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Simulation Technology in Engineering Curricula: Opportunities

Simulation Technology in Engineering Curricula: Opportunities. Rajesh Bhaskaran Swanson Director of Engineering Simulation Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Cornell University. Introduction.

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Simulation Technology in Engineering Curricula: Opportunities

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  1. Simulation Technology in Engineering Curricula: Opportunities Rajesh Bhaskaran Swanson Director of Engineering Simulation Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Cornell University

  2. Introduction • Simulation is getting information about how something will behave without actually testing it in real life • Involves solving complex mathematical models on the computer • Simulation technology also provides visualization capabilities for developing physical insight AguaClara Team FSAE Race Car Team

  3. Introduction • Technology has advanced rapidly • Lowered barriers to simulation • Simulation skills are in great demand in industry • However, schools are struggling to embed simulation into core engineering curricula • How to make time for simulation in a crowded curriculum? • Faculty unfamiliar with industry-standard tools • Lack of appropriate content to integrate tools into courses • Software is evolving

  4. Introduction • At Cornell, we have made strides in embedding simulation in the curriculum • Teachstudents effective use • Enhance learning of fundamentals • Enabled by Swanson Engineering Simulation Program • Supports one full-time non-tenure track faculty

  5. Simulation in Cornell Courses • ANSYS simulation tools are being used in • 10 Mechanical & Aero courses in solid mechanics, fluid mechanics, heat transfer and numerical methods • Undergraduate and graduate courses • Lecture and lab courses • Broad use enabled by the SimCafe wiki

  6. Simulation in Required Mechanical & Aero Courses

  7. Simulation in Elective Mechanical & Aero Courses

  8. Cornell Project Teams using ANSYS Simulation Tools • Formula SAE racing • Baja SAE racing • Violet satellite • AIAA Design-Build-Fly • Cornell rocketry • Concrete canoe • Steel bridge • AguaClara

  9. Cornell Research Groups using ANSYS Simulation Tools Bhaskaran: CFD for pre-operative planning in ENT surgeries Desjardines, Koch: Multi-phase flow Zehnder: Wind turbines Fisher: Cookstove Williamson: Vortex dynamics Zhang: Pollutant dispersion, building energy Garcia: Wind energy

  10. Cornell Research Groups using ANSYS Simulation Tools Space Sciences: CCAT, 25-meter telescope in Chile Butcher(BME): Developmental bioengineering Lal(ECE): MEMS Tester (ChE): Geothermal energy Baeumner(BEE): Biosensors Shen (Physics): Condensed matter physics

  11. SimCafe Wiki • Collection of simulation learning modules available for free at simcafe.org • Contains over 40 modules from courses, project teams and research • Used in courses at Cornell and other universities • Used by students for supplementary learning • Vision: Grow this into a central e-learning portal • Avoid duplication and reinvention

  12. SimCafe Module: Example Temperature • Forced convection in a pipe • Heat Transfer lab • Required course • ~ 120 students • Students compare experiment & simulation

  13. SimCafe Module: Example • Students learn simulation through tutorial • Background presented in lab by TA • Students successfully performed simulation

  14. SimCafe Learning Framework • Challenge: Students are not just following a recipe • Strategy: Provide consistent learning structure that foregrounds critical thinking • Being used in ten diverse courses • Required steps in each tutorial: • Verification & Validation • Pre-Analysis • Major aspects of “expert thinking” are embedded in these steps

  15. SimCafe Usage StatisticsJuly 1, 2012-June 30, 2013 Over 100,000 unique visitors from 140 countries Increase of 18% from prior academic year

  16. SimCafe Usage Top 5 Countries SimCafe is being used in courses at U Texas at Austin, UC Irvine, Milwaukee School of Engineering etc.

  17. Opportunity • Students benefit greatly from integration of simulation into engineering education • Engineering education is changing rapidly • E-learning • Simulation • SimCafe merges both aspects • Exciting opportunity: Democratization of simulation • Special instructional support personnel are key enablers • “Director of Simulation” • Other necessary resources: Software, hardware, IT support • Alumni support is critical to enable engineering colleges to respond to these trends

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