Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Understand how microstructure contributes to the mechanical properties of natural materials;
• Consider the most appropriate measurement techniques based on the material property of interest;
• Appreciate the design principles of biological tissues in nature from a mechanics prospective.

Content

Natural materials have evolved structures that are fit for their functions. Plant tissues, for example, illustrate nature's remarkable engineering ingenuity, ranging from resilience in external forces from the environment, to providing dynamic regulation in water intake. This laboratory exercise investigates the mechanical behaviour of a variety of natural materials, and how it is influenced by their microstructure on a range of scales. Extending from the IB Materials course, microscopy and mechanical testing techniques will be utilised to study tissue mechanics at different length scales, from hard and strong wood specimens, to micro fibrous materials.

Please note that due to sabbatical this project will operate at reduced capacity (12) and will concentrate on wood and paper, and the sub project on stress-strain curve of living cells will not run.

Students will work in groups of 6, with detailed investigations within each group carried out by three separate pairs. Each group of 6 will examine a different natural material system. After an initial training exercise each group will propose a specific investigation and plan how the detailed tasks will be allocated between the 3 pairs. Students will submit individual reports, but will also participate in a final group presentation pulling together what has been learned by the whole group.

The natural systems on offer will include wood and paper. The assignment to particular systems will take place at consultation and briefing meeting in the Lent term.

Week 1

Training exercise, to introduce relevant testing methods for the particular natural materials to be studied. Write first interim report, and produce group-based proposal for the main study.

Weeks 2-4

Carry out detailed studies on the chosen theme. Write final report, and prepare final group presentation.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• Understand how microstructure contributes to the mechanical properties of natural materials;
• Consider the most appropriate measurement techniques based on the material property of interest;
• Appreciate the design principles of biological tissues in nature from a mechanics prospective.

Content

Natural materials have evolved structures that are fit for their functions. Plant tissues, for example, illustrate nature's remarkable engineering ingenuity, ranging from resilience in external forces from the environment, to providing dynamic regulation in water intake. This laboratory exercise investigates the mechanical behaviour of a variety of natural materials, and how it is influenced by their microstructure on a range of scales. Extending from the IB Materials course, microscopy and mechanical testing techniques will be utilised to study tissue mechanics at different length scales, from hard and strong wood specimens, to micro fibrous materials.

Students will work in groups of 6, with detailed investigations within each group carried out by three separate pairs. Each group of 6 will examine a different natural material system. After an initial training exercise each group will propose a specific investigation and plan how the detailed tasks will be allocated between the 3 pairs. Students will submit individual reports, but will also participate in a final group presentation pulling together what has been learned by the whole group.

The natural systems on offer will include wood, paper and natural fibres. The assignment to particular systems will take place at consultation and briefing meeting in the Lent term.

Week 1

Training exercise, to introduce relevant testing methods for the particular natural materials to be studied. Write first interim report, and produce group-based proposal for the main study.

Weeks 2-4

Carry out detailed studies on the chosen theme. Write final report, and prepare final group presentation.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To explore the conflicting demands placed on the design by different engineering specialisms,
• To develop and use methods of visualising and thus effectively handling the inherent multidisciplinary design trade-offs,
• To demonstrate a viable and safe design concept for the aircraft,
• To maximise the key performance metrics of the final design.

Content

The project involves the aerodynamic, mechanical and structural design of a light aircraft.

Students will work in groups of 3, but will each write individual reports. One member of each group will concentrate respectively on the aerodynamic, mechanical and structural design.

Week 1

Operational requirements and flight safety.

Week 2

Conceptual design including the handling of competing aerodynamic, mechanical and structural requirements.

Week 3

Preliminary design refinement and validation of the concept to determine reasonable performance estimates.

Week 4

Maximisation of the key performance metrics.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To explore the conflicting demands placed on the design by different engineering specialisms,
• To develop and use methods of visualising and thus effectively handling the inherent multidisciplinary design trade-offs,
• To demonstrate a viable and safe design concept for the aircraft,
• To maximise the key performance metrics of the final design.

Content

The project involves the aerodynamic, mechanical and structural design of a light aircraft.

Students will work in groups of 3, but will each write individual reports. One member of each group will concentrate respectively on the aerodynamic, mechanical and structural design.

Week 1

Operational requirements and flight safety.

Week 2

Conceptual design ﾖ including the handling of competing aerodynamic, mechanical and structural requirements.

Week 3

Preliminary design ﾖ refinement and validation of the concept to determine reasonable performance estimates.

Week 4

Maximisation of the key performance metrics.

Aims

The aims of the course are to:

• To introduce the techniques of conceptual design process.
• To introduce and develop methods for optimising designs through iteration of design equations.
• To gain an appreciation of the factors influencing power component designs.
• To have hands-on experience on developing and testing power electronic apparatus by prototyping AC/DC and DC/DC converters

Objectives

As specific objectives, by the end of the course students should be able to:

• Understanding the requirement specification and having an appreciation of technical challeges
• Identifying specific tasks for each group member and managing teamwork porgress
• Having practice on making power electronic circuits, including modelling, device selection, gate drive circuitry, coding and digital controller implementation, passive components design and making.
• Having practice on testing power electronic circuits, including instrumentation, sense for measurement

Content

This project will involve students in a wide variety of design issues within electrical engineering. Included are circuit design using integrated circuits, power semiconductor device circuits and the design of a transformer suitable for use with non-sinusoidal supplies.

A tight specification will be given for a prototype 24V dc to 230V ac (50Hz), 150W inverter for use as an emergency power supply in the event of mains failure. Simple calculations for the designs of each stage will be iterated such that a satisfactory solution is obtained. A complete inverter will be made by each group and thoroughly tested to establish whether it meets the specification.

Student will have excises in circuit modelling (LTSpice, PLECS) and PCB design (KiCAD). 

This project will offer students experience and skills for power electronics hardware development. Real power electronic devices and their applications and features will be introduced. 

Aims:

Technical interpretation and design specification

Applications notes and datasheet

Week 1

Conceptual design (Group report 1).

Week 2

Design and build converter circuits for dc to dc and ac to dc conversion

Week 3

Test converter circuits and integrate (Group report 2).

Week 4

Final assembly and test (Individual final report).

MINI LECTURES

Three or four mini lectures will be presented covering:

• Introduction to circuit topologies
• Transformer design.
• Introduction to power semiconductor devices.
• Introduction to power semiconductor device gate drive circuitry 

Circuits and methods

A detailed handbook and a collection of datasheets is given to each student. One practical design is outlined but there is no bar to using other designs if they are sensible. The datasheets are distributed simply to help with the conceptual design stage and no limit is placed on the availability of components. Following the conceptual design report, students may be encouraged or otherwise from following a particular path. Hence it may be expected that each group will produce a working inverter. Use of computers is encouraged, particularly for optimisation of the transformer design. Good quality general purpose electrical and electronic engineering facilities are available.