A required laboratory course taken concurrently with MECE-203. Students investigate a metallic material’s response to axial, torsional, and bending loads. Students are introduced to reduction and analysis of data, basic experimental techniques, and effective report writing.

This course is focused on developing skills and knowledge in the areas of instrumentation, computer data acquisition (DAQ), measurement theory, uncertainty analysis, data analysis, and technical report writing. Specific topics that are covered include: • Physical dimension variability assessment • Centrifugal pump performance evaluation • Temperature, pressure, and flow instrumentation and measurements • LabVIEW programming and DAQ hardware application • Transient measurements including computer data acquisition • Digital signal input and output Each topic includes background theoretical content with some individual exercises and then a team-based lab with accompanying lab report. Reports are submitted first in draft form and are reviewed by peers in class before preparing them for final draft submission

As a modification of the more “traditional” lab approach, students work in teams to complete an open-ended project involving theoretical and empirical analyses of an assigned system, applying engineering concepts and skills learned throughout prior courses. After successfully completing this course, students will have achieved a higher level of understanding of, and proficiency in, the tasks of qualitative treatment of real systems, development and implementation of analytical models, design and implementation of experimental investigations, and validation of results.