Integrating dynamic systems materials into a mechanical engineering curriculum through innovative use of web-based acquisition and hands-on application and use of virtual graphical user interfaces - Part 1: Background of problem and generic methodology employed

This six-part educational series presents some approaches that have been incorporated into a Mechanical Engineering curriculum to better integrate materials related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) that are generally considered to be disjointed from a student's learning perspective. The material presented in this series has been developed in order to better integrate material taught in traditional differential equations, math methods, dynamics systems, and laboratory courses in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts Lowell to help students better understand the true inter-relationship of this material for solving structural dynamic-related problems. While this material is geared toward a Mechanical Engineering curriculum, all of the educational materials have been developed in a modular fashion and can be used in any curriculum which addresses dynamic systems applications (such as Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Applied Mechanics, etc.) Part 1: Background of Problem and Generic Methodology Employed presents the introduction to the problem and identifies general approaches utilized. Part 2: Numerical Difficulties Processing Measured Data identifies some typical numerical issues that need to be addressed. Part 3: Dynamic Systems-Analytical and Experimental System Characterization identifies an approach for integrating analytical and experimental concepts in a dynamic systems project for system characterization. Part 4: Alternate Approaches for Teaching Fourier Series Applications presents some alternate mechanisms for teaching Fourier series material. Part 5: Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) Assist in Solidifying Analytical Materials identifies some additional graphical user interfaces to help foster deeper learning. Part 6: Design of a Measurement System to Integrate STEM Material presents a design of a structural dynamic measurement system integrating both analytical and experimental concepts.