxic tissue engineering scaffolds

Tissue engineering is a discipline at the leading edge of the field of computer assisted intervention. This multidisciplinary engineering science attempts to meet the reparative and regenerative needs of tissues and organs based on the notion of design and fabrication of scaffolds- porous, three-dimensional "trellis-like" biomimetic structures that, on implantation, provide a viable environment to recuperate and regenerate damaged cells. Existing scaffold fabrication strategies produce sub-optimal porous labyrinths with contra-naturam straight edges. The biomorphic geometry that mimics the secundam-naturam substrate would be one that is continuous through all space, partitioned into two not-necessarily-equal sub-spaces by a non-intersecting, two-sided surface. Minimal surface geometry is not only ideal to describe such a space but is also the preferentially assumed geometry in natural and pathological or manipulated cells. We present results on the premier attempt in computer-controlled fabrication, modulation, and mechanical characterization of tissue engineering scaffolds based on triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS). We also present novel strategies to realize coterminous seeding-feeding networks thereby guaranteeing blood/nutrient supply to the proliferating cells at close proximity. This initiative of linking Schwann's 1838 cell theory with Schwarz's 1865 discovery of TPMS is a significant step to fabricate the previously elusive optimal biomorphic tissue analogs.

Experiences in education innovation: developing tools in support of active learning

The paper focuses on educational projects developed in the ETSII (Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Industriales) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid during the past few years. These projects were developed as new tools for enhancing the active role of students, for improving practical teaching, especially by means of virtual laboratories and different sets of problems and exercises, and for promoting self-learning. The paper analyses the use of ICT in teaching, with the case of a developed e-learning platform as a tracking system for subjects. The paper concludes by discussing the new educational trends in the Centre, devoted to develop an active role of students by activities such as peer mentoring and laboratory monitors programs, and competitions for achieving multidisciplinary engineering challenges.

A Teaching - Learning Framework for MEMS Education

Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology has been identified as one of the most promising technologies in the 21st century. MEMS technology has opened up a wide array of unforeseen applications. Hence it is necessary to train the technocrats of tomorrow in this emerging field to meet the industrial/societal demands. The drive behind fostering of MEMS technology is the reduction in the cost, size, weight, and power consumption of the sensors, actuators, and associated electronics. MEMS is a multidisciplinary engineering and basic science area which includes electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, material science and biomedical engineering. Hence MEMS education needs a special approach to prepare the technocrats for a career in MEMS. The modern education methodology using computer based training systems (CBTS) with embedded modeling and simulation tools will help in this direction. The availability of computer based learning resources such as MATLAB, ANSYS/Multiphysics and rapid prototyping tools have contributed to proposition of an efficient teaching-learning framework for MEMS education presented in this paper. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for teaching/learning MEMS in the current technical education scenario.

Discovery of New Small Molecules and Targets Towards Angiogenesis Via Chemical Genomics Approach

Chemical genetics/genomics is an inter- and multi-disciplinary research engine, which utilizes small molecules to explore the function of genes and accelerate the drug discovery. Bioactive small molecules that are permeable to cellular membrane and bind to its cognate target protein can exert the phenotype changes of the cells or organisms. Functional target proteins of these small molecules have been successfully identified by affinity, genetics and genomics based target identification. The specific molecular recognition of small molecule with target protein has facilitated to decipher the mode of actions of small molecules and developed better drug based on their structure activity relationship. Based on this idea, we have applied chemical genomics to angiogenesis, a new blood vessel formation, resulting in the identification of new small molecules as well as targets. In this review, our application of chemical genomics towards a cellular phenotype, angiogenesis, will be demonstrated.

Efficient first-order reliability analysis of multidisciplinary systems

This paper develops two algorithms that address the reliability evaluation of complex multidisciplinary engineering systems. In particular, systems with feedback coupling - a common characteristic of many multidisciplinary analyses - are considered. In such analyses, iterative convergence loops are needed to resolve inconsistencies in feedback variables. Assessing the reliability of such systems with a traditional 'black box' or fully coupled approach requires Multidisciplinary Analysis (MDA) convergence loops nested inside iterative loops for probabilistic analysis. The resulting computational effort is unacceptable for most high fidelity analyses. Therefore, this paper proposes two first-order reliability analysis methods that efficiently apply probabilistic analysis to multidisciplinary systems with feedback using a decoupling approach. The first method uses a First-Order Second Moment (FOSM) technique to characterise intermediate variables while applying more rigorous reliability analysis on the system as a whole. The second algorithm gives a specific solution to a decoupled first-order reliability analysis formulation as an optimisation problem. Each method is applied to an illustrative mathematical model and compared to otherwise equivalent coupled approaches with respect to accuracy and computational effort.

Building Grid Communities

Building Grid Communities

Soft Computing in Ambient Intelligence

Ambient intelligence is a new exciting and rewarding field for a multi-disciplinary engineering effort. Microsystem technology, wireless communication, pervasive computing are some of the technologies needed. Soft computing can provide many useful solutions to the difficult problems posed by the new challenges of ambient intelligence.

How expert engineering teams use disciplines of innovation

Innovation happens deliberately more often than it does by inspiration. This paper describes disciplines applied by effective multi-disciplinary engineering firms in nurturing innovation in order to produce intellectual property in a variety of domains, from telecommunications to medical instruments. The report arises from a series of in situ observations and interviews in 12 engineering consultancies in the UK and US over 2 years. It describes strategies that expert designers use to ‘get out of the box’ of familiar thinking, to identify gaps in existing products, and to go beyond ‘satisficing’. It describes the supportive engineering culture in which these strategies are embedded. Finally, it identifies the characteristics which distinguish the highest-performing teams.

Application of Gröbner bases and quantifier elimination for insightful engineering design

Engineering design is a process of generating a design solution satisfying customers' various requirements. As the design proceeds, more and more parameters are introduced to define the design solution. As more design parameters come into design consideration, designers face increasing difficulties in gaining insights into the relationships among these parameters. This research aims at overcoming the above difficulties by applying techniques of Grobner basis (GB) and quantifier elimination (QE). The new constraint-solving methods derived from these techniques help designers in gaining important insights during engineering design. These constraint-solving methods have been evaluated through case studies of multidisciplinary engineering design. The evaluation results have illustrated these constraint-solving methods are useful for gaining insights that help designers in making informed design decisions.

Close-Loop Cost Equation for Objects Manufactured by Milling

One of the major drawbacks of present cost estimation models is their incapability of embracing effectively complete product development stage. Parametric estimation works well in early design stage, but when it comes to detail design stage, a more complete estimation is provided by process model based and detail estimation techniques. A major paradigm shift is proposed in this paper whereby “Cost” is to be considered as a design parameter from scientific perspective and it is to be treated as a design consequence rather than as an operational outcome. A comprehensive framework using System Analysis fundamentals is designed to study ‘’Process Cost” aspects of a part or a design. The paper gives detailed implementation of this new approach for objects manufactured largely by milling operation. The paper also suggests a methodology to extend this approach to other manufacturing processes. The proposed Generic Cost Estimation Model shows good agreement with cost estimation by commercial estimation software when applied to the objects manufactured by milling process. It also promises integration of “Cost” with other disciplines in Multidisciplinary Optimization and Collaborative Engineering. The integration is achievable through new information technology interface tools.

International Conference on "Modeling, Simulation, Optimization for Design of Multi-disciplinary Engineering Systems", Goa, September 2003

The conference is jointly sponsored by the Aeronautical Society of India (AeSI) and International Society of Structural and Multidisciplinary Optimization (ISSMO).

Teaching Desalination - A Multidiscipline Engineering Science

(2002). Teaching Desalination - A Multidiscipline Engineering Science. Heat Transfer Engineering: Vol. 23, No. 5, pp. 1-3.

The Fitzpatrick Center for Photonics

Multidisciplinary engineering learning centers, in which optics is used to address application areas ranging from biology to telecommunications, have been established by a number of U.S. universities in recent years. Duke and Stanford are the latest to announce specialist centers for research and teaching in photonics, with construction starting as soon as this year and completion between 2004 and 2005. Last year, in a joint communique, the schools announced receipt of equal donations towards their respective centers of $25 million each, from Michael J. Fitzpatrick and his wife. On each campus new buildings, or parts of buildings, will be named after Fitzpatrick, a telecommunications engineer and businessman who was chairman of E-TEK Dynamics when it merged with JDS Uniphase Corp. in 2000. Fitzpatrick says he hopes his centers will relieve a shortage of trained photonics engineers that