Engineering Disciplines Research Articles

Analysis of heat transfer of second-grade hybrid nanofluid and optimization using response surface methodology for thermal enhancement

The fluid flow and heat transfer applications in coaxial double-revolving disks are extensive and encompass multiple engineering and scientific disciplines. This study presents a comprehensive heat transfer analysis in a second-grade hybrid nanofluid. The fluid, influenced by variable thermal conductivity, is confined between two rotating disks in a magnetohydrodynamic Darcy-Forchheimer flow. The hybrid nanofluid combines titanium dioxide (TiO2) and cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles with engine oil. These issues have not been addressed in previous research. Similarity transformations make flow equations dimensionless. The resulting equations are solved using a semi-analytical approach called the homotopy analysis method (HAM). This approach provides flexibility in selecting the base function and an initial estimate. The temperature profile improved with higher values of the variable thermal conductivity parameter. Furthermore, the heat transfer rate was enhanced by increasing the variable thermal conductivity, the volume fraction concentration of TiO2, and the Reynolds number.The sensitivity analysis is performed using response surface methodology (RSM). Both the R-squared and adjusted R-squared values attain 100%. The heat transfer rate is found to have a maximum sensitivity of 0.50243 towards varying thermal conductivity parameters and a minimum sensitivity of -0.00666 towards magnetic field parameters. The research utilizes RSM to elucidate methods for improving heat transfer. This work offers practical solutions for developing more efficient thermal management systems. This research provides practical strategies for improving thermal management systems. These solutions are especially useful in rotating machinery-intensive industries. Designing biochemical and pharmaceutical microfluidic pumps and mixers requires understanding hybrid nanofluid flows between spinning disks.

A REVIEW OF THE QUALITIES AND UTILIZATION OF WASTE MATERIALS IN WARM MIX ASPHALT CONCRETE

The amount of unwanted waste produced in recent decades has quickly increased due to rapid population growth, technological advancements, and the widespread use of state-of-the-art products and services in the industry. Different researchers have carried out extensive studies on waste materials. Regretfully, most investigations focus only on the performance of HMA concrete that has been modified using one or two types of waste. Therefore, this study investigates an extensive review of the qualities and utilization of four types of wastes, viz., Coal Bottom Ash (CBA), Waste Cooking Oil (WCO), Waste Engine Oil (WEO), and Rice Husk Ash (RHA), as well as assessing their bibliometric analyses. The wastes that were being investigated showed a notable improvement in Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) concrete. The WMA technology has successfully reduced the environmental issues of high production and compaction temperatures. The previous publications on CBA, WCO, WEO, and RHA identified 3,914 published documents between 2009 and 2023. Only 32 of these documents were published by Scopus. The academic disciplines of engineering, materials science, environmental sciences, and others have contributed 37%, 29%, 19%, and 15%, respectively, to Scopus publication. The United Kingdom made a significant contribution of 50% to Scopus publication compared to other countries. Furthermore, the findings also revealed that 89.4% (29 documents) were technical articles and only 10.6% (3 documents) were review articles. Further review of the rheological and microscopic properties of the four wastes is needed.

STEM‐themed pathways within elementary preservice methods coursework: Benefits and challenges associated with designing and implementing integrated STEM projects

AbstractWith the rapid advancements in science and technology, there is a growing emphasis on preparing high‐quality elementary science teachers with a deeper understanding of integrating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines into their classrooms. Despite ongoing reform efforts of rethinking ways in which preservice elementary teachers (PSTs) are currently prepared, STEM is not always the central focus of their training programs. This article highlights the STEM pathways threaded throughout the concurrent elementary science, mathematics, and technology methods courses within a dedicated STEM semester. This approach allows PSTs to experience integrated STEM directly. Specifically, we discuss PSTs' planning and implementation of integrated STEM projects that explicitly blend multiple STEM disciplines to design solutions to problems situated within a local context under the theme of sustainability. The practicum experience played a pivotal role in helping PSTs realize the benefits and challenges associated with teaching STEM. Drawing from PSTs' written reflections, we provide evidence of how varied STEM engagements enhance their knowledge of STEM integration and shape their perceptions of successes and challenges associated with STEM teaching. Finally, we offer implications for practice and recommendations for future teacher educators to reshape elementary education programs to better integrate STEM.

A Needs-Based Model for the Personalized Design of Academic English Teaching Materials in Engineering Education

The advancement of engineering education within English-medium environments underscores the need for tailored English for Academic Purposes (EAP) resources that address the linguistic, communicative, and technical needs of engineering students. This study presents a need-based model for EAP material development, focusing on personalized approaches to enhance learning efficacy and engagement. By analyzing data from surveys, interviews, and classroom observations with both students and instructors, this research identifies specific language skills and knowledge areas necessary for engineering students. The model includes vocabulary selection, genre-specific writing practice, and multimodal learning tools aligned with EAP objectives. Findings demonstrate that need based, personalized EAP resources in engineering contexts can enhance students' academic and professional communication capabilities. Practical recommendations are provided for developing EAP materials suited to engineering disciplines.

Reform of Three-Stage Talent Cultivation Teaching Mode Based on the Background of New Engineering Disciplines

Reform of Three-Stage Talent Cultivation Teaching Mode Based on the Background of New Engineering Disciplines

Research and Practical Exploration of an Integrated Online and Offline Industry-Education Fusion Teaching Model

Promoting the digital transformation of education is a crucial move in implementing the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science and education, building a strong nation through talent, and driving development through innovation. The essence of the educational model for digital innovation and entrepreneurship is the integration of 'theory + practice.' However, practical teaching has consistently been a weak point in various universities, lacking practical guidance from enterprises and high-quality case studies. Therefore, it is necessary to tailor the teaching content based on the characteristics of each major's corresponding industry. This involves making appropriate selections and adjustments, incorporating relevant examples and cases from the professional industry, introducing real-life scenarios from enterprise sites and production lines into classroom teaching. Adjustments should also be made in terms of teaching resources and requirements, integrating industrial elements into the teaching process. Higher education teaching, through the integration of industry and education, deepens cooperation with enterprises, jointly builds curriculum teaching resources to meet the needs of the development of talents in 'new engineering disciplines + new liberal arts disciplines.' This approach aims to satisfy the contemporary and personalized requirements for educational resources.

Characterizing the Growth in Spatial Thinking Skills in Undergraduate Meteorology Students Across the Curriculum

Abstract Spatial thinking skills, which encompass the ability to mentally perceive, manipulate, and find meaning in spatial information, are essential to student success across science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, including meteorology. Atmospheric data are inherently spatial, with meteorology coursework requiring students to comprehend, interpret, and predict meteorological data across spatial scales. Spatial skills are known to improve over time in response to instruction, but the rate and nature of that progression in meteorology students as they move through the curriculum has yet to be characterized. In this study, the Spatial Thinking Abilities Test (STAT) was used to quantify spatial thinking skills in undergraduate students in 10 courses required for the meteorology major at a single institution. The STAT was administered twice a semester over a three-semester period at the start and end of each course. Gains in spatial reasoning skills were typically modest for a single semester, though overall levels of spatial skills were sensitive to declared major; meteorology and STEM majors scored significantly higher than non-meteorology and non-STEM majors. Additionally, meteorology majors regularly exhibited improved performance on questions evaluating the skill of disembedding, which is particularly important for interpreting meteorological maps. Even so, disembedding was the weakest spatial thinking skill for all cohorts of meteorology majors. Longitudinal analysis of meteorology majors revealed that novice students progressed the least in their spatial skills, while students in the middle of curriculum exhibited the strongest gains, likely tied to an increased number of required meteorology courses and their specific content.

Формирование гуманитарного мышления у будущих инженеров-строителей в процессе изучения общеинженерных дисциплин

In modern conditions of the need to increase the prestige of an engineer and build innovative engineering in our country, there is a great demand for a professional with humanitarian thinking. Such thinking allows solving engineering problems taking into account the value-semantic component and subjective factors. As the analysis of the existing system of training future engineers shows, the task of forming humanitarian thinking in students is not actually set, and the humanitarization of engineering education is correlated either with an increase in the share of humanitarian disciplines, or with forms of the educational process that involve training some universal skills. The problem of the research is to identify, from the standpoint of the methodology of the humanitarian-anthropological and metacognitive approaches, the features of the formation of humanitarian thinking in future civil engineers. In the context of this methodology and based on the analysis of scientific literature devoted to the phenomena of humanitarianism, humanitarian knowledge, thinking and humanitarian thinking, the concepts of "humanitarian thinking" and "humanitarian engineering thinking" are clarified. The novelty of the study is that the experience of humanitarian thinking is revealed in conjunction with the metacognition of the individual and is substantiated as a humanitarian component of the content of engineering education. The conditions for the formation of humanitarian thinking in future civil engineers in the process of studying general engineering disciplines are identified. Such conditions are associated with: the inclusion of dialogic situations in the educational process, the basis of which are metacognitive cues; metaphorization of the material of academic subjects in the course of cognitive activity; the implementation of textual-dialogical technology in classes as the leading pedagogical means of forming the quality under study and a way of actualizing the position of the subject of thinking in students. The article presents the data of a diagnostic survey devoted to identifying the level of humanitarian thinking in 185 students of different courses of the engineering and technology faculty of Kalmyk State University. The results of a formative experiment are presented, which confirmed the provisions of the research hypothesis concerning the change in the qualitative attitude to the profession among students in connection with the experience of humanitarian thinking and the dependence of the level of such thinking on the skills of metacognitive cognition.

Alternative Assessment for Enhancing Complex Problem-Solving Skills in Mechanical System Design Course

Traditional assessment methods in engineering education, such as exam-based evaluations, often fail to adequately measure complex problem-solving skills and practical application of knowledge, necessitating the exploration of innovative assessment approaches. This paper introduces the Constructive-Teamwork-Experiential-Presentation (CTEP), an alternative assessment approach applied in the Mechanical System Design course (ENT348) for undergraduate mechanical engineering students. The CTEP model is tailored to enhance complex problem-solving (CPS) abilities and engage students in complex engineering activities (CEA). It aligns with the 2020 standards of the Engineering Accreditation Council (EAC) and the Malaysian Qualifications Framework (MQF) 2.0, specifically addressing Programme Outcomes (PO) 3 (Design) and PO10 (Communication). Over four academic terms, this model incorporated interactive design tasks, collaborative teamwork, simulation exercises, and student presentations. The findings indicate notable improvements in achieving PO3 and PO10, with average attainment rates rising to 80% and 78%, respectively. Beyond academic achievements, the model also supported the development of essential skills such as creativity, collaboration, and effective communication. Challenges related to time management and limited resources were mitigated through guided supervision and institutional backing. Future studies aim to evaluate the potential of extending the CTEP model to other engineering disciplines.

Technologies of STEM+ education in educational organizations of secondary vocational education

Introduction. STEM education focused on the integration of scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical disciplines in the conditions of intensification of economic and social processes has become widespread in the economically developed countries of the world. In this regard, the analysis of conditions for quality training of qualified personnel for the innovation economy is in the center of attention as the basis for movement towards the development of technological sovereignty. The aim of the study is to analyze the features of STEM+ education technologies application in Russian educational organizations implementing secondary vocational education programs based on the data obtained during empirical research. Materials and methods. We conducted the study by questioning the heads and methodologists of organizations implementing secondary vocational education programs with electronic form of information collection. We processed the obtained data based on rating analysis by the method of systematization and ranking of results. The study involved 75 educational organizations from 46 constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Results. We have identified the features of implementation of STEM+ education technologies in professional educational organizations in the process of training qualified personnel in the areas of technological sovereignty projects. We have identified the main risks and barriers to the development of STEM+ education in the context of Russian realities. According to the survey data, these include the problems of education financing (over 53% of survey participants pointed to this problem), equipment with modern equipment and software, which indicated 54.6% of survey participants. We found insufficient level of teachers' readiness in the answers of more than 75% of the survey participants. There is a lack of professional reflection on the need to use STEM+ education technologies to intensify the educational process. The leading role in the introduction of STEM+ education technologies in the educational process by organizations implementing secondary vocational education programs belongs to the factors of training of teaching staff to use modern technologies in the educational process, as evidenced by up to 80% of the responses of the study participants. Prospects for further research. The obtained results can be useful in studying the conditions and prospects of STEM+ education development for the training of qualified personnel in professional educational organizations.

Artificial Intelligence Applications in Engineering: A Focus onSoftware Development and Beyond

AI has a vital role in modern software development practices that enable build-ing of multiple AI-powered solutions. The aim of this review is to present a broad overviewof AI’s application in engineering, focusing primarily on software development and its re-cent expansion into various engineering domains. The review will explore different phases ofAI development, their integration with conventional engineering tools, and their impact onsoftware design. Additionally, it will delve into the intersection of AI and software design,highlighting the potential for enhanced efficacy, precision, and innovation across specific en-gineering disciplines. Moreover, the review addresses persisting challenges and limitationshindering the widespread adoption of AI technologies in software product development, par-ticularly in scenarios devoid of human intervention.

Self-Adjointness, Dynamics of Solutions and Conserved Currents of a Multi-Dimensional Nonlinear Fifth-Order Generalized ZK Equation with Dual Power-Laws in an Electron–Positron–Ion Magnetoplasma with Various Life Applications

Electron–positron–ion plasmas emerge in active galactic nuclei, the primordial Universe, peripheries of neutron stars, and surroundings of black holes. Thus, this article showcases the analytical examination of a multi-dimensional fifth-order generalized Zakharov–Kuznetsov model with dual power-law nonlinearities in an electron–positron–ion magnetoplasma. This interesting electron–positron–ion plasma model, with enough nonlinear mathematics and astrophysics/cosmology considerations, is observed to possess various copious real-world scenarios, especially in cosmic plasmas. In essence, a thorough investigation of the model is carried out with a view to see the application of its results in various science and engineering disciplines. Abundant soliton solutions to the models are to be generated, and various wave structures of interest are to be simulated numerically. In the wake of the robust Lie group theory, a comprehensive Lie group analysis of this equation with power-law nonlinearities is further performed. This consequently leads to the emergence of diverse invariants and solutions associated with the model. In addition, the equation is reduced to diverse ordinary differential equations using its point symmetries, and consequently, diverse closed-form solutions of interest are achieved for some particular cases of n. These outcomes are obtained in the form of complex and non-complex dark solitons, topological solitons, as well as various algebraic solutions with arbitrary functions. Moreover, by utilizing the power series method, one derives some series solutions of the understudy models for some specific cases of some of the consequential difficult nonlinear ordinary differential equations. A deep understanding of the found solutions is aided by simulating some of the solutions. Consequently, various soliton collisions ensued, thus giving rise to diverse structures of psychedelic bump waves, parabolic waves, concentric wave shapes with strata, as well as other wave forms of interest which are discussed. The real-world applications of the various achieved wave dynamics are presented in detail to bring the pertinence of the research results home. Thereafter, strict self-adjointness as well as formal Lagrangian formulation, leading to various conservation laws via Ibragimov’s theorem, are entrenched. Consequently, conservation of energy, momentum, and angular momentum is achieved, which has a very wide spectrum of pertinence and significance, especially in the fields of physics and mathematics.

Empowering Society through Assistive Technologies: The Role of Universities in Development and Implementation

This research article explores the significant role of universities in the development and implementation of assistive technologies that empower marginalized populations, particularly the visually impaired. With an emphasis on integrating computer science, engineering, and information technology disciplines, the study highlights the necessity for educational institutions to address societal challenges through innovative technological solutions. The paper discusses essential capabilities for assistive technologies, including advanced reading systems, writing aids, and navigation tools that enhance independence and accessibility for visually challenged individuals. Furthermore, it proposes a collaborative framework that allows students to engage with real-world problems while working alongside industry mentors, fostering a practical problem-solving approach that makes academic projects more relevant and impactful. By leveraging the vast resources available within educational institutions and establishing platforms for mentorship and collaboration, universities can significantly contribute to the advancement of assistive technologies, ultimately promoting inclusivity and equity in society. The article concludes by emphasizing the need for ongoing investment in research and development in this area, thereby ensuring that assistive technologies meet the evolving needs of diverse populations.

A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF ENGINEERING EDUCATION IN THE METAVERSE

The Metaverse is a persistent and shared digital environment that blends physical and virtual reality, allowing for advanced multisensory interactions. Its acceptance has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, despite its potential benefits for education, there are notable gaps in assessing learning processes within the Metaverse, especially concerning legal limitations and government oversight. This study aims to enhance the educational experience by promoting innovative, interactive, and engaging learning environments in various engineering disciplines, thereby equipping students with the skills necessary for success in a rapidly evolving technological landscape.This paper investigates the use of the Metaverse in engineering education through bibliometric analysis to identify key trends, challenges, and opportunities. By employing advanced tools like Publish or Perish and VOSviewer, the study analyzes bibliographic networks and statistical data to map the scholarly landscape and impact of this technology. The bibliometric analysis offers quantitative insights into research trends, citation counts, and author influence, which are presented in tables and charts for better visualization. This paper aim to enhance our understanding of how digital and immersive technologies are reshaping educational practices and boosting student engagement, motivation, and outcomes. The analysis underscores the importance of ongoing research and investment in the Metaverse as a vital resource for contemporary education, especially in engineering disciplines that thrive on interactive and hands-on learning environments. This research, despite certain limitations, lays important groundwork for understanding how the Metaverse can transform engineering education. By thoroughly analyzing and delineating the current landscape, it seeks to provide valuable insights that will guide future investigations and practical applications.

Exploratory Study of Teaching Logistics Automation Courses from a Cross-disciplinary Perspective

This paper relies on the long-term scientific research and teaching achievements of logistics automation in Qingdao University of Technology, systematically analyzes the characteristics of cross-disciplinary logistics automation, proposes a teaching system of logistics automation based on the curriculum and experimental projects, designs an innovative teaching mode of logistics automation, and hopes to form a representative cross-disciplinary teaching practice case, which is a good reference value for the research and cultivation of complex talents in the context of the new engineering discipline and the new liberal arts discipline. It is hoped to form a representative case of cross-disciplinary course teaching practice, which is of good reference value for cross-disciplinary research and cultivation of compound talents under the background of "new engineering" and "new liberal arts".

The Influences of Social Scientific Disciplines on the Interdisciplinarity of Public Administration Science

Public administration is a dynamic discipline that has evolved throughout history under the influence of various scientific fields, primarily social sciences. Its roots trace back to ancient civilizations, and it has significantly developed over centuries. As a scientific discipline and a complex social phenomenon, public administration encompasses sociological, political, legal, organizational, and other characteristics. The emergence and functioning of public administration as a crucial state instrument for law enforcement and ensuring social stability have been significantly influenced by numerous scientific disciplines, particularly political science, law, sociology, economics, and psychology. These disciplines provided the initial impetus and later momentum for the development of specific public administration concepts. Key theoretical approaches to studying public administration emphasize the importance of organizational structures and functionality within social systems. Understanding the historical and theoretical foundations of administration is essential for addressing contemporary challenges and opportunities in public administration. The aim of this paper is to highlight the influences of some key social and technological disciplines on the development of public administration, focusing on understanding how historical changes have shaped modern practices.

Project activities using creative technologies and artificial intelligence in classes in Russian as a foreign language

The article discusses the place of project activities in the practice of teaching foreign languages and the role of creative technologies and artificial intelligence in teaching Russian as a foreign language, analyzes scientific and educational literature on the implementation of project activities and the introduction of creative technologies and artificial intelligence into the educational process. A technological structure has been developed for a series of classes on Russian as a foreign language for foreign teachers, in which projects of educational media material for students based on storytelling were created using creative technologies and artificial intelligence. Practical experience is given in implementing the technological structure of classes with a group of teachers from different universities in Zimbabwe with a level of Russian language proficiency B1 and higher (11 people in total), who mastered the additional professional development program “Russian language as a language” at the Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University. foreign for science, education, culture" (86 hours) from October 27 to November 7, 2023. The results of the pedagogical experiment showed that the use of creative technologies allowed foreign teachers to take a fresh look at their teaching activities, to present in a different way the process of teaching students in their country in the disciplines of natural sciences and engineering and technical profiles, and practical experience in working with neural networks and the chat constructor -bots allowed foreigners to make projects modern, bright, and interesting. The study showed that project activities using creative technologies and artificial intelligence in teaching Russian as a foreign language allow foreign speakers to comprehensively improve their professional and communicative competencies, as well as “soft skills.”

Design and Analysis of Yoshimura Tubular Origami Mechanisms

The Yoshimura tubular origami mechanism possesses numerous advantageous properties and, when integrated with advanced material technologies, can be applied across various engineering disciplines. However, current research on Yoshimura origami predominantly focuses on centrally symmetric tubular origami mechanisms, which restricts the structural forms and motion patterns of these mechanisms. Drawing inspiration from the biological concept of “morphological variation,” we propose a novel tubular origami mechanism based on the Yoshimura pattern, which is the main contribution of this research. We analyze the Yoshimura planar crease elements and introduce both heterocellular and homocellular tubular origami mechanisms. Furthermore, we establish the origami topology matrices for the Yoshimura tubular origami mechanisms. This research also investigates complex motion forms that differ from traditional Yoshimura origami mechanisms, including macroscopic twisting and compound movements, thereby providing an intuitive design approach and extensive structural guidance for research in Yoshimura tubular origami engineering. Based on the tubular origami mechanism, we created an origami robot and investigate its motion characteristics.

Reform and Considerations of the High-Quality Talent Cultivation Model for New Engineering Disciplines in Local Universities in China Empowered by New Productivity Forces

New productivity is based on digitization, intelligence, and greening, driven by disruptive technological innovation and centered on emerging and future industries, aiming to serve high-quality living through efficient and high-quality development. This new type of productivity continuously raises the standards and challenges for engineering science and technology, also posing higher demands on the education of new engineering disciplines. With the continuous emergence of new technologies, new economies, and new business models, the connotation and extension of the new engineering discipline have undergone profound changes, leading to a disruptive transformation in traditional engineering jobs and industrial chains. There is an urgent need to innovate and optimize the talent cultivation model for new engineering disciplines, aligning closely with the evolutionary laws of productivity and production relations in the new era. The development of new productivity poses new requirements for talent cultivation in new engineering disciplines, emphasizing innovation, a more integrated training model, a diversified subject base, and a dynamic development of goals and content. However, current talent cultivation models for new engineering disciplines still face challenges in several areas: unclear goal setting, weak interdisciplinary integration, slow transformation towards digitization and intelligence in education, and a lack of a scientific and comprehensive quality evaluation system. To address these challenges in the context of new productivity, it is necessary to promote reforms in the talent cultivation model for new engineering disciplines through the following approaches: integrating digitization, intelligence, and green development into the entire talent cultivation process; reshaping training concepts; breaking down disciplinary barriers to promote integration; continuously optimizing the training model; introducing virtual simulation and other auxiliary teaching technologies to create a collaborative model of student-teacher assistance in talent cultivation; deepening industry-education integration, and innovating cultivation mechanisms to contribute positively to the training of high-quality new engineering talents.

Development of a Support Program to Enhance the Experience of Undergraduate Engineering Summer Research Students

The University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering offers strong support for undergraduate students to participate in experiential opportunities outside of the classroom, in particular summer research. The Undergraduate Summer Research Program (USRP) was created to promote development of ‘success skills’ that enhance students’ research experience and build community through weekly sessions led by faculty experts. The experience culminates with research outcome dissemination at the annual Undergraduate Engineering Research Day. Since 2020, the USRP has evolved to in-person and seen a steady increase in student participation. Anonymous participant survey data indicates greatest appeal for students having just completed their second year of study. Engagement has been observed to change post-COVID as specific in-person departmental activities have resumed. Students participating regularly find positive support for their research experience and demonstrate success in dissemination, indicating sessions are helpful and interesting. There is also appreciation for peer-community from across the engineering disciplines. Four summers of USRP execution allow for shared recommendations in creating such a program.